Nurse Practitioner and Physician Assistant | Webinar Series-Onboarding an NP or PA into Plastic Surgery

Video Transcription

Video Summary

The webinar discussed the onboarding of nurse practitioners (NPs) and physician assistants (PAs) into plastic surgery practices, led by Julie West, a PA at The Ohio State University. The session emphasized the importance of intentional onboarding and creating a supportive culture. Key elements for successful onboarding include a structured and tailored program that integrates intentional incorporation into the practice, defined curriculum, strategic integration into practice, and adapting to the unique challenges within a plastic surgery setting.<br /><br />Michaela Zeltman shared insights from Ohio State's onboarding framework, focusing on the importance of consistent training timelines, developing skills, and setting clear expectations for NPs and PAs. Carrie Bettelock highlighted challenges such as individual variability in PA and NP training backgrounds, the specialty's complexity, and team dynamics. Dr. Ryan Schmucker provided a surgeon’s perspective, emphasizing the significance of kindness, mutual respect, clear communication, and structured training in building a cohesive team. He advised encouraging and engaging new team members while balancing workload demands.<br /><br />The webinar also addressed questions on specific didactic resources, financial incentives for training programs, and suggestions for specific courses or certifications for PAs and NPs interested in pursuing a career in plastic surgery. The moderators recognized the absence of a standardized onboarding process across practices but stressed the importance of tailored onboarding depending on institutional needs and practice types. The session concluded with a Q&A and an offer for ongoing discussion and resources for NPs and PAs interested in plastic surgery through ASPS channels.

Keywords

onboarding

nurse practitioners

physician assistants

plastic surgery

structured program

training

team dynamics

certifications

ASPS resources

tailored onboarding