This Nurse Is A Vessel Of Change For The Next Generation Of NPs - Ep. 76
Ananya is a multi-passionate dual board-certified Pediatric NP. She is on a mission to help the next generation of nurse practitioners step into their practice with confidence and clarity and avoid the overwhelm as new grads! She is a nurse entrepreneur who is impassioned by helping new grad NPs leverage their skills, understand their power as advanced providers, and land their dream jobs! She is determined to change the narrative and knows that NPs are indispensable figures in healthcare once they truly step into their own power!
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TRANSCRIPT:
Naseema McElroy: [00:00:00] All right, Nurses on Fire. I am super excited to have Ananya Datta join us and a Ananya is a pediatric nurse practitioner that helps other nurse practitioners on their entrepreneurial journey. Ananya, how are you today?
Ananya Datta: [00:00:17] Good. Thank you so much, Naseema, for having me and speaking with you and your audience.
I'm excited to be here.
Naseema McElroy: [00:00:22] Awesome. Awesome. Okay, so let's jump in and just talk about how you became a nurse and nurse practitioner. what was that journey like?
Ananya Datta: [00:00:31] Sure. So I actually started out as a pre-med undergrad and I thought that I was going to take the, the medical route. And I quickly realized an organic chemistry class that that was not going to be, that's just not me.
So, I switched to a nursing major, undergrad after seeing a couple of mentors that I really looked up to also going into nursing. And I finished my undergrad at university of Memphis and I was doing a lot of nurse externships. In the PICU and that easily translated into my first job as a PICU nurse in that fifth.
And I found myself really liking the critical thinking aspect being quick on a toes, especially that early on in my nursing career. But I felt like I was missing something. I felt like I wanted more. Yeah, autonomy. I want it to be a part of the plan of care. I wanted a more multidisciplinary approach that I could contribute meaningfully to so that, made me want to take the next step and seek out my nurse practitioner degree.
So I went to New York. And I did a combo because I really wanted to also look at a broader lens of the public health aspect and see the social determinants of health, health disparities and inequities. That was important for me as well. So I did a dual degree there. so I became a nurse practitioner and I have been practicing as the ER nurse practitioner in Philadelphia for the past four years.
Naseema McElroy: [00:02:02] Nice. Nice girl. That O-Chem got me too. I was like, yeah. So this isn't going to be the route for me, I guess. like regular chemistry is hard enough, but O-Chem I was like, is this like another language? Are you guys like teaching English? I don't understand this at
Ananya Datta: [00:02:19] all. It's definitely a weeding course.
The only wrong is it was not strong enough to withstand that, but it turned out in my favor. So
Naseema McElroy: [00:02:32] how, as a NP, you, have branched off into consulting. Talk to me about that work and how you transitioned into that role.
Ananya Datta: [00:02:43] Absolutely. So. I, did not even understand that nurse consulting was a thing until, honestly last year and I was introduced to it by, one of my mentors, L Pearson, who is a nurse consultant, has her own Academy where she teaches nurse consultants step-by-step of how to do it.
And one of the things, that. She brought up is that, as nurses, we are always consulting and we have the skills. We just never have gotten paid for it. Or we never think that we can independently withstand doing this. So I found myself a lot of times in my previous job as an NP, doing a lot of taskforce, things such as helping new NPs onboard, myself and another NP, Emily.
we did a onboarding. I have about 10 nurse practitioners at one time. And, our chief was looking for help in doing that. And we created a curriculum and onboarding program and competencies, something that consultants are outsourced to and, always get highly paid for these things.
And we did this for free during our admin time. And so when I think back I've always been a consultant, I just never have gotten paid for it. So when I got introduced to this field, it felt very organic and seamless transition that I have been craving for. I had always wanted to be an entrepreneur and it felt like the right time.
It felt like the right time with COVID this year with everything that's going on with burnout, which I too experienced. And it just felt like, that now is the time now or never. So I recently launched a healthcare consulting firm and my main focus in this firm is to help emergency departments improve their operations and efficiency.
Something that I'm extremely passionate about and have been doing as an internal employee for years. I want to help on a broader scale. So that was a really natural transition for me. Once I found out that there is a business and there is a need to serve in this capacity.
Naseema McElroy: [00:04:44] Definitely. And I just remember my background is I came from healthcare administration into nursing and I know how much we pay consultants, like crazy amounts of money for things that we could do in-house or things that people were doing in house, but Maybe not on that level, I like it that it was like a smooth transition because it's what you were already doing.
But yeah, there's so many opportunities and, a lot of nurses like our staff nurse three projects, I don't know if you guys do that, but a higher staff level projects are things that consultants can do. So For the audience out there, if you don't know like what a nurse consultant can do, it's probably the things that you're doing already per your job, things that you were doing to improve systems and processes, things that you're working in committees to do.
There are people who are willing to pay contractors consultants to do those things. So with your company right now, especially in midst of like all the stuff that's going on with COVID, how have you used your skills to improve emergency the emergency room workflows? Because I know they have totally changed.
Ananya Datta: [00:05:51] Absolutely. That's a great question. So I, I'm open to RC rooms as well as urgent cares. And a lot of the work that I've done has been more triaged based, so helping create new workflows and throughput, because the volumes have really fluctuated this year, I'm really working with the institution to figure out what their.
Workflow looks like for that specific timeframe, and creating, overflow capacities. We've seen a lot of observation units within the ed created, as a result of COVID volumes. but the main thing is creating safe, restrictions due to the COVID precautions, because so many things, you have to protect against aerosolization, and protect people who, typically in an ER.
Yeah. Sometimes curtains separating that no longer can be the case. so taking care of throughput, the overflow, and then incorporating code precautions, and the way that triaging happens, no longer looks the same. So redefining the workflow for each institution and going back to the drawing board and brainstorming different ways of.
How it looks now and what it will look like with the second wave that's coming up. so that's been a lot of the main work that I've done it with. The also urgent cares. and a lot of things that we've noticed is. With the urgent care setting. There's a missing piece with the audience, with the clients, really having fear in going back to urgent cares.
So there was a marketing piece or was the educational piece that had to be reinforced of re-engaging patients and letting them know why they need to come to urgent cares, what is appropriate and just. Kind of giving them that reassurance, that so everything is being done to make it a cleanliness and a safe environment so that patients can return that it's safe to return.
So that was a lot of our campaigns, around urgent care facilities as well.
Naseema McElroy: [00:07:46] Wow. That's a really, really important work and very timely. And, are you still working as an NP while consulting?
Ananya Datta: [00:07:53] I am. So my clinical hours are much more like per diem basis, because this is kind of my full-time baby and my work, but I do think that it's important to keep a pulse on what's happening clinically as a frontline worker.
So I do have plenty of capacity. Yeah.
Naseema McElroy: [00:08:09] So, how did you make that transition? Like how did you get that first consulting gig? Like how was that, from just being staff to now being on the more business side?
Ananya Datta: [00:08:20] That's a great question. So a lot of it had to do with tapping into my warm network already, which is honestly how most people get started.
So that is the low hanging fruit. That is really the best way for testimonials. Because these people who have already seen you in action as a clinician can vouch for you. And there's the know like, and trust factor already embedded in that relationship. So they're going to be going more to bat for you and batch for your skills than a cold market and cold audiences.
So. Really tapping into my warm market. and network was the first weight and I did a lot of pro bono work. the market has fluctuated so much. So, as a consultant, there are very many pros and cons. So one of the things that you have to also consider is that it's. Your consulting work can depend on the market as well and the needs of the market.
So you have to be flexible and adaptable to that, which, this year has taught us a lot to do. but yeah, so really tapping into the warm market and then doing a lot of lead generation on next, LinkedIn marketing and getting to know leaders and decision makers. I think the biggest thing that I've learned shifting from employee mindset to a CEO and a solopreneur is that.
People aren't really like wearing a business of relationship. Building people, buy things from people, not services and things from businesses. So if they're invested in you, if they like you, they see you being able to serve them, they will invest in you. So relationship building is really our biggest currency.
and, and, and learning those skills is honestly the best way to position yourself as a consultant.
Naseema McElroy: [00:10:05] I love it. I love it. And I love how you have been able to use your career to navigate relationships, but also to enhance just like your opportunities and what's available to you. And I think. First as bedside nurses, we get, narrow-minded on what we can do, even though the world of nursing is so vast, but we get this tunnel vision and then we might think like, okay, well we can get an advanced degree or we can be an MP or a clinical nurse specialist.
And then that kinda just kinda tunnels you into. thinking that's all that you can do, maybe get into leadership, but I love how you've taken all the skills that you've attained and those relationships that you've built and started your own business. And so now that you have all of those things, you're helping other NPS do the same through your coaching business.
So let's talk about what you're doing now with your coaching.
Ananya Datta: [00:11:04] Sure, absolutely. So. Along this journey of doing this healthcare consulting. I realized that one of my really big passions is to help the next generation of nurse practitioners, particularly pediatric NPS, because while I am one. And so I remember being a new grad and I feel like I honestly was thrown to the wolves. I did not have a very structured orientation process. It was the you watch one and you do one and I remember feeling and promising myself. when I become a seasoned NP, I'm going to reach back my hands and I'm going to help the next generation. I don't want other people to feel this way. It really stunted my growth initially until I took it out power back and it, I don't think it put me in the best position to have success. I think those tools were not given to me. And I think as an employer, it's extremely important to really set up your advanced practice providers with those tools. If your expectations are a certain way, you need to also match those expectations, like giving the tools and having them succeed.
So what I'm really focusing on now is. Providing that level of support and coaching to the next generation of nurse practitioners who are new grads who are looking for jobs. And not only that, I think that a lot of times people think, okay, the hardest thing is going to be getting that job and passing boards. While that's hard. You're going to quickly realize that the hardest part is that transition from the nursing model to the NP model and shifting your understanding of how to make clinical decision-making and become that NP and step into your practice with clarity and confidence. So that is where my main focus and time is going these days because I'm creating a curriculum and a mentorship program around that.
And just providing one-on-one support to customize that level of support that new grads are really needing and craving. and I think that on a grander scale, my vision is to create something long-term. That employers can really, invest in. And so it takes the pressure off of them to create their own orientation program and have a done for you, a successful template curriculum that supports the NP and their, their skills and their transition.
Yeah,
Naseema McElroy: [00:13:21] I was going to say that just a light bulb just went on like, Oh my God, you can create these residency programs in so many different places and it's just boxed and ready for them to buy. And I think that that goes into just your. Business acumen from, understanding your different audiences and how you can use this one product to service different audiences.
And I think that that is incredibly genius, so kudos to you for that, but also like, okay, so I'm an NP. Who's never practiced because. I just don't like what NPs do? No. I mean like cool. But I love being a labor and delivery nurse, a bedside nurse, and I'm in California and going from the bedside to be an NP is usually a pay cut and longer hours and charting.
And so it just never made sense for me. I always just said I would use i t if the perfect job came along, like if there was like a halfday, I can just do it like young women's OB, and I could just come in and go home. And like, the charting is easy and all that kind of stuff, but lo and behold, I never found that job.
but what I do remember is as struggle from, with the mindset shift. From being a bedside nurse to thinking about NP, to having to diagnose and do prescriptions and like just the different workflow in a clinic and all those kinds of things. And I know how important a mentorship program. Yeah.
Is, and I think all too often, because I mean, NPs have been around forever, but you wouldn't know it by the way that we're introduced to, into practice because it's just like, you're just like, Oh, now we have an MP, like, Oh, so what can they do? What can't they do? And so there's so much, Of a learning curve and adjustment, anytime NP has to go in into practice.
And I think that this is super important, especially if you're making a scalable and done for you. So, organizations can use this because it is so necessary. It's so necessary on both sides, a win-win on both sides. You get NPs that are coming into practice prepared and you get organizations that now know we have a program that is going to make sure that these MPS succeed, therefore helping our bottom line. So yeah, I think that is incredible. What you're doing is so necessary and it's unfortunate that I have to do it. I mean, like there's like dinners are, it's not a new career, but it is like the wild, wild West.
Ananya Datta: [00:15:58] And it's usually, when programs and things are created, it's because. You've experienced it. And you are your ideal client in which case? This is exactly what's happened to me. I was my ideal client because I was a new grad lost, confused, and overwhelmed. And I was embarrassed to ask questions because I felt like , the vibe was you should already know this, and people don't understand, there is a gap between commencement to contract and that gap is that transition mindset, that time management, that clinical decision-making. we need a lot of reinforcement on clinical skills, such as diagnostics on labs because it's not covered as much as it should be in NP school. and so these are things that we want support on. And so that's a missing piece.
Between, our employer understanding that and the expectations.
Naseema McElroy: [00:16:48] So, and I think like a lot of employers, are comparing NPS to like people coming out of residency, but these people have been training in that clinical capacity for several years as to where.
We get our NP. We do our practicums and all those things during our program. And then we're just thrown out there. And so I think, we need to give ourselves some grace, even though, nurses, we think we can do it all. And so, there is an intimidation, like we don't want to ask, cause we don't want to look stupid because we're supposed to know.
Right. But then just think about the people that your counterparts and how much training and experience they got. And so don't be hard on yourself, but. No, that it's okay to ask. And it's okay to seek guidance from programs like this. And I think not only is it okay, it's necessary because you want to be successful.
You just invested all this money, all this opportunity costs of not working. So you could go back to school to do this advanced degree. make the most out of it. If that if being an NP is what you want to do, you should come into your position. Well-equipped and so I love what you're doing. So how can new Peds NPS and, and what I know you work with only Ped's nPS, but I don't think that this, This structure, a lot of your structure is, is that specific?
I think it can be generalized across different specialties, especially in the family realm and stuff. So, and your emergency room NP. So, the gamut, cradle to grave. So how can new grad MPS
Ananya Datta: [00:18:25] work
Naseema McElroy: [00:18:25] with you in order to hone in, on these things?
Ananya Datta: [00:18:29] Thank you. Yeah. So. As I'm building this mentorship program out, I am really focusing on providing that immediate next step for new grads.
So currently, I'm doing a one-on-one coaching, so you can reach me at my IG handle, which is Ananya the PNP. So Anaya the PNP and you can email me at the same handle. So Ananyathepnp@gmail.com and, I am launching my next course very, very soon is called "Jumpstart Your Job Search".
And it's so comprehensive mini course over four weeks that allows you to really. Have strategy around shop searching and creating a portfolio mock interviews, and so much more as well as a workbook. So look out for that. but I think the biggest thing that I just want to kind of reinforce also is.
A lot of times, those nurses and NPS, we are very quick to give our money and tuition, hundreds and thousands of dollars without a really second thought, because we know for sure we want to do this, but when it comes time for guidance, we seek out mentors, which is amazing and perfect because mentors have brought me to where I am.
So I'm extremely grateful, but. When you look at time, mentors don't necessarily have the time to invest in you on an ongoing basis. So it's really important to make that distinction between a coach and a mentor. So for me, coaching means that there's a strategy there's follow-up there's course correction there's investment in you with time, energy, and money.
And so how that looks for a new grad is a lot of times we jump into a contract because we're desperate, we're frustrated. We think that the market is oversaturated, which it is to a certain level and we'll take whatever without negotiating and negotiating compensation, as well as other things such as admin time.
And so many other things that we don't consider as part of our negotiation. So my question to new grads is, what would it mean to you if someone could guide you and get you 10 times the contract negotiation that you are about to sign up for, would that be worth it to you? Would that investment be worth it to you?
And so those type of questions is how I, typically guide my new grads and asking them that what areas they need help in and really showing them the value of a coach. and those that's just one area that I help with. But. That's just something I've wanted to bring up because a lot of times in nursing, we don't understand the purpose and value of a coach.
And so it is absolutely needed. It's something I wish I had so that I didn't just sign up, without negotiating. and just that transition. You need a support system. You really need a support system.
Naseema McElroy: [00:21:07] I second that totally. Because like you said, to be a nurse and to be a nurse practitioner, we'd throw all this money at these schools that, I don't know.
I didn't go to the best nursing school, even though it's like the top nursing school in the country. I don't think it was great, but we are shy are just. Don't know the value of investing in coaching, which is personalized to make sure that you actually are going to get results. And the return on investment is almost immediate.
the biggest investment that you have is yourself, and it's not just enough to invest in institutions. You have to invest in your personal development and growth, especially in your career. And so, yeah. I highly recommend coaching on so many different levels, but like, especially when you're going into a career that you don't understand the ins and outs, your first job in this career typically is going to, affect the trajectory of the rest of your career.
So it can mean thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of dollars down the line. And so coaching is critical if it's available and, Programs like yours are few and far between.
Ananya Datta: [00:22:22] So
Naseema McElroy: [00:22:24] I'm glad that you're here to share with the audience because it is so necessary. And I cannot wait until you expand this into different institutions.
I can't wait to see that because it's needed. And so share one more time, how people can, work with you when your program is opening up and what results they can seek to get from working with you.
Ananya Datta: [00:22:47] Absolutely. So, like I said, so one-on-one coaching. I do offer to give you that customized level of support and meet you where you are and create a roadmap.
And I can be contacted and Ananyathrpnp@gmail.com or IgE Instagram. Right. And Anya the PNP where I do offer a lot of value and tips, every week. And in terms of the program, I am launching the first of many, it's called jumpstart, your job search, and it is a high-level accelerator four week course where you get on demand videos as well as weekly office hours with me, where you can basically jumpstart.
Or into your job search with a, backed up system of how to strategically start your job search, get your portfolio ready, do your interviews feel it and just feel more confident in that transition. So that is going to be launched at the end of December early January, so that you can start your new year with a competent and clarified mind and ready to start this.
and just, I wanted to say like, even if you don't end up choosing. My program is really important to find your person, your person, that you fit with, that you believe in that will take you. from a novice nurse practitioner to a confident one, that is my goal as well, but find that person that is your person and.
learn to be their mentee and see if they, offer coaching, because that is going to be the biggest currency for you to go from novice to a confident NP. So I would definitely leverage that.
Naseema McElroy: [00:24:15] And then I'm going to ask, because I know people are going to ask me, is it, do you only work with new grads are early career MPS are, can work with you as well.
Ananya Datta: [00:24:24] That's a great question. I am honestly open to new novice NPS and new grads as well, both. I think that. I, I've helped many, nurse practitioners who are looking to change careers or specialties, and I'm absolutely open to that. So if that's you, if that sounds like something you're exploring or you can thinking about, I do offer free consultations as well, so we can explore and see where the right fit, if not, I can send you to my colleagues, and my network.
So I am just here to really support you and be that, like support system that. A lot of people don't have. So if I can't help you, I will guide you to someone who can,
Naseema McElroy: [00:24:59] I love that. I love that. And like you said, if you don't reach out to the . or work with an at least reach out to her cause she has a network of people, but it's super important for you to have someone on your side to help guide you and shape you, especially in this career, which, as challenging, super challenging.
So thanks again. Nadia, I think what you're doing is incredible. I think you have a wealth of knowledge and experience that anyone can benefit from, and I'm glad that you're sharing your gifts with others to help others succeed. So, yeah. Definitely appreciate you being on.
Thank
Ananya Datta: [00:25:34] you so much. I'll see you, man.
I appreciate what you're doing for us nurses and just taking us to the next level in terms of being financially secure and just really allowing us to dream bigger. So thank you for that.
Hey there I’m Naseema
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