Jim McGregor
A nurse practitioner is trained to assess patient needs, order and interpret diagnostic and laboratory tests, diagnose illness and disease, prescribe medication and formulate treatment plans. NP training covers basic disease prevention, coordination of care, and health promotion. The core philosophy of the nurse practitioner role is individualized care that focuses on a patient’s medical issues as well as the effects of illness on the life of a patient and his or her family.
I grew up in a small rural area named Thatcher that is about an hour away from Pocatello. Growing up on a small family farm meant feeding cows, fixing fence, tons of odd jobs and my absolute favorite activity moving pipe. Although work was abundant, I still got to spend plenty of time snowmobiling, riding four wheelers and many other outdoor activities. My dad recognized that our small family farm was too small to financially support multiple families and encouraged me to go to college instead of considering farming as a career. I got an academic scholarship to Idaho State University and studied biology as a stepping stone to a career in a health care field, although I still was undecided about exactly which area of medicine I wanted to end up in.
I took two years to go on a church mission. I lived in northern Chile where I learned to speak Spanish and also appreciate Chilean culture. I loved my time there and when I returned I felt like I was “mas Chileno que los porrotos.” Upon returning I met Randy Vawdrey who at that time was working in a small inpatient psychiatric facility and hired me for my first job in health care as a psychiatric technician.
I worked there for a few years and decided that I wanted to be a nurse practitioner.I was accepted to Idaho State University’s nursing program and earned my second bachelors degree as a registered nurse in 2008. My first job as an RN was in an intensive care unit at a local hospital. I was blessed to work with an amazing team of doctors and nurses that taught me new things each day and I feel I grew every night that I worked with them.
I worked in the ICU for five years and also attended graduate school during that time. In 2013, I finished a degree as a Family Nurse Practitioner. Since that time I have worked at Physicians Immediate Care, primarily in the urgent care setting. I enjoy the pace and the abundance of diverse injuries and illnesses that are typical in urgent care. Over the last few years, I have also had the opportunity to train numerous student nurse practitioners from multiple universities across the nation.
In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my wife and children, being outdoors, fly fishing, mountain biking, backpacking and watching collegiate sports. Go Buckeyes!