Nationally, an additional 25,000 NP students graduate each year. In a population that is aging, with baby boomers becoming seniors in growing numbers over the next 10 years, having choices about health care providers will become even more important. Particularly in rural areas of Idaho, NPs are providers of high-quality, cost-effective, personalized health care and citizens understand the value of having an NP available for primary, acute, and specialty care. Often the only health care provider in a rural town, NPs must be educated and trained in a multitude of specialty areas as well as general health care in order to properly care for their patients. NPS Kristy Crownhart and Michelle Anderson share their journey on this month’s episode of Bengal Health Chat.
Dr. Crownhart is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the School of Nursing at Idaho State University. She has approximately 19 years of combined clinical experience as a Registered Nurse and Nurse Practitioner. Dr. Crownhart completed her nurse practitioner residency at the Boise VAMC Center of Excellence and continues to practice there as a float pool provider in primary care clinics. In addition, she serves as the Chief Nurse and nurse practitioner for the Idaho Air National Guard.
Dr. Anderson is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the School of Nursing at Idaho State University. She has more than 20 years of clinical experience as a Nurse Practitioner. Dr. Anderson's experience includes hospitalist care, cardiology, and rural family practice. She has been an entrepreneur having started her own independent NP family practice clinic in rural Idaho.
Both are alumni in ISU’s Doctor of Nursing Practice program.
