Interview with Nikole Boshonek

Nikole Lyn Boshonek, MSN, FNP-BC, DipACLM, CHWC, is a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner and Lifestyle Medicine specialist based in Leesburg, Virginia. She is the founder and lead provider at Trinpathic Wellness, where she offers integrative, patient-centered care combining evidence-based medicine with lifestyle, mind-body, and wellness coaching.

• What made you choose your career as a nurse practitioner?

  
  

  I started by volunteering at the hospital as a nursing aide. I received a Navy full-ride scholarship for nursing at Penn State. Working in medicine and in the Navy made me realize how much I loved the job, which led me to become a nurse practitioner.

  
  

• If you were not able to become a nurse practitioner, what other careers would you want to pursue instead?

  
  

  I have always been a physics nerd and loved science, so I would have considered becoming a physicist. I also enjoy baking and cooking, so opening a bakery would have been another career I would have wanted to pursue.

  
  

• What are the education and requirements needed to become a nurse practitioner?

  
  

  To become a nurse practitioner, you first need a bachelor’s degree in nursing. After that, you work as a registered nurse for about one to three years, often in critical care. Then, you attend nurse practitioner school at the master’s level, and some people continue further to earn a DNP or PhD.

  
  

• What does a typical day in your life as a nurse practitioner look like?

  
  

  Right now, my days are slower because I am starting my practice. My work includes seeing clients, recommendations, and therapy for patients. I usually see one to two medical clients, and each appointment can last one to two hours. On average, I may see around six clients in a day.

  
  

• What is the most rewarding part of your job?

  
  

  The most rewarding part of my job is being able to help clients and see the positive impact I can make in their lives.

  
  

• What is one piece of advice you would give to those who are aspiring to become a nurse practitioner?

  
  

  I would say to soak in all of your experiences with an open mind and pay attention to what brings you joy. Follow that path, and do not feel like you are stuck in one direction. Education is never wasted.

  
  

• Why did you choose to start Trinpathic Wellness instead of working in a hospital setting?

  
  

  I became very frustrated in the hospital setting because I felt like patient concerns were not always being fully addressed. I felt that I was not seeing the full story and that there were not always proper diagnoses being made. I wanted to create a place where I could better help clients and focus on their full well-being.

  
  

• What is one difficulty you have experienced while working as a nurse practitioner?

  
  

  One of the biggest difficulties has been starting a private practice. Small mistakes can happen and learning how to avoid them and trust yourself has been an important part of the process.