NPower Healthcare: APRNs & APPs Improving Access to Quality Healthcare

Bridging Borders in Healthcare: A Conversation with Dr. Edward Briggs

Join NPower Healthcare host Deb Tedesco as she engages in discussion with Dr. Edward Briggs, a family nurse practitioner and educator, whose work spans emergency medicine, nuclear medicine, and nursing leadership. Discover how Ed's unique career journey informs his approach to patient care, policy advocacy, and global service.
Ed shares his experiences working with complex medical cases in nuclear medicine and interventional radiology, emphasizing the importance of evidence-based practice and systems thinking. He also discusses his leadership roles within the American Nurses Association and the Florida Nurses Association, highlighting the significance of mentorship, coalition building, and policy influence for nurses.
Explore the challenges and opportunities in advancing nurse practitioners' autonomy, particularly in Florida, and learn about Ed's efforts to empower nurses through tools like aprnadvocacy.com. Gain insights into his global mission work in Belize, advocating for equitable healthcare access, and the critical role of political engagement in nursing practice.

Championing APRN Advocacy: A Conversation with Dr. Vicki Stone-Gale

Welcome to NPower Healthcare, where we celebrate the trailblazers shaping advanced practice nursing. In this episode, host Deb Tedesco speaks with Dr. Vicki Stone-Gale, a prominent nurse practitioner and advocate. With over 33 years of advocacy work, Dr. Stone-Gale shares her journey from collaborating with the legendary Barbara Lumpkin to her current roles in various nursing organizations. Discover the importance of understanding licensure and the role of policy in protecting and advancing APRN practice in Florida.
Join us as we explore Dr. Stone-Gale's dedication to educating both future nurse practitioners and seasoned professionals, emphasizing the need for involvement in legislative processes to safeguard the nursing profession. Learn how Dr. Stone-Gale's leadership in the Florida Nurse Practitioner Network and the Florida Nurses Association continues to inspire and NPower the next generation, ensuring a solid foundation for the future of nursing.

Revolutionizing Healthcare Access: NP, Dr. Duellyn Pandis' Inspiring Journey

Welcome to NPower Healthcare, the podcast that shares the inspiring stories of nurse practitioners making a difference. In this episode, we head to Tampa, Florida, to meet Dr. Duellyn Pandis, a pioneering nurse practitioner redefining healthcare access. Discover how she leads vital initiatives such as Passport Health Tampa, the Seafarers Port Clinic, and the Mobile Nurse Practitioner Unit to provide care to underserved populations. Her journey showcases passion, purpose, and the transformative power of mobile healthcare. Join us to learn about the innovative paths nurse practitioners can take to impact their communities positively.

"Revolutionizing Healthcare: The Power of Lifestyle Medicine"

Welcome to another enlightening episode of NPower Healthcare! Join host Deb Tedesco as she engages in a thought-provoking discussion with Kathleen Wilson, a leading family nurse practitioner and Diplomate of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine. This episode delves into the transformative potential of lifestyle medicine, a holistic approach centered on six essential pillars: nutrition, physical activity, restful sleep, stress management, avoiding risky substances, and fostering positive social connections.
Kathleen shares inspiring success stories and practical strategies for nurse practitioners eager to integrate lifestyle medicine into their daily practice, emphasizing the importance of a personalized and root-cause-focused approach to healthcare. She also explores how this model promotes health equity and offers pathways for certification and education in this innovative field.
Whether you're a seasoned practitioner or new to the concept, this episode offers valuable insights into how small, meaningful lifestyle changes can lead to significant health improvements, creating a ripple effect in healthcare delivery. Listen in and discover how nurse practitioners are uniquely positioned to lead this impactful transformation towards a healthier future.

Pioneering Change: Dr. George Peraza-Smith on the Future of Gerontological Nursing

Welcome to another episode of NPower Healthcare, where host Deb Tedesco is joined by Dr. George Peraza-Smith, the newly elected President of the Gerontological Advanced Practice Nurses Association (GAPNA). In this enlightening episode, Dr. Peraza-Smith shares his vision for advancing gerontological nursing, strengthening leadership roles for nurse practitioners, and ensuring high-quality care for older adults nationwide.
Dr. Peraza-Smith discusses the current healthcare challenges in Florida and how nurse practitioners play a crucial role in overcoming provider shortages, particularly in geriatric care. He highlights the importance of advocacy efforts in promoting full practice authority, reimbursement parity, and improved healthcare delivery.
Listeners will also gain insights into the evolving landscape of long-term care, the integration of mental health services, and the significance of disaster preparedness, especially in disaster-prone areas like Florida. Dr. Peraza-Smith emphasizes the essential contribution of nurse practitioners in shaping the future of healthcare for an aging population.

Honoring Healthcare Wishes: The PDMO Movement in Florida

In this episode of NPower Healthcare, host Deb Tedesco sits down with Meredith Fischer, a nurse and passionate advocate for end-of-life care rights. As legislation efforts move forward, they explore the benefits of a Patient-Directed Medical Order (PDMO) and its potential to enhance patient autonomy and improve healthcare delivery for those with serious illnesses. Meredith shares her inspiring journey from critical care to palliative care to policy advocacy, emphasizing how PDMO can bridge gaps in current end-of-life planning tools and ensure patient preferences are honored across all care settings.

Using Your Earned Academic Title: The Impact of Florida's Senate Bill 172

Welcome to NPower Healthcare with your host Deb Tedesco. In this episode, we explore the questions surrounding Florida's Senate Bill 172, which seeks to restrict the use of the title 'doctor' to only physicians and osteopathic physicians, barring nurse practitioners, pharmacists, and other healthcare professionals with doctoral degrees from using the title in clinical settings. Join us as we discuss the implications with Kathleen Wilson from the Florida Nurse Practitioner Network, being the potential confusion and professional limitations this bill could create.
Dive into the world of advanced healthcare education as Kathleen elaborates on the process and rigors involved in earning a doctorate in nursing and other fields. We examine the possible chilling effects this bill might have on healthcare access and workforce morale in Florida, and what this means for practitioners and patients alike.
Learn how this legislative action fits within the national context and what healthcare professionals and concerned citizens can do to counteract its potentially damaging effects. Stay informed and empowered as we navigate this crucial healthcare dialogue.

Breaking Barriers: HB 883 and the Future of Mental Health in Florida

Welcome to NPower Healthcare, where we spotlight the transformative role of nurse practitioners in shaping healthcare's future. In today's episode, host Deb Tedesco engages in a crucial discussion with Dr. Cindy Parsons, a seasoned psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner, about the groundbreaking Florida House Bill 883. This bill, which recently made strides in the legislative process, aims to remove unnecessary practice restrictions for psychiatric nurse practitioners, thus enhancing mental health care access for Floridians.
Explore the critical challenges facing Florida's mental health services, including the ranking of 45th in mental health access and the staggering statistic of over 2.8 million Floridians experiencing mental health conditions. Understand the importance of allowing nurse practitioners to operate at the full capacity of their training and the significant impact this could have, especially in underserved areas lacking adequate psychiatric care.
Listeners are encouraged to take action by contacting their representatives, sharing personal stories, and joining advocacy efforts to support HB 883. Join us as we delve into this legislative journey, emphasizing the importance of modernizing healthcare laws for better patient outcomes across the state.

NPowering Autonomy: Nurse Practitioners Leading their Own Practice

In this episode of NPower Healthcare, host Deb Tedesco discusses the exciting journey of nurse practitioners in Florida who are taking the step towards autonomy by opening their own practice. Our guest, Dr. Monica Barfield, shares her experience as a successful entrepreneur and autonomous nurse practitioner.
We get an inside look at her challenges, the necessary steps for nurses seeking independence, and the transformative impact of Florida's legislative changes on NP practices. Dr. Barfield offers essential tips for navigating the business landscape, from planning and legal compliance to team-building and patient attraction.
Join us as we discover how these skilled healthcare providers are reshaping patient care while balancing clinical expertise with entrepreneurial spirit for a rewarding professional future.

Breaking Barriers in Mental Health: The Role of Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners in Florida

Welcome to NPower Healthcare, where we delve into the critical roles of nurse practitioners and advanced practice providers shaping the future of healthcare. In this episode, host Deb Tedesco speaks with Dr. Tom Schlepko, a leading psychiatric nurse practitioner, about the escalating demand for mental health services in Florida amid a national rise in mental health needs.
Discover how psychiatric nurse practitioners are uniquely positioned to bridge gaps in the mental health system, providing essential care in diverse settings from community health centers to telehealth platforms. Dr. Schlepko highlights both the challenges and opportunities faced by these professionals, emphasizing the impact of telemedicine, artificial intelligence, and the push for autonomous practice laws in enhancing service delivery.
Join the conversation as we explore the important contributions of psychiatric NPs in meeting Florida's pressing mental health care needs and discuss strategies to overcome barriers such as workforce shortages, access disparities, stigma, and insurance issues. With ongoing advancements, psychiatric NPs continue to play a pivotal role in improving mental health outcomes across the state.