Sick on Vacation? 4 Ways Nurse Practitioners Can Help Salvage Your Time Away by Joyce Knestrick, CRNP, FAANP

Most of us wait all year for vacation, and getting sick or injured is not usually on the itinerary. Still, the chance of having a vacation snafu is relatively high, especially if you’re traveling with kids. Don’t let a little misfortune ruin your entire trip! Here are four ways a nurse practitioner (NP) can resuscitate your vacation:

• Walk-in clinics: NPs staff 2,800 retail clinics nationwide in popular stores like Target and CVS, putting urgent care on virtually any vacation map. In about an hour, you can get a diagnosis, fill a prescription and be on your way.

• Advice lines: Many provider offices staff advice lines with NPs who can give trip-saving advice, even if you can’t see your provider in person.

• Emergency rooms: NPs in the ER reduce wait times and improve patient outcomes, which matters when you’re spending precious vacation minutes in a hospital.

• NP Finder: There are nearly 250,000 practicing NPs across the country, and this handy locator will help you find one, even when you’re not on your home turf.

Life happens, even when you’re on vacation! NPs can help you make the most of your precious time away.