What is a Family Nurse Practitioner?
A nurse practitioner (NP) is a highly educated and experienced nurse with advanced education and training in their field of expertise. The NP is master’s prepared (sometimes doctorate prepared) and is trained in the diagnosis, management and treatment of medical conditions. Nurse practitioners provide a broad range of health care services.
NPs are licensed by the state in which they practice, and have a board certification. Nurse Practitioners specialize in such areas as family practice, pediatrics, geriatrics, acute care and urgent care. Nurse Practitioners, Nurse Midwives, Nurse Anesthetists and Clinical Nurse Specialists are collectively referred to as “Advanced Practice Nurses (APN)”.
What does the Nurse Practitioner do?
The NP’s practice involves multidisciplinary partnership and collaboration with the physicians. The NP works in collaboration with the physicians and maintains relationships with other healthcare providers such as social workers, physical therapists, diabetic educators, and other specialists such as cardiologists, neurologists, surgeons, etc. Nurse practitioners treat both acute and chronic conditions and can serve as a patient’s healthcare provider, and see patients of all ages. NPs diagnose, treat and prescribe medications and work in conjunction with other specialties to provide the best patient care.
A nurse practitioner’s duties include some of the following:
- Collaborating with the physicians and other health care professionals as needed, including providing referrals
- Counseling and educating patients
- Diagnosing and treating acute illness, infections and injuries
- Diagnosing, treating and monitoring chronic disease states (e.g. diabetes, high blood pressure, emphysema, asthma, high cholesterol, etc.)
- Conducting complete annual physicals for adults, children and women’s health (including breast exams, Pap smears, pelvic exams)
- Ordering and interpreting laboratory test and diagnostic studies (e.g. EKGs, lab tests and x-rays)
- Prescribing medications
- Prescribing physical therapies and other rehabilitation services
- Providing family planning, well child care, screening and immunizations
- Care before and after menopause, contraceptive care, STD screening and follow up care
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