ISM- INTERVIEW ASSIGNMENT QUESTIONS

Student Name:
Printed Name of
Person Interviewed:
Role of Individual:
Place of Business:
Business Address:

Arjun Luthra

Period:

Nancy Ross, FNP

Family Nurse Practitioner
___Mentor ___Other Professional #1
UTMB Specialty Care Center

Phone Number:

2240 Gulf Freeway South

League City, Texas 77573
(832) 505-1600

Date of Interview:

11/12/15

__X_Other Professional #2

Type of Interview: _X__ In Person ___ Telephone* ___Email*

*Documentation Required (Attach E-mail to Interview Verification Page)

1. For someone working in your field, please describe the fantasies versus realities of the job.
(fantasy vs. reality)
I thought it would be more autonomous, but I realized I had to be able to make adjustments to my role in
my profession. Using my position to the fullest potential is the hardest thing to define. I did not realize
the complexity to my job, which is the reality. I am sometimes required to do different things I havent
done and collaborate with many health care professionals.
2. What is your current educational level? What continuing education and training are required?
(educational level and requirements)
I received a masters degree in nursing. I am not going through any new training. I am however learning
everyday something new through my administrative and clinical work.
3. Please describe the typical day to day activities of someone working in your field.
(day-to-day activities)
On Clinic days, I will interview the patient and Dr. Gajjar will do the exam. We then will make a plan.
A lot of my job description during clinic days is getting records from outside institutions and
coordinating appointments or outside referrals. On my administrative days, which is 2 to 3 days of week,
I make sure the patients get their tests back and make sure they know about them. I also record what was
not done during clinic days. I also do the ordering for imaging and for referrals. I also do what is called
GI Tumor Board. Dr Gajjar and I develop the agenda. The GI Tumor Board is when all the health care
providers from varying disciplines or specialties gather to talk about patient cases. I write the summary
and take minutes of the meetings. This will let everyone know what decisions we had come to in the
meeting.
4. How secure are you in your current position? What do you think is the future of your field?
(job security)
Revised Fall 2013

I have been a nurse practitioner for 10 years and a nurse for 35 years. The responsibilities and
recruitment keep changing. There is a lot of definition needs to happen to for the role of a nurse
practitioner. I feel pretty secure in my current position. I plan on retiring in ten years and I feel like there
is nothing wrong in medicine. There is always a job and you will always be in secure as long as you
show up to work.
5. What is a typical (average or lowest to highest) salary of someone working in your field?
(salary)
New Nurse Practitioners get 75 to 80 thousand dollars a years. My medium is about 110, 000 dollars a
year. The upper can be 160,000 dollars.
6. What potential for growth is there in your field?
(growth potential)
The potential growth is in defining the role of the midlevel health care roles like nurse practitioners.
***Questions 7-10 will be created by the ISM student.
7. Why did you choose to pursue a career in medicine?
My mom was a nurse and she influenced me. My father had died when I was 8 and if my mother did not
have an LVN, we would have been in big trouble. My mom convinced me to pursue a career in
medicine. I then realized I enjoyed the science and I felt like by being in the career I can provide for my
family. I wanted to not just be a part of administration, so I decided to become a nurse practitioner and
challenge myself.
8. What is your contribution to providing colon cancer treatment?
I learned that prevention is the key to curing colon cancer. I learned how polyps are the infrastructure of
colon cancer. I also interact with the patients and I attest the significance of colon cancer screening to
the patients. I have learned about the genetic factors of colon cancer. We are learning everyday about
that. I remember I lost a friend to rectal cancer when he was at the age of 64 and he died. He went
through the whole protocol at MD Anderson after the cancer was already advanced. He could have not
had a colon cancer if he got a colonoscopy. My biggest contribution is that I remind people that having a
colonoscopy is not as bad as having colon cancer.
9. What is the future of colon cancer treatment?
I feel like colon cancer is like HPV. I believe that we will eventually learn that any cancer is a viral
mutation that we can figure out a vaccine for to treat colon cancer. Look at what we have done for
cervical cancer.
10. How can patients take responsibility to reduce risk of colon cancer?
Patients need to go through the screening. Consult a doctor if there is anything happening and you are
having any health issues. Also, I want patients to get past the stigma of talking about their colon and
bum. Also, I want to make it clear that not talking about your issues and symptoms can be deadly.

Revised Fall 2013

Revised Fall 2013