Anne Arundel Urology

Nurse Practitioners

Overview | Our Nurse Practitioners

The Role of the Nurse Practitioner at Anne Arundel Urology

The Nurse Practitioners at Anne Arundel Urology have undergone extensive one on one training with each of our physicians, making them an important part of our health care team. They are responsible for the evaluation and treatment of both acute and chronic urological conditions, not limited to but including the following: prostatitis, epididymitis, nephrolithiasis, urinary tract infections, incontinence (urge, stress, mixed and overflow), benign prostatic hypertrophy, scrotal abscess, sexually transmitted disease, hematuria and post-operative care of patients who have had TUMT, TURP, TURB, radical prostatectomy, vesica sling and nephrectomy. Vasectomy consultations and other health education topics may also be addressed by the nurse practitioner.

The Nurse Practitioner can independently perform procedures not limited to but including urodynamics testing, urinary catheterization, bladder installations, bladder sonogram, testosterone injections, female urethral dilation, uroflow, cystometry, biofeedback incision and drainage.

Nurse Practitioners can also diagnose, order and interpret laboratory tests and x-rays, prescribe medication and arrange follow up diagnostic testing to be performed by the patients' physicians.

The Nurse Practitioner may assist the physician in taking new patient histories, patient follow up and history and physical assessment of pre-operative patients. The Nurse Practitioner with hospital privileges may dictate the history and physical examination, assist with the admission process and follow up care as directed by the physician.

The General Scope of Practice for Nurse Practitioners
Professional Role:

Nurse Practitioners are registered nurses that have advanced education and training which enables them to provide common primary health services.

"A nurse practitioner is a registered nurse who has acquired an expert knowledge base, complex decision making skills, and clinical competencies for expanded practice, the characteristics of which are shared by the context of the state in which he/she is credentialed to practice."

Nurse practitioners focus on stable medical problems and health care prevention. They have provided health care services for more than 35 years after the role evolved in the 1960's in response to a national shortage of physicians, who treat complicated problems or perform difficult procedures and surgery.

Nurse Practitioners take complete medical histories and perform complete physical exams. With this information they make a diagnosis, develop plans of care and are able to order and interpret any labs or diagnostic x-rays needed. They also prescribe appropriate medications.

Education involves advanced practice nursing and selected medical studies as well as intensive clinical experience specific to the area of practice. Our nurse practioners have a 4 year undergraduate nursing degree, a graducate degree as a Bacholer of Science, and have passed a national certification exam, making them a C.R.N.O., aka a Certified Registered Nurse Practioner. Nurse practitioners provide high quality cost effective and individualized care for patients, familes and communities. Consumer and government studies have shown that they are skilled clinicians and patient educators. At Anne Arundel Urology, We are fortunate to offer you the services and support of our excellent nurse practitioners, Molly W. Bartlett, MA, CRNP, CUNP; Jill A. Brydalski, MS, CRNP; Diane R. Schmidt, MS, CRNP and Kathleen M. Gagnier, MS, CRNP who see patients with a variety of urologic problems in our Annapolis and Glen Burnie offices. Elizabeth A. D'Antonio, MS, CRNP, CCRC is Director of Clinical Research based in the Annapolis office. This is a recently evolving area of interest available for qualified participants who would like the opportunity to be involved in the latest federally regulated clinical studies.

Our Nurse Practitioners

Molly W. Bartlett, C.R.N.P., C.U.N.P.
Jill A. Brydalski, C.R.N.P.
Kathleen M. Gagnier, C.R.N.P.
Diane R. Schmidt, C.R.N.P.
Elizabeth A. D'Antonio, C.R.N.P., C.C.R.C.

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