Lets talk nurse practitioner basics:
Who are nurse practitioners? What do nurse practitioners do? Is the nurse practitioner role for you? How to become a practitioner?

Who are Nurse Practitioners?

Nurse practitioners are registered nurses who have completed an advanced degree such as the master of sciences in nurse practitioner and or doctorate of nursing practice. Nurse practitioners according to AANP are trained, licensed, and independent healthcare clinicians whose focus is to manage patients’ health conditions, both chronic and acute by treatment of illness and injuries as well as providing support, management , guidance and prevention of illnesses. 

Nurse practitioners can work with or without a collaborating physician, this varies entirely state to state. Nurse practitioners are trained independent clinicians however there are practice limitations based on state regulations.

Each state has a set of practice regulations which can be found on the nursing board website, which outlines limitations of nurse practitioners based on federal laws.

What do Nurse Practitioners do?

 Nurse practitioners are able to order, perform and interpret diagnostic tests such as labs and imaging. Nurse practitioners are able to prescribe medications, perform procedures such as suturing, incision and drainages, skin biopsies, splints, intubation, and other procedures depending on their speciality. They are also responsible for diagnosing and treating acute and or chronic illness such as infections, injuries, high blood pressure, diabetes mellitus, etc. 

There are many different nurse practitioner roles and if this is a field you are interested in the more you know about the role the better. Shadowing a nurse practitioner in your area of interest would be very benefical and would help you to decide if the specialty you’re interested in, is the specialty for you.

AC – Acute Care Nurse Practitioner

Speciality : 

1. Adult Gerontology (AG-ACNP)
2. Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (AC-PNP)

Primary Care Nurse Practitioner 

1. Family (FNP)
2. Pediatric (PNP)
3. Psychiatric Mental Health (PMHNP)
4. Adult Gerontology (AGNP)

Nurse Practitioners who can work in both Acute care settings and Outpatient settings

Women’s Health

1. Women’s Health (WHNP) 
2. Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM)
3. Neonatal Nurse Practitioners (NNP)

Sound off in the comments below, which role are you in or interested in?

Next to check out on our blog How to become a nurse practitioner…