James Mattson

Nine months ago, I introduced you to Lori and her blog, “High Plains Practitioner,” RNL’s first foray in the blogosphere. Lori, I wrote, was no vigilante from America’s Wild West, but a major in the U.S. Air Force Nurse Corps and a family nurse practitioner. And the high plains referred to in her blog’s title are located, not in the United States, but in the remote hill country of Afghanistan, where Lori and her military unit, the High Plains Drifters—a name inspired by the Clint Eastwood movie—would soon be deployed.

Well, Lori’s unit was deployed and she’s been posting her blogs ever since—43 of them to date. I hope you’ve read some or all of them. (To do so, click here or on the link provided under “RNL blogs” in the right-hand column of RNL’s home page.) Soon, Lori will return to the United States and a welcome reunion with her husband and two children. When she does, I’m sure she’ll have some additional ribbons attached to her uniform that recognize her service in a combat zone, where she has been part of a Provincial Reconstruction Team.

One achievement that won’t be acknowledged with a military ribbon, but which I’m acknowledging here, is inclusion of Lori’s blog in the “Top 40 Family Nurse Practitioner Blogs.” Compiled by e-Med News for Online FNP, a site that promotes online FNP degree programs, the list identifies 40 blogs for those wanting to learn more about nurse practitioners or how to become more effective in that role.

Congratulations, Lori! RNL