North Central San Antonio Nurse Practitioner Peggy P. Francis. Photo by Jessica Castillo

The week of Nov. 11 to 17 celebrates National Nurse Practitioner Week: “Your Partner in Health – The Nurse Practitioner.” Events will be held nationwide to shine light on the nurse practitioner’s growing role in healthcare service.

Hill Country Village resident and Family Nurse Practitioner (NP) Peggy P. Francis says that becoming aware of the way our body works is important to maintain a healthy life.

“It’s a matter of getting in touch with your body and listening,” she said. “You have to take responsibility for your own health. You have to be your own private investigator.”

Francis never misses an opportunity to educate her patients about the importance of health care. She specializes in pelvic health and female sexual medicine at Urology San Antonio, the largest urological practice in South Texas. She is the director of the Center for Urinary Control and the co-director for the Center for Female Sexual Medicine.

“I love women’s health, said Francis. “I have a passion for teaching women.”

As an NP, Francis’ duties are not limited to diagnosing and prescribing treatment for her patients. She teaches, counsels and promotes good health both in and out of the office.

“I tell patients all the time that I wish I could take credit for making them better, but I really think they get better because they begin to pay attention to their body,” said Francis.

Francis often speaks at public seminars and conferences held by Urology San Antonio. A trend that she has noticed in her specialty is the prevalence of medical education, from consumer advertisements seen in the media, to word of mouth.

“Education is the key,” said Francis.

While some physicians are pressed to see more patients in less time, Francis uses her title to establish a relationship with patients and make sure they understand their condition. According to statistics provided by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP), NPs spend 31 percent more time with patients than doctors do. Furthermore, nurse practitioners suggest therapeutic treatment rather than traditional treatment.

“The thing that is most exceptional about Peggy is her absolutely impeccable approach to putting the patient first and how she is able to meet the patients on their terms,” said Dr. Timothy C. Hlavinka, partner and co-director of the Center for Female Medicine.

As a pre-med student in college, Francis realized she wanted to be a wife and mother more than a doctor, so she decided to go into nursing and “has never looked back.” However, the line between physician and NP is sometimes thin.

“Our challenge is proving to some physicians that we are not a threat,” said Francis. “They know that we’re not there to take their job, we are there to do ours, to work together for the good of the patient.”

Francis is currently working on her Doctorate of Nursing Practice from Case Western Reserve University. She and her husband Kirk have two sons.

“My goal in life is to be better today than I was yesterday, said Francis. “If you’re not learning, you’re dying.”