As an academic nurse practitioner hospitalist with faculty and leadership roles, I found that HM19 had many important and helpful topics that apply directly to my practice.
Dr. Krystle D. Apodaca
The “Onboarding Best Practices” session provided specific examples and tips for clinical ramp up, enculturation, and orienting staff to an academic career. As a result of this talk, I began the process of establishing a formal enculturation activity for new hires that includes a panel of senior advanced practice provider (APP) hospitalists to give career path advice.
The “Adaptive Leadership for Hospitalists” workshop provided the opportunity to practice emotional intelligence and effective communication in managing routine and difficult leadership interactions. The “Practice Models/Models of Care for Optimal Integration of NPs and PAs” presentation provided insight into variable team structures at other institutions that could be considered for improved efficiency in my group. The “Academic NP/PA” session provided ideas for how to apply for faculty positions in academic institutions. It also gave APPs who have faculty appointment specific illustrations of using current educational, quality improvement, and research projects to promote. I particularly found the “What Mentorship Has Meant to Me” talk significant. It gave practical essential advice on making sure there is chemistry and trust when seeking a mentor and staying engaged to be a successful mentee.
APPs, whether practicing in academic, private, or community settings, should attend the SHM Annual Conference. SHM is very inclusive and proud of APPs as colleagues and leaders. There are topics that directly apply to the needs of APP hospitalists – including career advancement – and that create excitement for APP practice in hospital medicine.
The Annual Conference also provides the very unique opportunity to meet and establish relationships with APP and physician colleagues and leaders nationwide. These relationships lend to career advancing opportunities for collaboration in clinical excellence, education, quality improvement, research, and leadership.
Dr. Apodaca is assistant professor and nurse practitioner hospitalist at the University of New Mexico. She is one of the first APPNP/PAs to receive faculty appointment at UNM. She serves as codirector of the UNM APP Hospital Medicine Fellowship and director of the APP Hospital Medicine Team. She is also the president of the New Mexico Chapter of SHM and is the first APP at her institution to achieve designation as a Fellow in Hospital Medicine.