RANDOLPH, Vt.—Family Nurse Practitioner Patricia Murphy has joined Gifford Medical Center, serving with the hospitalist team on Howell Pavilion, Gifford’s inpatient unit.
Murphy, who sees patients of all ages who are admitted to the hospital, takes a patient-centered approach to care.
“My style is to find out what’s most important to patients, their goals, and to be their resource,” she said. “I am here to answer questions that will help patients make decisions—not make those decisions for them. I am here to guide.”
She brings to the role extensive, specialized experience in providing geriatric and palliative care.
“It’s really dear to my heart,” Murphy said. “My previous position was in palliative care and I fell in love with it, and I’ve worked in geriatrics my whole career. There is a great need for extra attention to be drawn to addressing progressive chronic disease states. These patients can fall through the cracks, and that’s how they end up in the hospital repeatedly.”
Murphy arrived at a career in nursing later in her professional life. She originally went to school to be a teacher, then worked as a dental assistant. A close friend, a nurse, encouraged her to shift gears and pursue nursing.
“It’s the best decision I ever made,” said Murphy. “I love the patients and can’t imagine doing anything else.”
From Florida, Murphy was drawn to Gifford by a desire to live and work in New England. She and her husband, who is retired from providing emergency medical services, bought a 125-year-old house across the border in New Hampshire. In her off time, Murphy enjoys working on their new home, horseback riding, and spending time with her husband and dog.
She is certified by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners and is a member of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners. She is a licensed Family/Adult Gerontologic Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (FNP/AGACNP-BC). She previously worked in locum tenens roles through DocStar Medical Partners with North Country Healthcare in New Hampshire; Personal Care Medical Associates; Varsity Health at Saint Leo University in Saint Leo, Fla.; Atit Neurology in Holiday, Fla.; Ambulatory Surgery Center in Tampa, Fla.; HCA Florida Bayonet Point Hospital in Hudson, Fla.; HCA Florida South Shore Hospital in Sun City Center, Fla.; and HCA Florida Brandon Hospital in Brandon, Fla. She earned her master’s and bachelor’s degrees in nursing from the University of South Alabama in Mobile, Ala., and her associate degree in nursing from Hillsborough Community College in Tampa, Fla.
For more information about inpatient care at Gifford, visit giffordhealthcare.org.
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