Nina Littlefield, MS, APRN

It’s important that my patients feel supported throughout their diagnosis and treatment. Receiving stressful news isn’t easy, so I want them to find comfort in my insight and guidance toward the right treatment path. Clear communication is a critical part of my process. In my care, both patients and loved ones are well informed. By answering their questions thoroughly in uncomplicated terms, I ensure everyone understands the diagnosis. I am just a phone call away. I follow up on results in a timely fashion. Patients are always able to contact me after an appointment with their questions or concerns. My goal is to ease the angst and anxiety that often comes with a new diagnosis. I really enjoy my work and finding ways to connect with, comfort and guide people of varying backgrounds makes it all the more fulfilling.

As a nurse practitioner on the Orthopedics team, I help manage the post-operative care for patients and then discharge them when they are ready to leave the hospital. My goal is to make their stay at the hospital as easy as possible, and to make sure they get the care they need when they need it while here. Patients who have had total hip, knee or shoulder replacements are often in a great deal of pain before their surgery. It’s a privilege to help them overcome this pain after surgery so that they can achieve their physical therapy goals and return home or to a rehabilitation center and then to an improved quality of life.

I’m a big believer in the shared decision-making model. I listen with compassion to my patients. I educate them about their diagnosis and their testing and treatment options. Together, we develop an evidence-based plan that meets their goals and improves their quality of life. I enjoy educating patients about their diagnoses. I find it very gratifying when a patient better understands the processes going on in their body. It’s very rewarding when a patient sees an improvement in their quality of life because of a treatment plan I helped create.