What is a Nurse Practitioner?
Nurse Practitioner Education & Training
A nurse practitioner (NP) is a registered nurse (RN) who has completed advanced education (a minimum of a master's degree) and training in the diagnosis and management of common medical conditions, including chronic illnesses. Nurse practitioners provide a broad range of health care services. They provide some of the same care provided by physicians and maintain close working relationships with physicians. An NP can serve as a patient's regular health care provider.
Nurse practitioners see patients of all ages. The core philosophy of the field is individualized care. Nurse practitioners focus on patients' conditions as well as the effects of illness on the lives of the patients and their families. NPs make prevention, wellness, and patient education priorities. This can mean fewer prescriptions and less expensive treatments. Informing patients about their health care and encouraging them to participate in decisions are central to the care provided by NPs.
Quality and Cost-Effectiveness of NP Care
NPs are proven to be excellent healthcare providers. The nurse practitioner role had its inception in the mid-1960s in response to a nationwide shortage of physicians. NPs provide primary and some acute care, and are qualified to meet the majority of patients' health-care needs. More than 40 years of research has established that NPs provide high-quality, cost-effective and personalized care. They promote a comprehensive approach to health care and emphasize the overall health and wellness of their patients. The body of evidence regarding the quality of NP practice supports that NP care is at least equivalent to that of physicians care. When NP care is compared with that of other providers such as physicians, NP patients are more satisfied with their care and say that, in addition to providing excellent healthcare, their NP excels in giving health advice. They are expert at assessing and diagnosing problems. The treatments they prescribe result in positive outcomes.
How Nurse Practitioners differ from Medical Physicians
One unique aspect of Nurse Practitioners is their holistic approach to treating patients. Nurse Practitioners focus on each patient's entire well being, taking the time to educate their patients and share information on how their health issues will positively and negatively affect not only their body, but how it may impact their loved ones as well.
The license held by a nurse practitioner allows them to practice independently. Nurse practitioners provide a variety of services which include conducting complete medical examinations, diagnosing and treating acute and chronic health problems, ordering diagnostic imaging tests, laboratory tests to assist in making a diagnosis, and prescribing and managing medications. They have received advanced education in nutrition and its' impact on disease states, and chronic illness.
Like most medical providers, nurse practitioners accept most insurance, and many practices will take all insurances. Through education and focusing on changing lifestyles, nurse practitioners want to help patients have few health issues to manage.
In addition to their Bachelor's Degrees, nurse practitioners hold an advanced graduate or Master's Degree and are licensed by their respective professional organizations. Nurse Practitioners are board certified in their specialty area and are held to a standard of practice within their state of practice.
A nurse practitioner (NP) is a registered nurse (RN) who has completed advanced education (a minimum of a master's degree) and training in the diagnosis and management of common medical conditions, including chronic illnesses. Nurse practitioners provide a broad range of health care services. They provide some of the same care provided by physicians and maintain close working relationships with physicians. An NP can serve as a patient's regular health care provider.
Nurse practitioners see patients of all ages. The core philosophy of the field is individualized care. Nurse practitioners focus on patients' conditions as well as the effects of illness on the lives of the patients and their families. NPs make prevention, wellness, and patient education priorities. This can mean fewer prescriptions and less expensive treatments. Informing patients about their health care and encouraging them to participate in decisions are central to the care provided by NPs.
Quality and Cost-Effectiveness of NP Care
NPs are proven to be excellent healthcare providers. The nurse practitioner role had its inception in the mid-1960s in response to a nationwide shortage of physicians. NPs provide primary and some acute care, and are qualified to meet the majority of patients' health-care needs. More than 40 years of research has established that NPs provide high-quality, cost-effective and personalized care. They promote a comprehensive approach to health care and emphasize the overall health and wellness of their patients. The body of evidence regarding the quality of NP practice supports that NP care is at least equivalent to that of physicians care. When NP care is compared with that of other providers such as physicians, NP patients are more satisfied with their care and say that, in addition to providing excellent healthcare, their NP excels in giving health advice. They are expert at assessing and diagnosing problems. The treatments they prescribe result in positive outcomes.
How Nurse Practitioners differ from Medical Physicians
One unique aspect of Nurse Practitioners is their holistic approach to treating patients. Nurse Practitioners focus on each patient's entire well being, taking the time to educate their patients and share information on how their health issues will positively and negatively affect not only their body, but how it may impact their loved ones as well.
The license held by a nurse practitioner allows them to practice independently. Nurse practitioners provide a variety of services which include conducting complete medical examinations, diagnosing and treating acute and chronic health problems, ordering diagnostic imaging tests, laboratory tests to assist in making a diagnosis, and prescribing and managing medications. They have received advanced education in nutrition and its' impact on disease states, and chronic illness.
Like most medical providers, nurse practitioners accept most insurance, and many practices will take all insurances. Through education and focusing on changing lifestyles, nurse practitioners want to help patients have few health issues to manage.
In addition to their Bachelor's Degrees, nurse practitioners hold an advanced graduate or Master's Degree and are licensed by their respective professional organizations. Nurse Practitioners are board certified in their specialty area and are held to a standard of practice within their state of practice.
