RN Patient Advocates

Welcome and thank you for your interest in
RN Patient Advocacy

Introduction

Endorsed by the American Holistic Nurses Association, RN Patient Advocates, PLLC is the national leader in RN patient advocacy, education, and professional development.

→ Check in on our most recent class offerings

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The RN Patient Advocates Learning Intensive is currently in video format (Zoom) and is presented once a week for a 3 hour zoom class and for an entire Saturday every 5 weeks.

In the program, you will be working in groups to maximize learning and teamwork. You will be completing homework assignments together and reporting back in the following class. Homework assignments will be posted on the password protected RNPA Café.

Meanwhile, the National Network of RN Patient Advocates is open to all. The Network presents educational programming every month except December, July and August. Additionally, frequent emails are distributed to all members with leading-edge scientific information.

→ Sign Up to Our National Network

The RN Patient Advocates Learning Intensive is created to open new areas of knowledge and skills for the RNPA students in order that each may find and follow her/his own passion and practice as an independent RN Patient Advocate – meeting the pressing needs in the medical system today.

RN Patient Advocacy is a growing profession for clinical RNs who are ready to apply their expertise, experience, and passion toward independent practice and patient-centered care. The RNPA Learning Intensive is the only program of its kind developed by and for clinical RNs. It is an advanced and comprehensive education program that equips graduates with the skills and tools needed to practice as independent RN Patient Advocates (iRNPAs).

In 2009, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation partnered with the Institute of Medicine (now the National Academy of Medicine) to explore the role of nursing and nursing education. The result, published in 2011, was The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health, a comprehensive report that created a vision for nursing in 2020.

“By virtue of their regular, close proximity to patients and their scientific understanding of care processes across the continuum of care, nurses have a considerable opportunity to act as full partners with other health professionals and to lead in the improvement and redesign of the health care system and its practice environment,” the report concluded.

*Independent RN Patient Advocacy is a leader in addressing the improvements needed in this redesign. RNs are the most trusted members of the healthcare team and yet are arguably the least utilized for their wide range of skill sets, knowledge bases, and potential to effect real change in the community setting.

A very interesting article by Azita Emami, PhD, MSH, RN, Dean of the University of Washington School of Nursing recently stated:

"Health care in the United States is ailing, and nurses can help fix it — if we start thinking differently about the scope of nursing practice. Expanding the scope of nursing practice can help improve the American healthcare system.”

Independent RN Patient Advocates (iRNPAs) are expanding this scope of practice across the country. This model began in 2002 and has prepared iRNPAs in 27 states since 2009.

The article went on to say: "This effort reflects a philosophical shift toward fostering wellness, rather than just treating illness, as an essential element to help reduce health care costs and expand access to primary care. This requires an emphasis on understanding and addressing the social determinants of health, encouraging disease and injury prevention, and creating a culture of wellness. It also requires understanding that nurses today are being educated for a far more comprehensive role in delivering health care."

Working to foster wellness as well as addressing root cause of chronic illnesses through understanding a patient’s full background, including social determinants of health, are basic elements of the RN Patient Advocacy Process©.

Curriculum
The RNPA Learning Intensive Course Content centers upon utilization of the entire RN Patient Advocacy Process©, an investigative clinical approach to patient-centered care that has been refined and improved since 2002. The 7 month Online Learning Intensive includes intensive mentoring with Karen Mercereau, RN, iRNPA as well as several other experienced and successful iRNPAs who will initiate RN students into the creative and expanding mindset of an independent RN Patient Advocate. Physicians and nutritionists as well as business and financial leaders are also included in the Learning Intensive to fully prepare you to begin your iRNPA practice. Please note that your own practice will reflect your own passion whether it is with a generalist practice or a specific one such as cardiology, renal, cancer, etc.

Teaching will also include course work in the global advanced sciences such as Systems Biology, the Human Microbiome. Included in this work is an introduction to Functional Medicine, Integrative Medicine and advanced Nutritional studies.

The extensive Pre-Course Required Reading List must be completed prior to beginning the Learning Intensive. This lays the foundation for understanding the healthcare context from which the iRNPA nursing role has emerged as a necessity. It contains also introductory information on the advanced sciences. There is also a list of suggested books for your library with the most important ones listed with a star.

The Learning Intensive includes an emphasis on professional empowerment by teaching students to maximize presentation and negotiation skills to work collaboratively and effectively with clients, physicians, institutions, and all members of the healthcare team. Additionally, the Learning Intensive provides a comprehensive introduction to the business components of an independent practice including seminars on marketing, financial management, and an overview of the legal aspects such as contracts, insurance, and liability. *** To maximize individual learning opportunities, class size is limited to 30 students. Early application is recommended. ***

The 7 month Online Learning Intensive is facilitated through our RNPA Café! and weekly Zoom learning sessions! Students learn the RN Patient Advocacy Process© which is unique to iRNPAs and includes an introduction to The Medical Timeline - a forensic approach to analyzing medical records and developing Areas of Investigation for their clients. Students learn Motivational Interviewing techniques and develop a further understanding of Integrative and Functional Medicine. Additionally, students are introduced to the business components of an independent consulting practice such as marketing and financial management. Students work in groups and will be expected to complete one learning module per week and are required to stay on schedule to receive educational contact hours. The RNPA Café!, created by RN Patient Advocates, PLLC., is the central communication area for all iRNPA network members. The Café! is filled with member only content including educational videos, discussion boards and access to professional news and resources.

Course Content
Course Content 2023 Class #16: The RNPA Curriculum staff update the Curriculum for every class. This is underway for the upcoming class.
Course Content

Post Course Opportunities/Support

The National Network of RN Patient Advocates provides an online platform in the RNPA Café for professional iRNPAS to share knowledge, experience, and practice support. (take out marketing materials sentence please). Referrals for iRNPA services that come into the main office will be given to the iRNPA closest to the client inquiring for service. There is no charge for this.

The National Network provides an online platform for professional iRNPAs to share knowledge, experience, and practice support, as well as marketing material for iRNPA services, referrals by region for inquiries received through RN Patient Advocates, PLLC, and a growing list of benefits. Early Registrants of Class 16 of the RN Patient Advocates Learning Intensive will receive membership in the RNPA National Network upon acceptance in the program. This will save you more than $200 in network membership fees. Example: sign up in July you will get 7 months access before class begins for a total of 17 months. That is a $300 dollar savings. Learn More on the National Network Page.

Lectures and Seminars presented by Nationally Recognized physicians.
Experts in their fields will present on topics ranging from Integrative and Functional Medicine to Naturopathic Oncology to Bookkeeping, Legal Consideration and Marketing.

Tuition
The RNPA Learning Intensive includes:

7 months of online (web-based) education
Course Material including the Learning Intensive Course Content Flash Drive
An extensive List of Recommended Reading
A two-hour post-course group conference call with Karen Mercereau RN, iRNPA is provided free to graduates (A $300 value)
A three-month introductory membership in the National Network of RN Patient Advocates will be yours following completion of the Learning Intensive
All relevant Advocacy forms will be available as a member of the RN National Network at a reduced rate such as a service contract and HIPAA release form template, billing form, etc.,

Upon completion of the coursework graduates will:

Receive a Certificate of Completion from RN Patient Advocates, PLLC and be awarded 40 contact hours.

The Tuition Total $5,599

Tuition for the Learning Intensive and associated expenses are typically tax deductible (IRS Form 970). Check with your tax preparer.

RN Patient Advocates, PLLC, has created the leading education program to prepare you to enter the field of RN Patient Advocacy. If you are ready for a new career, you can join the vanguard of this national nursing initiative and become an independent RN Patient Advocate.

What RNPA Graduates Are Saying About the Learning Intensive

“The way of the future of nursing...an absolute must if you want to make and be the difference in righting the wrongs of healthcare. Karen is a wonderful mentor who has put her soul into this program. Passion, Vision, Perseverance.” — Lana Benton, RN, iRNPA

“The forethought, experience, openness, philosophy and preparation provides all the tools, thought process, and confidence to begin and succeed as an iRNPA.” — Leta Gill, RN, iRNPA

“My experience attending the iRNPA program was a refreshing one, to say the least. This program was packed with life changing information that is not readily taught or available to RN's. This program equipped me with the tools I need to be an iRNPA! If you are ready for a change after working for many years in the clinical setting and are driven to help patients and families, this is the program for you! Karen is a wealth of knowledge that is unmatched in the advocacy process.” — Jamie Long, RN, iRNPA

“Thank you so much for putting together such an incredible RN PA intensive course! It is truly intensive but so worth it! I learned a lot and will be using the Medical Time Line and lab spreadsheet with as many clients as I can. All great information and can’t wait to get my speaking engagements lined up now that I have your fantastic power points!”
Nan Wetherhorn, RN, BSN, iRNPA
Health Care Advisor
www.healthcareadvisornan.com

The Learning Intensive Objectives
New models of nursing care delivery continue to emerge in response to increasing chronic illness across the US population. The iRNPA certificate program introduces the knowledge and skills necessary to implement a consultative model of care delivery that coordinates the complex healthcare delivery necessary for individuals with acute and chronic illness. The iRNPA’s also work with individuals to reach their goals of optimal health and wellness.

Program Objectives
Upon completion of this program, participants will be able to:

Implement the iRNPA patient care delivery model.
Integrate various systems of care (naturopathy, integrative therapeutics, Functional Medicine, Systems Biology, and the Human Microbiome) as well as traditional western medicine Into their care coordination /advocacy plans.
Create a business plan to launch their own iRNPA consultative practice.
BBuild a practice management team for their IRNPA consultative practice which may include a bookkeeper or accountant, perhaps SBDC (Small Business Development Center) for assistance with Business Plan and planning. The SBDC is a branch of the SBA (Small Business Association) and is designed to help new entrepreneurs.