Helena Turner, Nurse Practitioner
Joined Fenway in August, 2016
Education: Yale School of Nursing, Master’s in Nursing; Bates College, Bachelor’s in Neuroscience.
What inspired you to become a Nurse Practitioner?
I majored in neuroscience as an undergraduate and loved the pace of the science, but didn’t really like being in a lab and working with rodents. After college I worked at an outdoor educational center for a couple of years, and found that it was extraordinarily difficult to find primary care services where I was living and working. I thought that becoming a NP would allow me to merge my interests in science, health, and wellness with my desire to give back to my communities.
Are there any developments or advancements in the field that you’re particularly excited about?
I think that the progress being made in infectious disease management is really exciting. PrEP for HIV and curative treatments for Hepatitis C are two examples that come to mind.
When you have time off, what do you get up to?
I like to ski, bike, and generally be outside.
Can you tell us a little about your schooling and formal training?
I majored in neuroscience as an undergraduate which gave me a great bench-science background for nursing school. After leaving science to work outside for a couple of years, I chose to do a three year accelerated nursing program at Yale. After nursing school, I did an interdisciplinary residency at the West Haven VA, where I trained alongside internal medicine residents in an outpatient clinic.
What has been the best part of your training so far?
My residency training at the West Haven VA was an outstanding opportunity. The Veterans were a joy to serve, and I am grateful that I was able to evaluate and treat such complex patients so early in my career. I independently assessed patients and developed a plan of care, then would consult with attending providers to confirm or adjust my plan accordingly. We also had classroom based learning sessions on evidence-based guidelines and treatment plans. I made wonderful friends and grew tremendously as a provider.