National Nurse Practitioners Week celebrated Nov. 8-14

Frank Crider, MSN, A.R.N.P., is in good company at Western Baptist Hospital, where there’s a nurse practitioner like himself for every two doctors on staff.

Even with the local number of practitioners among 2,000 statewide, the public may not be aware of the practitioner’s role.

“There’s a lot of confusion in the public about who we are and what we do,” Crider said. “We’re not physicians; we’re practitioners. We excel in education. Our strong point is educating patients and their families. We can practice independently, but most prefer to practice with a physician. We may be able to spend more time with the families than some physicians, which allows the physicians to take care of other healthcare needs.”

This is National Nurse Practitioners Week. Their services include physical exams, diagnosing and treating acute and chronic illness, ordering and interpreting diagnostic tests and providing preventive health care.

Crider specializes in family medicine and practices in Western Baptist’s radiation oncology department, but nurse practitioners may specialize in a number of areas, including pediatrics and women’s health. “We must have a master’s degree from an accredited institution,” he said, “and be board certified in our specialty.”

Their certification is “Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner” (A.R.N.P.), a Registered Nurse (R.N.) qualified to function independently.Crider was an R.N. 15 years before he became a nurse practitioner 10 years ago. He said the best part of his job is providing excellent care to radiation oncology patients. “I enjoy treating cancer patients because they are the most appreciative group of people you can take care of,” Crider said.

Western Baptist radiation oncologist Peter Locken, M.D., said nurse practitioners are a valuable asset to the medical community. “Frank is an exemplary example of that,” Locken said.