Episode 77: The Skinny on Weight Loss with Nikki Plourde, NP-C

This week, we're going to "skinny things up" by diving into the popular yet controversial world of weight loss. We're joined by a weight loss expert, Nikki Plourde, NP-C a nurse practitioner specializing in family medicine who turned her focus to weight loss and aesthetics in 2021. She's the co-owner of Nurturher in Fitchburg, Wisconsin, and in addition to her own busy patient load, she has trained thousands of Providers on implementing weight loss strategies with the ever growing list of demand for GLP-1s.

In this episode, Nikki shares her journey from ICU nursing to family medicine and eventually to aesthetics and weight loss. She has watched the positive business impact of the weight loss boom firsthand- after working with Wegovy in her prior role, she knew the opportunity that had been laid at her feet when it was approved for weight management in 2021!

She talks about how jumping in with semaglutide as soon as it was available was a catalyst for growth at Nurturher. They went from 2 Providers in a small space to a commercial property with 11 staff members, much of that growth she attributes to the semaglutide tidal wave.  But, she’s also passionate about helping others get started with semaglutide or tirzepatide the right way- with proper training and protocols in place.

Nikki felt a strong calling to begin her own training program after seeing the lack of education available. She’s a stickler for BMI requirements, and her motto is to stick with the least effective dose, because, well, it works! And, it helps to mitigate the pesky side effects.  She has a consistent routine for how often she sees her patients & she arms them with tons of educational information and resources to promote a FULL lifestyle change - not just a shot. 

In our short hour, she shares so much knowledge & critical information from how to dose and assess patients to how to market and price weight loss medications. She also talks about the overall health benefits of weight loss via GLP-1s including the ability to be more physically active, improved cardiac health and a better quality of life- something that we should communicate more to the public (and less about skinny celebrities!)

 Key takeaways from this episode include:

 1. Expert Insights on Semaglutide: Nikki provides in-depth knowledge on how to effectively use semaglutide in weight loss, discussing the right patient profiles, dosing strategies, and managing side effects.

2. Integrating Weight Loss into Practice: Learn how to incorporate weight loss treatments into your practice, from the medical aspects to marketing strategies. Nikki shares her experience in making weight loss a successful part of her practice.

3. Patient-Centric Approach: Discover the importance of a personalized approach in weight loss treatments, considering factors like BMI, individual health conditions, and long-term goals.

4. Marketing and Growth: Insights into how weight loss services can be marketed and how they contribute to the growth and expansion of a medical practice – and how to think about your pricing strategy so you can complete the “full picture” of weight loss.

5. The Future of Weight Loss Medication: Discussion on the evolving landscape of weight loss drugs and what medical professionals can expect in the future.

This episode is a must-listen for Providers looking to expand their knowledge in weight loss treatments, particularly in using GLP-1s like semaglutide and tirzepatide. Whether you're looking for dosing information, the best compounders, how to market or build a program, Nikki is an invaluable resource!

Find out more about her training programs and & monthlysupport at www.Weightmanagementcourse.com

Find Nikki on IG at https://www.instagram.com/nikki_nurturher/

Learn more about Nurturher at www.nurturheraesthetic.com