Pulse

Nurse practitioners

By Laura Raines
Pulse editor

The role of the nurse practitioner has evolved since nurse/professor Loretta C. Ford and pediatrician Henry K. Silver started the field's first master's degree program at the University of Colorado in 1965. The original thrust was to provide primary health care services to underserved populations. Today, NPs operate independent clinics in rural and urban areas and serve in public health capacities, but many also practice in private physician offices, hospitals, emergency rooms, jails and other health care settings. Full Article

The Tree House Gang

By Laura Raines
Pulse editor

With a vision to treat the whole patient - physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually - nurses and counselors at DeKalb Medical Center's Cancer Center began holding support groups 15 years ago, with a variety of groups that meet weekly.

"About 11 years ago, I was working with a family support group, and all the patients were worried about their kids," said Rose McKeever, nurse case manager on the cancer support team at DeKalb Medical. "What should they tell them? How could they ease their fears?"
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