Alumni Connections
V
Grad school friends become colleagues after graduation
R
achel Ness and Courtney Satterfield each entered the College of Nursing’s Doctor of
Nursing Practice – Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (DNP-PNP) program in the fall of 2010. Ms. Ness remained in her hometown of Orlando, FL while completing the program, whereas Ms. Satterfield lived locally in Summerville, SC. Yet, in spite of the miles between their residences, the two became good friends as they progressed through the online program. Today they are colleagues working
for Tampa Family Health Centers in Tampa, FL. Lifelines caught up with these graduates recently and learned how the collegial relationship the two developed while in the DNP program has reunited them in their professional careers.
How did you learn about the job opportunities? > Rachel Ness: I accepted the job in Tampa after looking at the National Health Service Corps (NHSC) website, and having some difficulty in Orlando where I lived at the time with finding a position. In the DNP program we were trained to provide primary care, and I honestly love the different type of patients we get to see every day. Tampa Family Health Centers offers a “one-stop-shop,” meaning we offer pediatric, family, pharmacy and dental services for low-income and uninsured individuals. After I was hired, I remembered Courtney and her husband wished to move out of Charleston, so I suggested to my employer that they interview her for another NP position that was open. Currently, there are only three PNPs, as far as I am aware, out of all the NP’s at the site. Courtney and I are the only two DNPs. > Courtney Satterfield: Prior to
Rachel Ness
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Lifelines
SPRING | SUMMER 2014
beginning the DNP program, I decided to participate in the National Health Service Corps loan repayment program, which is a great opportunity to help children in need of great primary care and assist me with repaying significant student loan debt. I realized that
participation in the program could potentially take me anywhere in the US, so I kept an open mind. My husband and I do not have children, which made the possibility of relocation easier to consider. I noticed a pattern of PNP positions in Florida on the NHSC website, particularly in the Tampa Bay area. Interestingly, we had visited Tampa and Orlando in December 2011 during the holiday break for some fun and relaxation, but also to explore the area for possible relocation. Since Rachel lived in Orlando, we visited her during the trip as well. We really liked Tampa, but realized we needed to stay open to various opportunities. Rachel and I worked together in groups and became friends during our time at MUSC. As graduation grew closer, we talked about the job search and she knew that my husband and I were willing to move for the right position. As luck would have it, she discovered this great opportunity in Tampa for PNPs to work at a federally qualified clinic and let me know that they had a vacancy. I submitted my resume and headed to Florida for an interview and here we are.
What has the experience been like? Are you learning from each other? > RN: The experience has definitely been a great learning one. Since I am the only pediatric provider at my site (Courtney practices in another one of our locations), I have to use my resources in helping to answer some of my questions or a parent’s concerns. I also have to be resourceful when managing treatment options due to a lack of insurance for many of our patients. We are fortunate to have a sliding scale pharmacy that covers some of the cost. I have a large Hispanic patient population, so I also have been learning a great deal of Spanish.