Member Spotlight: Sara Damron, DNP, APRN, AGACNP-BC

Dr. Damron has been a nurse practitioner for 8 years. She says during my experience as an ICU nurse, I was inspired by the intensivist nurse practitioner on our team. Her accessibility and strong communication skills enabled her to bridge crucial gaps in critical care treatment plans, complementing the attending physician's role. My passion for inpatient care, combined with the limited number of acute care nurse practitioners at that time, revealed an opportunity to address a significant healthcare shortage. I recognized that pursuing this advanced practice role would allow me to make a meaningful contribution to acute care delivery.

I began my career as an AGACNP working as a hospitalist in rural Arkansas, where the shortage of inpatient providers necessitated a high degree of autonomy for nurse practitioners. In this small community hospital with limited specialist availability, I routinely managed critically ill patients independently. While this level of responsibility immediately following graduation presented significant challenges, it cultivated essential skills in assessing standard of care, critical thinking, and independent decision-making that I applied daily. The depth of knowledge I developed in that role has proven invaluable throughout my career trajectory, from direct patient care to my current position in academia.

Throughout my nurse practitioner career, I have had the privilege of working across diverse acute care settings, including hospitalist medicine, critical care, urgent care, and psychiatric medical services. I have presented at state and national healthcare conferences and served as treasurer for the American NP in Aesthetics Association. However, my greatest professional accomplishment has been effective patient advocacy. I have successfully navigated peer-to-peer reviews with insurance companies, secured prior authorizations for essential treatments, and facilitated transfers of critically ill patients to tertiary care centers even when bed availability appeared limited. While I value these professional milestones, the most meaningful measure of success remains the moment a patient or family member expresses genuine gratitude for the care I provided.

The most significant challenge I have encountered as a nurse practitioner is limited specialist access for patients, particularly in rural healthcare settings. When patients require consultation for uncommon or complex conditions, the scarcity of available specialists can result in delays in care and suboptimal outcomes. This issue has been persistent throughout rural Arkansas and represents a systemic barrier to delivering timely, comprehensive care. Additionally, I have navigated challenges related to physician understanding and acceptance of the nurse practitioner role. While I have been fortunate to work alongside many supportive and collaborative physician colleagues, there have been instances where role clarity and interprofessional dynamics required careful navigation.

Over the past eight years as a nurse practitioner, I have witnessed tremendous growth and evolution within our profession. What motivates me each day is observing the tangible impact nurse practitioners have on patient care and the healthcare system as a whole. Seeing our profession's expanding influence and recognition—and knowing that I contribute to that legacy through my clinical work and academic role—provides a sense of purpose that drives my continued commitment. I take great pride in being part of a profession that consistently demonstrates its value through improved patient outcomes, increased access to care, and innovative approaches to healthcare delivery.

I firmly believe that listening to an audiobook absolutely counts as reading the book.

My newest passion outside of work is learning to style my daughter's thick, curly hair. Mastering the techniques and products needed to care for her curls has become an enjoyable challenge that allows me to be creative while spending quality time with her.

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