A Nurse Practitioner (NP) is an advanced practice nurse who has completed graduate-level education (either a Master's or a Doctorate degree) and training in the diagnosis and management of common as well as complex medical conditions. To become licensed to practice, Nurse Practitioners hold national certification in an area of speciality (family practice, pediatrics, adult care, acute care, etc), and are licensed through nursing boards rather than medical boards. Nurse Practitioners provide a broad range of health care Health care or healthcare is the treatment and prevention of illness. Health care is delivered by professionals in medicine, dentistry, nursing, pharmacy and allied health services, and appear to be gaining broad acceptance by the public.
Nurse Practitioners treat both physical and mental conditions through comprehensive history taking, physical exams, physical therapy, and ordering tests and therapies for patients within their scope of practice. NPs can serve as a patient's primary health care provider, and see patients of all ages depending on their designated scope of practice.
In the United States ^ b. English is the de facto language of American government and the sole language spoken at home by 80% of Americans age five and older. Spanish is the second most commonly spoken language, NPs are licensed by the state in which they practice, and have a national board certification (usually through the American Nurses Credentialing Center, American Academy of Nurse Practitioners or the National Certification Corporation). Nurse Practitioners can be trained and nationally board certified in areas of FNP (Family Nurse Practitioner), Pediatrics, including Pediatric Acute/Chronic Care, Pediatric Critical Care, Pediatric Oncology and general Pediatrics (PNP), Neonatology (NNP), Gerontology (GNP), Women's Health (WHNP), Psychiatry & Mental Health (PMHNP), Acute Care (ACNP), Adult Health (ANP), Oncology (ONP), Emergency Medicine (as FNP or ACNP), Occupational Health (as ANP), etc.
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Scope of practice
Because the profession is state-regulated, care provided by NPs varies widely. In many states, nurse practitioners work independently and autonomously of physicians while, in other states, a collaborative agreement with a physician is required for practice. The extent of this collaborative agreement, and the role, duties, tasks, medical treatments, pharmacologic prescriptions, etc. it affords a Nurse Practitioner to perform and prescribe again varies amongst states of licensure. A nurse practitioner's job may include the following:
- Diagnosing, treating, evaluating and managing acute and chronic illness and disease (e.g. diabetes Diabetes mellitus, often simply referred to as diabetes—is a condition in which a person has high blood sugar, either because the body does not produce enough insulin, or because cells do not respond to the insulin that is produced. This high blood sugar produces the classical symptoms of polyuria , polydipsia (increased thirst) and polyphagia (, high blood pressure Hypertension or high blood pressure is a chronic medical condition in which the blood pressure in the arteries is elevated. It is classified as either primary (essential) or secondary. About 90-95% of cases are termed "primary hypertension", which refers to high blood pressure for which no medical cause can be found. The remaining 5-10%)
- Obtaining medical histories and conducting physical examinations
- Ordering, performing, and interpreting diagnostic studies (e.g., routine lab tests, bone x-rays X-radiation is a form of electromagnetic radiation. X-rays have a wavelength in the range of 0.01 to 10 nanometers, corresponding to frequencies in the range 30 petahertz to 30 exahertz (3 × 1016 Hz to 3 × 1019 Hz) and energies in the range 120 eV to 120 keV. They are shorter in wavelength than UV rays and longer than gamma rays. In many, EKGs Electrocardiography is a transthoracic interpretation of the electrical activity of the heart over time captured and externally recorded by skin electrodes. It is a noninvasive recording produced by an electrocardiographic device. The etymology of the word is derived from electro, because it is related to electrical activity, cardio, Greek for)
- Prescribing physical therapy Physical therapy is a health profession that assesses and provides treatment to individuals to develop, maintain and restore maximum movement and function throughout life. This includes providing treatment in circumstances where movement and function are threatened by aging, injury, disease or environmental factors and other rehabilitation treatments
- Prescribing drugs for acute and chronic illness (extent of prescriptive authority varies by state regulations)
- Providing prenatal Pregnancy is the carrying of one or more offspring, known as a fetus or embryo, inside the womb of a female. In a pregnancy, there can be multiple gestations, as in the case of twins or triplets. Human pregnancy is the most studied of all mammalian pregnancies. Childbirth usually occurs about 38 weeks after conception; i.e., approximately 40 weeks care and family planning services
- Providing well-child care, including screening and immunizations Immunization, or immunisation, is the process by which an individual's immune system becomes fortified against an agent
- Providing primary and specialty care services, health-maintenance care for adults, including annual physicals
- Providing care for patients in acute and critical care settings
- Assisting in minor surgeries and procedures (with additional training and usually under supervision) (e.g., dermatological biopsies, suturing, casting)
- Counseling and educating patients on health behaviors, self-care skills, and treatment options
Practice Settings
NPs practice in all U.S. states. The institutions in which they work may include:
- Community clinics A clinic is a small private or public health facility that is devoted to the care of outpatients, often in a community, in contrast to larger hospitals, which also treat inpatients. Some grow to be institutions as large as major hospitals, whilst retaining the name clinic. These are often associated with a hospital or medical school, health centers, urgent care centers
- Health departments
- Health maintenance organizations A health maintenance organization is a type of managed care organization (MCO) that provides a form of health care coverage in the United States that is fulfilled through hospitals, doctors, and other providers with which the HMO has a contract. The Health Maintenance Organization Act of 1973 required employers with 25 or more employees to offer (HMOs)
- Home health care Home Care, , is health care or supportive care provided in the patient's home by healthcare professionals (often referred to as home health care or formal care; in the United States, it is also known as skilled care) or by family and friends (also known as caregivers, primary caregiver, or voluntary caregivers who give informal care). Often, the agencies
- Hospitals A hospital, in the modern sense of the word, is an institution for health care providing patient treatment by specialized staff and equipment, and often, but not always providing for longer-term patient stays. Its historical meaning, until relatively recent times, was "a place of hospitality", for example the Chelsea Royal Hospital,
- Hospice care Hospice is a type of care and a philosophy of care which focuses on the palliation of a terminally ill patient's symptoms. These symptoms can be physical, emotional, spiritual or social in nature. The concept of hospice has been evolving since the 11th century. Then, and for centuries thereafter, hospices were places of hospitality for the sick,
- Nurse practitioner practices/offices
- Nursing homes A nursing home, convalescent home, Skilled Nursing Unit , care home or rest home provides a type of care of residents: it is a place of residence for people who require constant nursing care and have significant deficiencies with activities of daily living. Residents include the elderly and younger adults with physical or mental disabilities
- Private & public schools, universities and colleges
- Physician/private medical practices
- Veteran's administration facilities
Education, licensing, and board certification
To be licensed Licensure refers to the granting of a license, which gives a 'permission to practice.' Such licenses are usually issued in order to regulate some activity that is deemed to be dangerous or a threat to the person or the public or which involves a high level of specialized skill. The danger and skill elements inspire governments not to allow a free- as a Nurse Practitioner, the candidate must first complete the education and training necessary to be a registered nurse A registered nurse , is a health care professional responsible for implementing the practice of nursing through the use of the nursing process in conjunction with other health care professionals. Registered nurses work as patient advocates for the care and recovery of the sick and maintenance of their health. In their work as advocates for the (RN), then go on to complete a graduate-level nurse practitioner program (of which many also require an additional residency), and then the candidate must pass a national board certification in their area of speciality. Registered nurses initially trained at the associate degree or diploma level must first complete a Bachelor of Science in Nursing The Bachelor of Science in Nursing is a four year academic degree in the science and principles of nursing, granted by a tertiary education university or similarly accredited school. Though one is eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN licensing examination to become a registered nurse after graduating from either a two year program with an Associate's (BSN) or enter various programs offering an ADN-to-MN/MSN bridge program, some of which award the bachelors degree while completing the requirements for the masters.
While not every state includes specific language requiring a masters degree for NPs, the majority of states do require a masters degree, post-master's certificate or doctoral degree. Further, the current nurse practitioner programs offered by all universities and colleges are at the masters, post-master's, or doctoral level. The current plan is that all advanced practice programs will require a Doctor of Nursing Practice There are several doctorate-level degrees in nursing: Doctor of Nursing Practice , Doctor of Nursing Science (DNSc, DNS or DSN) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Nursing. The Doctor of Nursing (ND) degree has been phased out and most universities have transitioned to the DNP. The PhD and DNS degrees are generally considered research-oriented (DNP) degree by 2015 thus effectively eliminating the MN or the MSN as an entry to practice degree. Lastly, all states require national board certification for nurse practitioners before they are permitted to practice and the two biggest certifying bodies, the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) and the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP), do require applicants to hold a masters degree, post-master's certificate, or doctoral degree to be eligible to test for certification. In the future (after 2015) these organizations may require a Doctor of Nursing Practice There are several doctorate-level degrees in nursing: Doctor of Nursing Practice , Doctor of Nursing Science (DNSc, DNS or DSN) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Nursing. The Doctor of Nursing (ND) degree has been phased out and most universities have transitioned to the DNP. The PhD and DNS degrees are generally considered research-oriented (DNP) degree for a candidate to be eligible to take the certification examination.
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. The certifying organizations, states, and employers require a minimum of a master's degree for new NPs (already established NPs with lesser education were grandfathered in A grandfather clause is an exception that allows an old rule to continue to apply to some existing situations, when a new rule will apply to all future situations. It is often used as a verb: to grandfather means to grant such an exemption. Frequently, the exemption is limited; it may extend for a set period of time, or it may be lost once a).
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 master's or doctoral degree in nursing and board certification by an accrediting body (ANCC, AANP). The license period varies by state; some require biennial relicensing, others require triennial.
NPs can pursue additional speciality certification through several organizations, including the following:
- American Association of Critical-Care Nurses
- American Psychiatric Nursing Association
- Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing
- Pediatric Nursing Certification Board
- National Certification Corporation for the Obstetric, Gynecologic, and Neonatal Nursing Specialties
- Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation
Role in Medicine
The role of nurse practitioners is diverse. Nurse Practitioners are educated under the nursing model which seeks to provide holistic and preventative care engaging the patient as the primary leader in their own care and well-being. Nurse Practitioners bring the nursing history of patient advocacy to partner with the patient for mutually agreed upon treatments and optimal health outcomes. Nurse Practitioners often view the health and wellness of individuals within the family or community system and attempt to encorporate cultural relativism within their treatments and recomendations.
Post-nominal credentials and initials
See also: List of nursing credentials Generally credentials are listed from most to least permanent. A degree, once earned, cannot be taken away. State licensure is only revoked for serious professional misconduct. Certifications generally must be periodically renewed by examination or the completion of a prescribed number of continuing education unitsPost-nominal Post-nominal letters, also called post-nominal initials or post-nominal titles or designatory letters are letters placed after the name of a person to indicate that the individual holds a position, educational degree, accreditation, office, or honour. An individual may use several different sets of post-nominal letters. The order in which these initials NPs may use are regulated by the state in which they are licensed and include:
- RN (Registered Nurse)
- NP-C (Nurse Practitioner - Certified; if certified by the AANP)
- APRN-BC (Advanced Practice Registered Nurse - Board Certified; no longer awarded, replaced with specialty-specific credentials by the ANCC [1])
- ARNP (Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner)
- ACNPC (Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Certified)[2]
- CNP (Certified Nurse Practitioner)
- CPNP (Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner; if certified by the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board PNCB)
- CPNP-PC (Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner - Primary Care; if certified by the PNCB [3])
- CPNP-AC (Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner - Acute Care; if certified by the PNCB [4])
- CRNP (Certified Registered Nurse Practitioner; used primarily in Pennsylvania [5] and Alabama [6])
- MSN (Master of Science in Nursing A Master of Science in Nursing is an advanced-level quaternary education degree for Registered Nurses. It is required to become an advanced practice nurse, such as a Nurse Practitioner, Clinical Nurse Specialist, Nurse Anesthetist, Nurse Midwife, Nurse Administrator, or a Clinical nurse leader, and is considered an entry-level degree for nurse)
- MN (Master of Nursing)
- MA (Master of Arts in Nursing)
- PMC (Post-Master's Certificate)
- CAS (Certificate of Advanced Study)
- DNSc (Doctor of Nursing Science; equivalent to Ph.D., most D.N.Sc. programs now converted to PhD programs)
- PhD (Doctor of Philosophy)
- DNP/DrNP (Doctor of Nursing Practice There are several doctorate-level degrees in nursing: Doctor of Nursing Practice , Doctor of Nursing Science (DNSc, DNS or DSN) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Nursing. The Doctor of Nursing (ND) degree has been phased out and most universities have transitioned to the DNP. The PhD and DNS degrees are generally considered research-oriented; clinical doctorate, DNSc or PhD There are several doctorate-level degrees in nursing: Doctor of Nursing Practice , Doctor of Nursing Science (DNSc, DNS or DSN) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Nursing. The Doctor of Nursing (ND) degree has been phased out and most universities have transitioned to the DNP. The PhD and DNS degrees are generally considered research-oriented are research doctorates)
- FAAN (Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing AAN)
- FAANP (Fellow of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners AANP)
- RN(EP) or NP (Registered Nurse - Extended Practice; Manitoba, Canada)
- RN(NP) (Registered Nurse - Nurse Practitioner; Saskatchewan, Canada)
Specialties
- ACNP (Acute Care NP)
- ANP (Adult NP) (Specialty Programs: Adult Cardiovascular Care NP, Adult Primary Care NP, Adult Critical Care NP [7], Adult Acute Care NP [8])
- ENP (Emergency NP)
- FNP (Family NP)
- GNP (Geriatric Geriatrics is a sub-specialty of medicine that focuses on health care of the elderly. It aims to promote health and to prevent and treat diseases and disabilities in older adults NP)
- HNP (Holistic NP; APN program [9])
- NNP (Neonatal The term infant derives from the Latin word infans, meaning "unable to speak or speechless." It is typically applied to children between the ages of 1 month and 12 months; however, definitions vary between birth and 3 years of age NP)
- PMHNP (Psychiatric/Mental Health NP)
- APMHNP (Adult Psychiatric/Mental Health NP)
- FPMHNP (Family Psychiatric/Mental Health NP)
- OHNP (Occupational Health NP)
- ONP (Oncology NP)
- AONP (Adult Oncology NP)
- PONP (Pediatric Oncology NP)
- PCNP (Palliative Care NP; APN program [10])
- PNP (Pediatric Pediatrics is the branch of medicine that deals with the medical care of infants, children, and adolescents. The upper age limit of such patients ranges from age 12 to 21. A medical practitioner who specializes in this area is known as a pediatrician. The word pediatrics and its cognates mean healer of children; they derive from two Greek words: π NP)
- PCCNP (Pediatric Critical Care NP)
- ACPNP (Acute Care Pediatric NP)
- PA/CCNP (Pediatric Acute/Chronic Care NP [11])
- WHNP (Women's Health NP)
- BC-PCM (Board Certified - Palliative Care Management, discontinued by ANCC)
- BC-ADM (Board Certified - Advanced Diabetes Management)
- ACHPN (Advanced Certified Hospice & Palliative Nurse)
- "-C" and "-BC" indicate "Certified" and "Board Certified" by a national certifying organization such as the ANCC or AANP (eg, FNP-BC, NNP-BC, ANP-C, NP-C, etc)
See also
| Nursing portal Nursing ethics shares many principles with other branches of health care ethics, such as beneficence and non-maleficence, but also has a number of distinctions |
- Registered Nurse A registered nurse , is a health care professional responsible for implementing the practice of nursing through the use of the nursing process in conjunction with other health care professionals. Registered nurses work as patient advocates for the care and recovery of the sick and maintenance of their health. In their work as advocates for the
- List of counseling topics
References
| This article does not cite any references or sources. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be and removed. (January 2010) |
External links
| Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Nurse practitioners |
- ENP Network (ENP Network)
- American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP)
- American College of Nurse Practitioners (ACNP)
- American Journal for Nurse Practitioners (AJNP)
- The National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF)
- Advance for Nurse Practitioners journal
- The Nurse Practitioner: The American Journal of Primary Health Care
- The Center for Nursing Advocacy
- NP Central
- NPACE - Nurse Practitioner Associates for Continuing Education
- Australian Nurse Practitioner Association (ANPA)
- South Australian Nurse Practitioner Association (SANPA)
- Nurse Practitioner World News (NPWN)
- NPCanada.ca (The Canadian Nurse Practitioner)
- Nurse Practitioner Association of Manitoba (NPAM)
- Pearson Report
- Practice Management for Nurse Practitioners (PM)
- The Canadian Nurse Practitioner Initiative (CNPI)
- The Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (PNCB)
- Women’s Health Care Journal for Nurse Practitioners (WHCJ)
Categories: Healthcare occupations | Nursing specialties
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I was contacted directly by Nurse Practitioner Lolita Hanks about a new GFCF Menu planner that she has been involved in creating. Though we haven't had the ...
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these fields it is not all inclusive since those listed were not provided Some of the preceptors may also practice in the fields listed under other but did not specify such Table 2 List your field of practice Also specify any other area of practice not provided The third survey question asked preceptors to specify location of their
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Sun, 09 May 2010 04:50:29 GM
A . Nurse practitioner. is a medical professional that cares for a patient with a focus on the patient's overall well-being. They make diagnoses, ordering test and prescribing medicine. A major element is they do not need to and are not ...
Q. I was wondering if a nurse practitioner can open up their own practice? If so, how much are they capable of earning?
Asked by K Yo - Sat Jan 16 22:38:54 2010 - - 2 Answers - 0 Comments
A. It totally depends on the state. In some, NPs are allowed to be on their own, in others, they are not.
Answered by ckm1956 - Sun Jan 17 11:36:51 2010
