ANPA Student Member Spotlight: Philip Prousnitzer MSN, RN, CEN, TCRN, CCRN, CPEN, SANE-A

This week we shine a spotlight on one of our outstanding NP Student members to celebrate the individuals who make ANPA special. We are excited to feature Philip Prousnitzer MSN, RN, CEN, TCRN, CCRN, CPEN, SANE-A, Student Nurse Practitioner. Thank you for being such a valued part of our community. Take a moment to read Philip's interview responses and get to know her better!

Phillip tells us his inspiration to become a nurse practitioner stems from his experiences as a nurse, as well as lived experiences with vulnerable populations. These experiences demonstrated the importance of combining strong clinical knowledge with advocacy, effective communication, and individualized care. As a bedside nurse, he developed strong assessment and intervention skills but found himself wanting to understand more— to understand “the why” behind decisions and to play a more active role in shaping patient care. Working with Special Olympics Arkansas, he would hear how different athletes needed someone who not only understood their barriers but could help provide the patient-centered care they needed. Becoming a nurse practitioner felt like the natural next step to deepen his clinical expertise while continuing to advocate for vulnerable populations and improve access to patient-centered care.

What is your background and how did you develop your skill set?

I started my healthcare career as an ED tech right before starting nursing school. After graduating and working for one year on telemetry, I then started working in the ED as a nurse. After working at the bedside for 10 years, I began teaching nursing here in Arkansas at Baptist Health College Little Rock. This was an excellent opportunity for me, as it gave me a chance to help pass on my love for our profession. During this time, I also became a forensic nurse, as the itch to be at the bedside never went away. As I started progressing further in my APRN I realized that I need to practice what I preach: you shouldn’t work full time while being in school full time. I made the difficult decision to step away from teaching and work weekends as a rapid response nurse. Each of these jobs has helped me develop my skills as a nurse in different ways throughout the years. Growing up with a brother on the autism spectrum helped me develop several important skills: patience, empathy, and advocacy.

What NP School do you attend?

I am currently in my last semester at UAMS in the Adult Gerontology Acute Care program. I will be graduating in May with my Doctorate in Nursing Practice.

What is your biggest success to date?

I think one of my biggest successes would be completing the Dopey Challenge in 2024. This involved me running a 5K, 10K, Half Marathon, and Full Marathon in a span of 4 days. I call this success as this involved not only physical strength, but also mental strength to be able to cross the finish line. This also took over a year of preparation to ensure that I could make it through those 4 days and even afterwards.

What has been your biggest challenge?

I would say that overthinking has been my biggest challenge. While it has helped when needing to think outside of the box for solutions, it has presented its challenges at times, especially when studying for boards. Thankfully I have had a great support system that has helped “reign me in”

What inspires you to hit the ground running each morning?

It is hard to say what exactly inspires me to hit the ground running each day. Sometimes it is the feeling that people need me, while sometimes it is just the fact that I want to see what the day will bring. One thing that has always been a part of my personal philosophy is to always keep learning. This has led me to not only becoming a board-certified nurse and future APRN, but also a state organization board member, an international speaker, and someone people are willing to turn to for help.

What’s an interesting fact that most people don’t know about you?

I am currently the only certified SANE-A nurse in the entire state. I am also a swim coach here in Little Rock for a Special Olympics team.

When you’re not working, what is your favorite thing to do?

Some of my favorite things to do is plan my next Disney trip, hang out with my husband and dog Merlin. I also enjoy watching movies, going to karaoke, and running.

****Do you know a NP student who should be featured or do you want to be featured on our page? Follow this link to help us celebrate the great NP students across AR. Be sure to share the link with friends and colleagues to have them complete an interview.