Nurse Practitioners Carla Graves and Melissa Varnado Join North Oaks Orthopedic Specialty Center in Hammond
- Category: In The News
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- Written By: Melanie Zaffuto
Nurse Practitioners Carla Graves and Melissa Varnado have joined North Oaks Orthopedic Specialty Center in Hammond and are accepting new patients. To schedule an appointment, call (985) 230-APPT [2778].
Varnado first joined North Oaks as a Family Nurse Practitioner in 2012, diagnosing and treating minor illnesses and injuries in the Emergency Department. She earned a master’s degree in Nursing through the family nurse practitioner program of Loyola University in New Orleans, a bachelor’s degree in Nursing — also from Loyola University – and an associate degree in Nursing from Angelina College in Lufkin, Texas.
Joining North Oaks in 2014, Graves has established expertise in many areas of nursing, including cardiovascular/telemetry, surgery and home health in addition to orthopedics. She earned a master’s degree in Nursing from Walden University based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and an associate degree in Nursing from Southwest Mississippi Community College in Summit, Mississippi.
Other North Oaks Orthopedic Specialty Center providers in Hammond include: Orthopedic Surgeon and Hand & Upper Extremity Specialist Bryan S. Dudoussat, MD; Orthopedic Surgeon, Adult Reconstruction and Joint Replacement Specialist J. Gregory Kinnett, MD; Orthopedic Surgeon and Trauma Specialist Brian J. Ladner, MD; Orthopedic Surgeon and Spine Specialist Matthew Lafleur, MD; Orthopedic Surgeon and Sports Medicine Specialist Katy Morris, MD; Certified Physician Assistant Marc Pitre; and Nurse Practitioners Janet Morse and Lane Newman.
Nurse practitioners are nationally certified, state-licensed medical professionals who can practice independently. They are known as “physician extenders” educated under the nursing model, which emphasizes health promotion and education. Nurse practitioners are credentialed to manage the overall care of their patients, diagnose and treat medical conditions, prescribe medications and provide education to their patients on disease prevention and management.
The clinic is located within the North Oaks Clinic Building at 15813 Paul Vega, MD, Drive, Suite 100, in Hammond. Hours of operation are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays.
