Sharlann Trussell, APRN, MSN, BC, NP-C, Albany Area Primary Health Care

Becoming a family nurse practitioner has been a journey encompassing two decades. I began my professional career as a LPN. I was able to attend a satellite school in my local town on a CETA grant.* As a child, I always wanted to be a teacher. Then I as I grew older, I decided I wanted to be a nurse like my mother. I saw the compassion and caring that she exhibited and decided I had a heart like hers and wanted to serve others too.

Over the years, I went back to school to obtain my associate degree and bachelor’s degree and ultimately a master’s degree with Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) certification. Raising a family, working full time and going to school with limited resources was not always easy, but God always made a way for me to achieve my dream. I have now been a nurse for 35 years.

As a FNP, I have the privilege of caring for patients of all ages. I also enjoy the teaching aspect of my job as I educate patients regarding their medical conditions and ways to improve their health. I’ve realized that dream of teaching too.

One of the greatest honors for me is caring for several generations of the same family. I have had the honor of caring for four generations of several families and one family of five generations. Just last year, the 105-year-old matriarch of the five-generation family passed away. She was always “mad,” that she had to come see me, saying, “I am not sick.” She had no desire to spend her time coming to the office. My oldest current patient is a 103-year-old man, who when asked how he is doing today, will reply, “I’m kicking, just not too high.” What a blessing to be able to communicate that sentiment to your health care provider when you are a centurion!

The blessings are truly mine as I strive to meet the needs of my patients. Sometimes, they just need a hug and a pat on the back. It is quite a social event for the little ladies to get dressed up to come for their visit. I try to provide quality health care for all those who entrust their health care needs to me. Having always worked in a rural, underserved area, I’ve seen many obstacles to care. It is often quite challenging when patients have no insurance or have limited resources and transportation. We often have to be inventive to help patients acquire necessary treatments. I once had to tie a patient’s bicycle to my luggage rack and then drive him the seven miles to his home. He had ridden his bicycle to the office but was too sick to ride it back home.

Sharlann Trussell

The majority of our patients are very appreciative and grateful for the care we provide. They often bring us goodies. They bring fruits and vegetables from their garden, they make us cookies, cakes, jelly and jams; they make us homemade gifts like aprons, wooden crosses, and kitchen angels. The list goes on and on. One 93-year-old patient fell off his ladder while picking us pears and broke several of his ribs. After thanking him for the pears, I sternly forbade him to climb back up the ladder. The next year he comes in with two bags full of pears. He mmediately explained that he did not climb up the ladder, but rather stood on the ground and shot his gun into the branches. Then he proceeded to pick up the pears off the ground. Oh my, how I love these folks!

Being a nurse practitioner for me is a calling. I know I am doing the job that I am supposed to do. It is such a joy to be able to make a difference in the lives of my patients. For those who heed our advice, we can improve their health outcomes and decrease the...