A Nurse Practitioner's Clinic Day.

Amanda Roy walks into LoneTree OBGYN & Midwives a few minutes before clinic starts at 8am. She’s prepped and reviewed her patient charts the day before so she has a good idea of what’s ahead. Roy works closely with her medical assistant, Tammy, to make sure there aren’t any surprises unless they are emergencies. Roy is a nurse practitioner who specializes in women’s health.

Where are you from originally?

I grew up in Glendora, CA, a smaller suburb outside of Pasadena. I moved to Castle Rock, Colorado in 2022.  

Why did you go into women’s health? Was there a defining moment?

I have always enjoyed women's health in nursing. I started working in the NICU (neonatal intensive care unit) then did floating through Labor and Delivery as well as Postpartum. When I pursued my MSN I knew I had to specialize in women's health. I experienced a few health issues and developed a special bond with my personal healthcare provider. She inspired me to pursue this career and I am thankful I now get to provide great care to my patients the way she did for me. 

You don’t deliver babies yet you see a lot of pregnant patients.

I absolutely love seeing my pregnant patients! I feel very lucky to be a part of their pregnancy journey and I enjoy creating relationships with my patients. Prenatal care involves a lot of education which is my favorite thing to take time for with patients. I always enjoy when patients show me pictures of the nursery coming together, the baby shower, and gender reveal party photos.

Do you feel like you’re missing out on the delivery part of things?

While I do not attend deliveries, I feel just as part of the team in pregnancy as others. I am trained in the midwifery philosophy of care and share in their approach to prenatal care. The only difference is that I won't be there for the big day, but I am cheering on my patients in spirit! I chose not to do deliveries as a Nurse Practitioner so that I have a more consistent schedule that allows for a better work life balance.  I have been a part of hundreds of deliveries in my time as a Registered Nurse, so I feel more than capable with my background and training to address the delivery concerns for patients in their prenatal care visits.

It's close to lunch time. The morning has been a blur of quick routine ob visits, wellness exams, and new gyn patients with complex issues that will require additional testing and future visits. Roy enjoys a 50-50 mixture of ob and gyn patients. There are two additional providers with full schedules. It’s hard to stay on time and still give good quality care. In between patients Roy is busy responding to email messages and returning calls. The front schedulers want to know if she can squeeze in an urgent patient. So far Roy has seen and charted on 10 patients. Her afternoon is full.

What do you like or least like about clinic work?

Charting. I make sure to only utilize the computer during visits to jot down brief notes…that way I can be present with my patient during the visit and give them my undivided attention.

How do you handle upset patients or their significant others?

I pause and address the concern immediately. I want all of my patients to feel heard, understood and cared for. I want to ensure they are receiving quality and individualized care.

What do you wish patients knew or understood about your job?

I hope patients know that it’s truly my goal to provide quality and patient centered care for everyone I see. I empathize with my patients and genuinely care about their wellbeing. I strive to always run on time, however, some patients need a little extra time with me which can cause my schedule to run behind. I try to be very mindful of the clock, but when I am with patients they are my priority and I want them to feel like they have all the time they need with me at that moment.

The exam rooms are full of afternoon patients belonging to all three providers. Roy and her medical assistant are doing their best to keep up. Each room has to be sanitized and prepped for the next patient. Late patients and late providers make for a grumpy vibe.

What’s changed in people or the healthcare industry since you started?

The lack of faith in the healthcare system. I believe most of this started with Covid. Healthcare will never be the same as it was before. The demands and high patient volumes can be challenging for providers and patients. I hope our patients know that we strive to provide quality care to all of our patients, spending time to thoroughly go over all of their concerns is a top priority, and making sure patients know that us providers at Lone Tree OBGYN and Midwives want to continue to expand our practice and create more relationships with patients.

Roy received her Master’s of Science in Nursing degree from Georgetown University. Had she not been a nurse, Roy would have chosen to be an interior designer. She loves to roam Homegoods and follow certain designers on Instagram. She loves board games, spending time with family/friends, photography and playing with her new puppy, Huxley.