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Date Posted: 19:37:43 02/26/06 Sun
Author: Trumpet
Subject: Nurse Practitioner

A Nurse Practitioner (NP) is a Registered Nurse who has completed advanced education [generally 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.



Overview

Nurse Practitioners 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. Demographically, nurse practitioners tend to be female. Physician assistants and nurse practitioners both provide similar services in most states, the major distinction being that nurse practitioners are Registered Nurses and generally have higher education requirements. Both are considered mid-level providers and have lesser education requirements than physicians.



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. In addition to health care services, NPs conduct research and are often active in patient advocacy activities.



NPs usually work autonomously and are able to open their own clinical practices. NPs may prescribe medications and carry a DEA number in at least 44 states.





Role description

The American Nurses Association president, Barbara A. Blakeney, MS, RN, further describes the role of a Nurse Practitioner in these words:



"A nurse practitioner is an experienced registered nurse with advanced training and education in preventing, diagnosing and treating illness. Nurse practitioners prescribe medication, treat illness and administer physical examinations, providing individualized, holistic care. Nurse practitioners also focus on prevention, wellness and education.



Nurse practitioners have been providing primary and preventive care to patients for more than 35 years. Today, there are more than 70,000 NPs in the United States, and research dating back to the mid-1980s demonstrates that in terms of quality of care, patient satisfaction and cost-effectiveness, NPs are among the best values in health care. A 1993 study conducted for the ANA found that NPs deliver primary health care as competently as physicians and provide more health promotion activities, such as patient education, than physicians."





Scope of practice

Because the profession is state regulated, care provided by NPs varies. A nurse practitioner's duties include the following:



Collaborating with physicians and other health professionals as needed, including providing referrals

Counseling and educating patients on health behaviors, self-care skills, and treatment options

Diagnosing and treating acute illnesses, infections, and injuries

Diagnosing, treating, and monitoring chronic diseases (e.g., diabetes, high blood pressure)

Obtaining medical histories and conducting physical examinations

Ordering, performing, and interpreting diagnostic studies (e.g., lab tests, x-rays, EKGs)

Prescribing medications

Prescribing physical therapy and other rehabilitation treatments

Providing prenatal care and family planning services

Providing well-child care, including screening and immunizations

Providing health maintenance care for adults, including annual physicals



Practice settings

Nurse practitioners provide high-quality, cost-effective individualized care that is comparable to the health care provided by physicians, and NP services are often covered by insurance providers. NPs practice in all states. The institutions in which they work include the following:



Community clinics and health centers

Health departments

Health maintenance organizations (HMOs)

Home health care agencies

Hospitals and hospital clinics

Hospice centers

Nurse practitioner offices

Nursing homes

Nursing schools

Physician offices

Public health departments

School/college clinics

Veterans Administration facilities

Walk-in clinics



Education, Licensure and certification

Most NPs specialize in a particular field of medical care, and there are as many types of NPs as there are medical specialties.



To be licensed as a nurse practitioner, the candidate must first complete the education and training necessary to be a registered nurse (RN).



Requirements for a registered nurse include an associate degree in nursing (ADN), a bachelor of science degree in nursing (BSN), or completion of a diploma program, as well as direct patient care for acutely or chronically ill patients. Associate degree in nursing programs, which are offered by community and junior colleges, usually take 2–3 years. BSN programs are offered by colleges and universities and take 4–5 years and diploma programs are administered in hospitals and usually take 2–3 years. Depending on the program attended, the candidate may fulfill some NP requirements while completing the RN degree.



In most cases, professionals and employers in the field strongly recommend the BSN as a minimal requirement for NPs, and some states require this. To become NPs, most nurses with an ADN or diploma enter a bachelor of science program. They may be able to find a staff nursing position and take advantage of tuition reimbursement programs to work toward a BSN.



Once registered nurse status is attained, the candidate must complete a state-approved advanced training program that usually specializes in a field such as family practice, internal medicine, or women's health. The degree can be granted by any of the following:



A community college, which grants an associate in arts degree

A hospital-based program, which grants a 3-year diploma

A university, which grants a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) degree

The variety of educational paths for NPs is a result of the history of the field. In 1965, the profession of nurse practitioner was instituted and required a master's degree. In the late 1960s into the 1970s, predictions of a physician shortage increased funding and attendance in nurse practitioner programs. During the 1970s, the NP requirements relaxed to include continuing education programs, which helped accommodate the demand for NPs. Currently, all three educational options to attain NP status are valid.



After completing the education program, the candidate must be licensed by the state in which he or she plans to practice. The State Boards of Nursing regulate nurse practitioners and each state has its own licensing and certification criteria. In general, the criteria include completion of a nursing program and clinical experience. Because state board requirements differ, nurse practitioners may have to fulfill additional requirements, such as certification by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) or a specialty nursing organization. The license period varies by state; some require biennial relicensing, others require triennial.



After receiving state licensing, a nurse practitioner can apply for national certification from the ANA or other professional nursing boards such as the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP). Some NPs pursue certification in a specialty. Several organizations oversee certification, including the following:



American Association of Critical-Care Nurses

Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing

National Certification Board of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners and Nurses

National Certification Corporation for the Obstetric, Gynecologic, and Neonatal Nursing Specialties

Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation



Post-nominal initials

Post-nominal initials NPs may use include:



NP-C (Nurse Practitioner - Certified; if certified by the AANP),

APRN, BC (Advanced Practice Registered Nurse, Board Certified; if certified by the ANCC)

CNP (Certified Nurse Practitioner)

CPNP (Pediatric NP when certified by the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (PNCB)

MSN (Master's of Science in Nursing)

MN (Master's of Nursing)

RN (Registered Nurse)

FAAN (Fellow of The American Academy of Nursing (AAN)

FAANP (Fellow of The American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP)

CDE (Certified Diabetic Educator)

ND (Nursing Doctorate)

Initials of the NP's specailty may also precede their name:

ACNP (Acute Care NP)

ANP (Adult NP)

FNP (Family NP)

GNP (Geriatric NP)

NNP (Neonatal NP)

PMHNP (Psychiatric Mental Health NP)

PNP (Pediatric NP)

WHNP (Women's Health NP)


American Nurses Association (ANA)
http://www.nursingworld.org/

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