Autonomy, Flexibility and Intellectual Challenge: Nurse Practitioners’ Dreams Come True at Specialized Wound Management
Many NPs find that the real world after certification doesn’t live up to their hopes and expectations. Nurse Practitioners at Specialized Wound Management (“SWM”), however, are realizing their dreams of autonomy, flexibility and intellectual challenge.
SWM’s Nurse Practitioners control their own schedules, traveling to various facilities in their area to offer bedside assessment and treatment for patients identified by their facilities and/or physicians as having active wounds or whose status makes them vulnerable to wound issues. NPs have designated facilities that they return to on a regular basis, allowing them to follow up with their patients on an ongoing basis and also to get to know the staff members and families who are instrumental in their care.
Amy Bruggeman was the Director of Nursing for a Nursing Home before she became certified as a Nurse Practitioner. While she enjoyed working in the field of geriatrics and managing the nursing staff, she wanted more patient contact. Amy thought that working with SWM would be the perfect way to combine her passion for helping the elderly with her desire be to have more flexibility and satisfaction in her day to day work. “Failure to recognize and properly treat wounds is a serious health risk for people in long-term care. Now I have the tools I need to effectively treat patients that might otherwise have suffered unnecessarily or experienced a reduced quality of life without the specialized, holistic treatment that SWM and I provide. It feels good to know that I am really making a difference. And my job makes a difference for my family too, because I earn a good living while setting my own schedule. I have a lot of freedom to work around my personal life.”
Bruggeman also enjoys the social and teaching aspects of her job. “Educating families and staff is a critical component of positive patient outcomes,” she explains. “SWM nurse practitioners regularly offer in-services to facility staff but of course every patient visit offers opportunities to help staff nurses learn to identify problems so that they know when to call us. And I love meeting surgeons and other physicians who treat my patient population—it gives me a chance to explain how our services can help their patients. With my breadth of training, I can feel confident in my wound care expertise and I know that I am an important part of a patient’s treatment team.”
Specialized Wound Management was Nicole Medley’s first job after completing her Nurse Practitioner program. Over a year later, she is happy with her choice. “I considered private practice positions after school but I didn’t like the idea of being in the same office all day every day. I was looking for more variety and flexibility. When I found out about SWM, I was excited that I’d be able to set my own schedule and visit many different facilities and settings. This has proven to be a definite benefit of the job. At the same time, I have ongoing relationships with my facilities, so I have the satisfaction of following up with my patients and watching them benefit from my care. I have great team relationships with my colleagues as well as the staff members of the facilities I visit. Working at SWM is rewarding on so many levels.”
Another advantage cited by SWM’s nurse practitioners is the opportunity to engage in continuing education. In addition to extensive on-the-job training in wound care practice, NPs regularly attend conferences and seminars to learn the latest technologies, medications and practices available in the field. “I’ve never made a request for continuing education that has been denied,” reports Nicole Medley. “SWM is really committed to keeping us abreast of effective and cutting edge practices. And we meet regularly with other nurse practitioners in our area to discuss cases so we can learn from each other’s experience as well.”
Suzanne Vogelsmeier had worked as a hospital intensive care nurse for years and then worked in a private practice as a Nurse Practitioner for adults before signing on at SWM. “Actually, I had never considered working in the wound management field before I heard about SWM,” says Suzanne. “But I saw right away that working at SWM would be a great opportunity. My previous jobs had been good for me at the time, but I was ready to learn something new. I wanted more autonomy and flexibility than I’d experienced before. While of course we all consult with collaborative physicians who offer us great support, I know that I have to rely on my own judgment day-to-day in treating my patients. It’s a good feeling—seeing what needs to be done and then watching my patients get better in response to the treatment I give them. Our training and our holistic approach allows us to prevent a lot of problems too, and that’s really satisfying. I’ve also loved being able to work as little or as much as I want and scheduling my patient visits around spending time with my kids. This job is conducive to family life.”
Specialized Wound Management CEO Rita Kelley is deeply committed to improving the lives of the elderly and SWM is her vehicle for making a difference. She knows that a flexible, stimulating and autonomous environment attracts top-notch Nurse Practitioners to SWM—and better NPs mean better patient care.
Nurse Practitioners at SWM can chart the course of their own careers, since the company offers both full and part-time positions. Full time NPs receive health, dental and retirement benefits and are paid a salary plus incentive bonuses.
Specialized Wound Management is expanding nationwide. To submit an application or to find out if SWM is seeking NPs in your area, click here.
Many NPs find that the real world after certification doesn’t live up to their hopes and expectations. Nurse Practitioners at Specialized Wound Management (“SWM”), however, are realizing their dreams of autonomy, flexibility and intellectual challenge.
SWM’s Nurse Practitioners control their own schedules, traveling to various facilities in their area to offer bedside assessment and treatment for patients identified by their facilities and/or physicians as having active wounds or whose status makes them vulnerable to wound issues. NPs have designated facilities that they return to on a regular basis, allowing them to follow up with their patients on an ongoing basis and also to get to know the staff members and families who are instrumental in their care.
Amy Bruggeman was the Director of Nursing for a Nursing Home before she became certified as a Nurse Practitioner. While she enjoyed working in the field of geriatrics and managing the nursing staff, she wanted more patient contact. Amy thought that working with SWM would be the perfect way to combine her passion for helping the elderly with her desire be to have more flexibility and satisfaction in her day to day work. “Failure to recognize and properly treat wounds is a serious health risk for people in long-term care. Now I have the tools I need to effectively treat patients that might otherwise have suffered unnecessarily or experienced a reduced quality of life without the specialized, holistic treatment that SWM and I provide. It feels good to know that I am really making a difference. And my job makes a difference for my family too, because I earn a good living while setting my own schedule. I have a lot of freedom to work around my personal life.”
Bruggeman also enjoys the social and teaching aspects of her job. “Educating families and staff is a critical component of positive patient outcomes,” she explains. “SWM nurse practitioners regularly offer in-services to facility staff but of course every patient visit offers opportunities to help staff nurses learn to identify problems so that they know when to call us. And I love meeting surgeons and other physicians who treat my patient population—it gives me a chance to explain how our services can help their patients. With my breadth of training, I can feel confident in my wound care expertise and I know that I am an important part of a patient’s treatment team.”
Specialized Wound Management was Nicole Medley’s first job after completing her Nurse Practitioner program. Over a year later, she is happy with her choice. “I considered private practice positions after school but I didn’t like the idea of being in the same office all day every day. I was looking for more variety and flexibility. When I found out about SWM, I was excited that I’d be able to set my own schedule and visit many different facilities and settings. This has proven to be a definite benefit of the job. At the same time, I have ongoing relationships with my facilities, so I have the satisfaction of following up with my patients and watching them benefit from my care. I have great team relationships with my colleagues as well as the staff members of the facilities I visit. Working at SWM is rewarding on so many levels.”
Another advantage cited by SWM’s nurse practitioners is the opportunity to engage in continuing education. In addition to extensive on-the-job training in wound care practice, NPs regularly attend conferences and seminars to learn the latest technologies, medications and practices available in the field. “I’ve never made a request for continuing education that has been denied,” reports Nicole Medley. “SWM is really committed to keeping us abreast of effective and cutting edge practices. And we meet regularly with other nurse practitioners in our area to discuss cases so we can learn from each other’s experience as well.”
Suzanne Vogelsmeier had worked as a hospital intensive care nurse for years and then worked in a private practice as a Nurse Practitioner for adults before signing on at SWM. “Actually, I had never considered working in the wound management field before I heard about SWM,” says Suzanne. “But I saw right away that working at SWM would be a great opportunity. My previous jobs had been good for me at the time, but I was ready to learn something new. I wanted more autonomy and flexibility than I’d experienced before. While of course we all consult with collaborative physicians who offer us great support, I know that I have to rely on my own judgment day-to-day in treating my patients. It’s a good feeling—seeing what needs to be done and then watching my patients get better in response to the treatment I give them. Our training and our holistic approach allows us to prevent a lot of problems too, and that’s really satisfying. I’ve also loved being able to work as little or as much as I want and scheduling my patient visits around spending time with my kids. This job is conducive to family life.”
Specialized Wound Management CEO Rita Kelley is deeply committed to improving the lives of the elderly and SWM is her vehicle for making a difference. She knows that a flexible, stimulating and autonomous environment attracts top-notch Nurse Practitioners to SWM—and better NPs mean better patient care.
Nurse Practitioners at SWM can chart the course of their own careers, since the company offers both full and part-time positions. Full time NPs receive health, dental and retirement benefits and are paid a salary plus incentive bonuses.
Specialized Wound Management is expanding nationwide. To submit an application or to find out if SWM is seeking NPs in your area, click here.