Urologic boasts five of state's nine certified urologic nurse practitioners
TUPELO – Five of Mississippi's nine certified urologic nurse practitioners all work at one place — Urologic in Tupelo.
As the largest urology practice in North Mississippi, Urologic — established 60 years ago — offers the latest innovations in medical technology and surgical techniques for a variety of urological conditions. Some 20,000 patients visit the facility each year, so it should be no surprise that it boasts such a qualified staff.
The five CUNPs at Urologic are Katelyn Boren, Sara Harrington, Allie Lee, Katelynn Pannell and Katese Rutherford.
"I do think its speaks to the quality and high standard we set in the organization," said Kyle Fallin, Urologic's chief executive officer. "But we don't want to stop at five. We've got nine total nurse practitioners, and our goal is that when they're eligible to sit for that board, for that test, to let them test. I would love to have 100% of our NPs have the designation of CUNPs. There's not another urology practice in the state, maybe the nation, with a 100% CUNP staff. We're very proud of it."
The requirements to become a Certified Urologic Nurse Practitioner include:
• Completion of a nationally accredited nursing educational program.
• Completion of two years as a Nurse Practitioner with a minimum of 800 clinical practice hours of providing patient care to urologic patients within the last three years.
• Current recognition by the state board of nursing as a Nurse Practitioner.
• Master’s degree in nursing or a DNP (Doctorate of Nursing Practice).
• Current certification as a nurse practitioner from a national certifying board: American Nurse Credentialing Center (ANCC), National Certification Corporation (NCC), American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP), or Pediatric Nurse Certification Board (PNCB).
"I think being certified shows our commitment to our patients," said Boren, who has been with Urologic for eight years, the past six as an NP. "The patients know we have the knowledge to take care of them and provide the best care."
Rutherford said the CUNP designation represents a "validation of skills and knowledge.
"I know if I were a patient or their family, it would make me more confident in the person taking care of them," she said.
Rutherford, who has been an NP for eight years, started in urgent care, with the last two years in urology. Hers was a personal journey.
"My dad had prostate cancer, so it was very near and dear to me to be able to take care of these patients and their families and to discuss the things I went through with my dad," she said.
Her mother also had an overactive bladder and urinary incontinence in her later years. Rutherford said those experiences allowed her to empathize with patients and ensure that they can have a good quality of life.
Lee has been with Urologic for eight years. She said urology chose her rather than the other way around.
"I was just out of school, and this was one of the first interviews I had," she said. "Once I started working here, I fell in love with the specialty.
Lee called the specialty incredibly diverse. One a given day, she may see anything from kidney stones to UTIs, incontinence to bladder cancer.
"I mean, how many people can say they can walk into a patient's room and tell them they have cancer, and then the next patient you're helping with a condition that's sensitive and embarrassing to talk about?" she said. "So we have a diverse group of patients we get to help, and it's a very satisfying feeling."
Harrington has about 20 years of experience in urology. She worked at NMMC for several years before going to NP school and then joined Urologic. It was an easy transition for her, as four of the five doctors at the time at the practice also worked on the floor of the hospital.
While Urologic takes care of acute issues like a hospital, it can also take care of more long-term chronic conditions, Harrington said.
"It is very different from the hospital side to the clinic side, though," she said. "But I really enjoy taking care of the patient population, and I do really love these doctors. They are on board with us, learning as much as we can, teaching us and really supporting us."
Lee said Urologic is doing the primary treatment for all of their cancer patients rather than referring them straight to oncology.
"We're following a lot of them from diagnosis, treatment and remission," she said.
Pannell, who joined Urologic three years ago, wasn't exactly sure where to go after school initially, but after accepting an offer from the practice, it took only one day for her to know it was the right decision.
"I love how Urologic as a group really encourages that continuing education and certification so that they know, we know, and the patients know we're providing the best certification possible," Pannell said. "I love the support we get, the family we have, the patients. I don't get bored because there's something different every day."
