Jan Barr

Nurse Practitioner
5/29/15
Informational Interview
1) Q: What personal qualities or abilities are important to be successful in the field of
medicine?
A: There are many, but the most important are a passion for people and a love for learning.
2) Q: How do people find out about job openings in your field of work?
A: Networking, job sites like Indeed/SimplyHired, and medical recruiters
3) Q: If you were starting out again would you do anything differently?
A: Absolutely not, I would have actually went back to school sooner. I like the autonomy,
diversity, and marketability that the NP role offers.
4) Q: What do you do on a typical day in your position?
A: Conduct physical exams, Record health histories, Order diagnostic studies such as labs, x-rays
and EKGs, Coordinate physical therapy, occupational therapy, Prescribe drugs for acute and
chronic illnesses, Counseling, and education on healthy behavior
5) Q: What part of your job do you find the most challenging or satisfying?
A: The most challenging is staying current with latest treatment guidelines and understanding
insurance coverage for medications and diagnostics. Insurance can be a barrier to assess and
continues to be a major focus in healthcare reform.
6) Q: What are some of the rewards of your occupation?
A: Some rewards are seeing patients take an active role in life style changes and having the
ability to fill the gap in at-need communities by expanding access to care.
7) Q: What are the geographic restrictions in your field? Are you required to travel a
lot?
A: It depends on your specific role. My current position in internal medicine is clinic-based so I
travel just to the same office daily. Your geographic requirements mainly depend on your role
and clinic versus inpatient care. Inpatient care requires hospital rounds at 1 or multiple campuses.
There are always non-clinical positions for NPs that could require more travel, particularly, if
you worked for a corporation, etc.

8) Q: Would you rather work for a smaller or larger company?

A: Both have benefits and I have worked for both. My last 2 positions were for larger companies.
I like the access to resources and the increased ability to network.
9) Q: Is there a demand for people in your occupation?
A: Absolutely, and its constantly growing. In fact, there will a looming shortage of 30,000
primary care physicians by 2016. NPs and PAs will meet this need by providing cost-effective,
quality care.
10) Q: Are you able to arrange your own hours? How many hours a week do you work?
A: It depends on your position and environment. For example, an urgent care/emergency
department setting would be more flexible than working in a specialty group. Currently, I work
in internal medicine 2 days weekly, no call or weekends. So there are positions available that
provide a work-life balance.
11) Q: What organization do you work for?
A: I work for an independent physician, specializing in internal medicine. Although not part of a
network, he maintains hospital privileges.
12) Q: Is most of the hiring for your organization done on an external or internal basis?
A: It is done externally for independent physicians and both for other models.
13) Q: What opportunities for advancement are available with your position?
A: In my current role, there arent really advancement opportunities with an independent
physician. However, larger companies provide more opportunities for advancement and
networking.
14) Q: Is your organization expanding, shrinking or maintaining?
A: It is expanding, although my physician practice is independently owned, the owner serves as a
medical director for several local long term care facilities and provides clinical support for local
rehab units. This role expansion has created a need for another NP or PA.
15) Q: What special advice would you give to a person entering in this field?
A: Stay positive, Set personal and professional goals, and always remember to put yourself in
your patients shoes. This will always remind you to revisit empathy.

16) Q: Are there any professional journals in the field that you suggest I read?
A: The American Association of Nurse Practitioners is a good one to read.