From Solo Provider to a Team of NPs: Celebrating NP Week at NOLA Care

When I first opened the doors at NOLA Care, I was the whole show.

I was the provider, the front desk, the billing department, the marketing team, and, on more than one occasion, the person taking out the trash at the end of the day. If you called the office, you got me. If you needed a refill, I sent it. If you needed to be seen, I saw you.

I wouldn’t trade those early days for anything. They taught me exactly what kind of practice I wanted to build. But they also taught me something every solo provider learns eventually: there is only one of me.

This week is National Nurse Practitioner Week, and I can’t think of a better time to tell you how that one-woman practice turned into a team of nurse practitioners caring for Jacksonville.

Meet the Providers

When Your Practice Outgrows You (In the Best Way)

Here’s what happened: you showed up.

You came for a sick visit and came back for your physical. You told your sister about us, and then your coworker, and then your coworker’s whole family. You joined a membership. You asked if we could help with your anxiety, your weight, your skin, your kid’s sports physical.

And I kept saying yes, because that’s why I started NOLA Care. But at some point, saying yes to everything by myself meant longer waits for you. That’s the exact thing I opened this practice to get away from.

So I made a decision. Instead of slowing down, I’d build a team. Not just any team, though. A team of nurse practitioners who believe what I believe: that you deserve time, attention, and a provider who actually knows your name.

But there are a ton of other symptoms too.

Meet the Nurse Practitioners of NOLA Care

Today, NOLA Care has three nurse practitioners, each bringing something different to the table.

On top of that, a lot of insurers are raising premiums again for 2027.

Haulek Tawmging, PMHNP: Psychiatric Care

Haulek is a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner who helps patients with anxiety, depression, ADHD, and more. She sees patients in the office and by telehealth.

Honestly, Haulek works a lot like me. She truly believes in caring for her patients and will go above and beyond for every one of them. She leads with her morals and trusts her gut, and I love that about her.

Kayla Brewer, APRN: Primary Care

Kayla is a family nurse practitioner who focuses on primary care. She sees patients in our Bartram Park office and is building her own panel of direct primary care members. If you need a sick visit, a physical, or help managing an ongoing condition, Kayla has you covered.

Fun fact: Kayla is also a psychiatric nurse practitioner and is board certified in lifestyle medicine, so she brings a whole-person lens to every visit. And here’s my favorite part: we first met when Kayla was an FNP student completing her clinical hours right here at NOLA Care. Watching her go from student to colleague has been one of the best full-circle moments of my career.

And Me: Ashley Roussell, DNP, FNP-C

I’m still here, still seeing patients, and still the one you’ll find doing primary care, aesthetics, and weight management. The difference now is that when I’m with one patient, there’s another great provider ready for the next one.

And a little news of my own: I recently completed my psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP) program and am getting ready to sit for my boards. Mental health is such a big part of whole-person care, and I can’t wait to bring even more of it to NOLA Care.

We also proudly precept nurse practitioner students. Someone took the time to train me, and helping shape the next generation of NPs is one of my favorite parts of this work. (Kayla is living proof that it pays off!)

Why NP Week Matters to Me

National Nurse Practitioner Week is held every November to recognize the work NPs do for patients across the country. This year it runs November 8–14.

Nurse practitioners are advanced practice registered nurses. We have graduate-level education and national board certification, and we can diagnose, treat, order tests, and prescribe medications. According to the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, there are now more than 461,000 licensed NPs in the U.S., and they serve as primary care providers for millions of Americans.

But what I love most about being an NP is the nursing part. We’re trained to look at the whole person: your health, your stress, your family, your schedule, your budget. That’s the kind of care I wanted every NOLA Care patient to get, no matter which of us they see. to $150 a month for an individual. The rules are specific, so check with your HSA administrator or tax professional to see what applies to you.

And of course, the hundred-dollar question…

Looking for a Nurse Practitioner in Jacksonville, FL?

Going from a solo provider to a team of nurse practitioners has been one of the proudest chapters of my career. And it happened because of you. Every referral, every review, every “I told my mom about y’all” helped build this.

So this NP Week, I want to say thank you to my team for the care they give every day, and to you for trusting us with your health.

My team and I at NOLA Care offer primary care, psychiatric care, weight management, and aesthetics in Jacksonville, serving Bartram Park, Mandarin, St. Johns, and the surrounding area. Use your insurance, join a membership, or do both. However you get here, you’ll be treated like a person, not a policy number.

Make an appointment or explore our memberships and come meet the team.

That’s when it’s time to come in and let us take a look.

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