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The Secret Ingredient to Thriving as a Nurse Practitioner

Nurse practitioners are the backbone of modern healthcare. We are skilled, compassionate, and resilient. But even the most dedicated professionals can feel the weight of long hours, emotional fatigue, and the pressure of constant responsibility. Over time, the routine can wear down even the strongest passion. Burnout in nursing is more than just a buzzword - it’s a real, pressing issue. And while there are many strategies to combat it, one of the most powerful and often overlooked tools is continual learning.  Let’s explore how staying curious and committed to personal growth can help nurse practitioners prevent burnout and reignite the passion that brought them to the field in the first place. Routine Can Be a Double-Edged Sword While routine can bring structure to your day, it can also bring stagnation. When every day starts to feel the same, it’s easy to lose the sense of purpose that once fueled your career. You might start asking yourself: “Am I still growing?” “Where’s the ch...
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Choosing Patients over Peers: The Ethical Crossroads We Face

In the world of healthcare, nurses are the heartbeat of patient care. We provide comfort, advocate for well-being and act as the crucial link between patients and the broader medical team. Yet, this significant role often places nurses at the crossroads of ethical decision making. One of the most delicate and emotionally charged dilemmas nurses face is choosing between loyalty to coworkers and a duty to advocate for the patient. When the patient’s well-being conflicts with a colleague’s actions or decisions, ethics demand clarity:  the patient comes first! The Ethical Foundation of Nursing Nursing ethics are rooted in core principles outlines by the American Nurses Association (ANA) Code of Ethics. These principles include: Beneficence - doing good and acting in the best interest of the patient. Nonmaleficence - avoiding harm to the patient. Autonomy - respecting the patient’s right to make informed decisions. Justice - treating patients fairly and equitably.  Fidelity - maint...
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A Calling to Comfort: My Journey into Hospice Care

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  Choosing a career in hospice and palliative care was not just a professional decision for me—it was a calling. As a nurse practitioner with years of experience in various healthcare settings, I have always been drawn to the human aspect of medicine. While acute care and primary care play essential roles in health and wellness, I found my true passion in hospice, where the focus is on comfort, dignity, and quality of life in a patient’s final journey. From the beginning of my nursing career in 2007, I encountered patients and families facing the most challenging moments of their lives. Working in home health and case management allowed me to witness firsthand the gaps in care that many patients experience as they transition toward end-of-life care. Too often, I saw families overwhelmed by complex medical decisions, uncertain about how to best support their loved ones, and struggling with the emotional weight of impending loss. These experiences solidified my belief that hospice is...
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Serving with Heart & Hands

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  Welcome back to Heart & Hands: A Journey in Nursing . While pondering on my topic, this scripture came to mind. “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9 (NIV) Today’s blog is about Serving with Heart & Hands. Healthcare is more than a job - it’s a calling. Every day, you walk into the unknown, stepping into moments of pain, hope, and healing. Some days, your hands bring comfort; other days, they bear the weight of sorrow. Through it all, God sees your labor of love. But let’s be honest—there are days when exhaustion sets in. Days when you feel unseen, unappreciated, or just plain weary. On those days, remember this: your work is holy work. Every patient you care for, every kind word you speak, and every moment of compassion you offer is a reflection of God’s love in action. God’s Strength in Your Weakness When Jesus walked the earth, He was the ultimate healer—not just of bodies but of sou...
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Slow Down & Don't Wish Your Life Away

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Welcome back to Heart & Hands: The Nurse’s Journey ! I’m Ashley Wiltcher, a doctorally prepared nurse practitioner with years of experience in home health, hospice, case management, and primary care. While researching topics for this blog (ok - so I was scrolling on Facebook), I found an image that caught my attention: Therefore, today’s blog is about Slowing Down and Not Wishing Your Life Away . If you work in healthcare, you know the drill: long shifts, endless to-do lists, and the continual need of our patients. In a world where time is measured in passing medications, finishing documentation, and counting down the hours until your next break - or let’s be honest, until your next day off.  How many times have you said or heard your coworkers say something like this? “I just need to get through this day.” “I can’t wait until the weekend.” “Only five more years until retirement.”  It’s a cycle we fall into without even realizing it. We are so busy looking forward to what’...
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