Board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner Helen Paslay has worked in health care for more than 12 years. She has cared for her patients in primary care, emergency medicine, outpatient surgery, solid organ transplantation and pain management settings, with eight years of her experience acquired at one of the best medical facilities in the world, the Mayo Clinic Hospital (Phoenix Campus).
Family Nurse Practitioners have six years of additional medical education, beyond the two years required for Registered Nurses. The Doctor of Nursing Practice, Family Nurse Practitioner (DNP, FNP) has an additional eight years of education beyond that of a Registered Nurse. This education includes, but is not limited to, advanced anatomy and physiology, pathophysiology, epidemiology and pharmacology. In addition, the Family Nurse Practitioner must complete extensive clinical primary care training in adult, geriatric, pediatric and women’s health. He or she must also pass a very difficult testing process to become certified by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP). Furthermore, Family Nurse Practitioners have extensive training critically analyzing the latest quantitative and qualitative research, disregarding questionable data while using only the very best research to provide the best evidence-based medicine to their patients. This is the reason why, just like a physician, Family Nurse Practitioners can practice independently in primary care medicine in over half the United States, including Arizona.
The name for enlisted military personnel that become officers after years of service is mustang. Mustangs are some of the most respected personnel within the military ranks. This is similar to Family Nurse Practitioners, who, as Registered Nurses, have years of direct contact with their patients and their patients’ families before they return to academia for advanced education and clinical experience to become Family Nurse Practitioners.
“I believe this gives us a unique and important perspective as we work with you to heal and maintain your health in the compassionate and caring manner of a nurse,” said Paslay.
She continued, “My heart guided me to a career in nursing after significant contemplation of how I can best serve those in need. My role models include Mother Teresa, who gave so much of herself to the suffering people of the world, Florence Nightingale, who cared for wounded soldiers and created nursing theory, and Dr. Jonas Salk, who dedicated his life to eradicating debilitating diseases.”
Paslayis also proud to be part of the nursing profession that, since 2001, has ranked as the number one profession in honesty and ethical standards in the United States.
Paslay graduated with honors from Grand Canyon University, obtaining her bachelor of science degree in nursing, master of science in nursing and Family Nurse Practitioner credentials. In addition, she is currently working on her doctorate to become a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) from Grand Canyon University, which will be completed in October.
In her time spent at the Mayo Clinic Hospital (Phoenix Campus), she was very fortunate to refine her medical skills working with and learning from some of the best practitioners in the world at one of the highest ranked Solid Organ Transplant Units in the United States.
Paslay immigrated to the United States after marrying her husband, a United States Marine, in 1999. “I’m very proud and feel extremely fortunate to have been allowed to become a United States citizen. It’s an honor I’ll never takes for granted,” she said.
Paslay lives, works, plays and worships in Prescott. “I love the people of Prescott and as your care provider, I will utilize my excellent assessment, diagnosis, treatment plan development, pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic intervention, and preventive health care skills, employing thorough diagnostic and laboratory interpreting abilities while using my experience in quantitative and qualitative research critiquing skills in translating the latest evidence into practice, to bring you the best compassionate and evidence-based health care available.”
If you are seeking a pain institute, call Northern Arizona Pain Institutes in Prescott at 928-458-7343. Northern Arizona Pain Institutes is located at the Crossing’s offices at 3769 Crossings Dr., Prescott, AZ 86305. The practice is taking new patients. QCBN
By Dorian Lange
Dorian Lange is the CEO of Northern Arizona Pain Institutes.
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