Meet Nicole Strout, NP!

As a Nurse Practitioner, Nicole Strout, NP, supports Dr. Cindy Asbjornsen, founder of the Vein Healthcare Center. Nikki joined the VHC team after providing care at an orthopedic practice in Portland. She attended nursing school as an undergraduate at Marshall University in West Virginia before receiving her Masters in Nursing from Walden University in Minnesota.

In addition to spending time with her husband, a fisherman in Alaska, and their three sons, ages 5, 3, and 9 months, Nikki enjoys the Maine outdoors – including going out on her father-in-law’s lobster boat! Read on to learn more about Nikki.

Q: How do you help patients at VHC?
A: I meet with new patients and review their medical history as well as give them a physical exam. We spend a lot of time discussing their health goals.

Q: Why is that first-visit conversation so important?
A: I work closely with Dr. Asbjornsen to determine the best treatment plan for each person, so I want to give her the most complete picture of each patient’s situation as possible. I also want every patient to feel heard, so I really tune in and listen to what their complaints are. One of the first physicians I ever worked for taught me that 90 percent of the time, the patient is going to tell me what’s wrong with them. In my experience I’ve found that that’s the best way to develop a relationship – and it streamlines their care.

Q: What is it like working with Dr. Asbjornsen?
A: She is one of the kindest, most patient physicians I’ve ever worked with. People sometimes feel that it’s hard to find someone in healthcare that you can trust and develop a good relationship with. Dr. Asbjornsen tries to do that, and so do I. So does the rest of the staff.

Q: Why are you a good fit for VHC?
A: When I was an RN, before I received my Masters in Nursing, I worked in vein treatment, so I have that background. I also like that patients with vein issues and venous insufficiency tend to be more involved in their treatment and more proactive in their approach to health. Plus, I love helping people, advising them and getting them on the right path so they can stay active.

Q: What do you like the most about vein care?
A: I think that it’s so rewarding to help people who come in with pain but can’t figure out the underlying cause. We help them figure it out, and our procedures and help with their symptoms and get them back to their baseline health and feeling so much better.

Q: What do you do when you’re not working or taking care of three young kids?
A: My sanity is running! That’s how I keep my mind functioning well.

To learn more about the team at the Vein Healthcare Center, click here. If you'd like to make an appointment to evaluate your vein health and learn about treatment options, click here.