What is a Nurse Practitioner?
Nurse practitioners are registered nurses who have completed advanced nursing education. Most nurse practitioners pursue a Master of Science in Nursing after completing a bachelor's degree in nursing, which calls for at least two years of full-time study. Pediatrics, adult and geriatric medicine, family and women's general care, occupational health, psychiatry and mental health, and acute care are among their areas of expertise. It is also possible to prepare for a subspecialty like oncology.
Nurse practitioners must be critical thinkers; they must gather pertinent information about a person's health status from a variety of sources (the patient's verbal communication, clinical examination, and diagnostic tests), use that information to independently make evidence-based decisions about when, why, and how to address health care needs, and then apply those decisions to the patient. Additionally, they must be able to handle stress properly because their work includes direct involvement with human suffering, emergencies, and other pressures.
NPs are qualified to diagnose medical issues, request tests, and write prescriptions for drugs. They also provide clinical care for patients. The range of NPs' duties varies according to their field of speciality, the clientele they serve, and the state in which they work. Addressing the physician shortage and lowering healthcare expenses is one of their key responsibilities in the healthcare sector.
In certain areas, they must work under the direction of a doctor or in conjunction with a doctor; in other states, they are granted complete practice authority, granting them professional independence.
NP specialties typically align with patient populations. For instance, women's healthcare nurse practitioners treat women, and pediatric nurse practitioners treat children from birth to age 21. NPs may open their own private practices in some states, but regulations vary.
Specialties
Centers & Institutes
Healthcare Delivery by Nurse Practitioners in the US
Nurse practitioners are registered nurses with advanced practice who treat patients of all ages, including premature infants and the elderly. Among nurse practitioners, primary care is offered by two out of every three. These primary-care practitioners frequently focus on adult or geriatric care, family medicine, women's health, or pediatrics. In all 50 states and the District of Columbia, nurse practitioners are allowed to write prescriptions for drugs, including controlled substances. Nurse practitioners are allowed to practice independently in 26 states.
Nurse practitioners provide care in a variety of settings, including rural areas, urban community health centers, college campuses, worksite employee health centers, healthcare systems, and hospitals. Additionally, nurse practitioners conduct healthcare research, work for organizations that develop pharmaceuticals, teach in colleges and universities, and are employed by governmental organizations (e.g., health departments, the military, etc.).
A small percentage of nurse practitioners—about 15%—have their own private clinics. Additionally, there are numerous nurse-managed health facilities spread out around the country, wherein nurse practitioners, in addition to other medical specialists, oversee and deliver all aspects of patient care.
Work schedules might include weekends, holidays, and/or being on call after hours, depending on the sort of practice. They can also be a standard work week.
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The material presented above is only meant to be informative and is not intended to take the place of advice from your doctor or another health care practitioner. We advise you to talk to your provider about any questions or issues you may have.
