Welcome to Surgery!

Trying to fill in the educational gaps of APP education, one blog post at a time.

Hello! My name is Emily. I am an Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, and I have over 9 years' experience in surgery as an Advance Practice Professional. Back when I was a new graduate, I quickly realized there were few educational resources aimed at APPs working in surgical specialties. Most study material I could find was geared towards surgical residents, and being honest, their training is quite different. And I was going to need a crash course! For years I have envisioned becoming a teacher of some form, wanting to help fill in the gaps for practical surgical education and inpatient resources for other's pursuing careers in surgical specialties. This blog will hopefully feature content that will be of good use to fellow Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants who are seeking clinical guidance. Feel free to ask questions or make suggestions, this is a growing experience!

A little about my professional background: I currently work in general surgery, where I have the most years' worth of experience, starting in 2015. I have one years' experience in neurosurgery. I work part time for a trauma surgery service at a high-volume level 1 trauma center and I am ATLS certified. I am also teaching a Registered Nurse First Assist certification course at a local private university.

Prior to graduate school, I spent roughly 8 years working primarily as an Emergency Room nurse, but dabbled in ICU and working with congestive heart failure patients PRN.

Notes and Algorithms

My main objective here is to put together some helpful clinical notes and pathways that will help you directly with clinical practice. It can be daunting to start as an APP in a surgical specialty, especially since we don't get a large volume of education in this arena in graduate school. UpToDate is my go-to for clinical reference, I may add tips from my own clinical experience, but hopefully you can take this information and do what you will. You should always practice within your scope and follow the guidelines and orders set before you from your supervising surgeon staff.

Surviving Surgeons

Surgery is not for everyone. But the reward is worth all the hard work and the extra education you invest in yourself. Never stop learning. And in the famous words of Tim Minchin, "Please, please, please be a teacher."

Please Subscribe and Share.

Emily