What Is a Nurse Practitioner?
A nurse practitioner (NP) is a registered nurse (RN) who has completed advanced education and training (usually a minimum of a master's degree) in the diagnosis and management of common medical conditions, including chronic and acute illnesses. NPs have a specific focus on individualized care and make preventative medicine and patient education priorities.
This article provides general information on nurse practitioners, including their common duties, training, education, and specializations.
Common Duties - Training & Education - Specializations – Article Resources
Common Duties
The duties that an nurse practitioner is licensed to perform will vary depending on the state where they practice. Nevertheless, it is common for NPs to provide care that is comparable to that from a physician. In fact, NPs are allowed to prescribe medications in all states, and 23 states have given NPs the authority to practice independently without physician collaboration or supervision.
Other common duties performed by NPs include the following:
- Caring for critical care patients
- Conducting physicals and physical examinations, primary and specialty care services
- Diagnosing, treating, evaluating and managing acute and chronic illness and disease
- Educating patients on health behaviors, self-care skills, and treatment options
- Ordering, performing, and interpreting diagnostic studies
- Performing or assisting in minor surgeries and procedures (e.g., dermatological biopsies, suturing, casting)
- Prescribing medications, physical therapy, and other rehabilitation treatments
- Providing prenatal care, family planning services, and well-child care (e.g., screening and immunizations)
Training & Education
Nurse practitioners are one kind of advanced practice nurses (APNs), the others being certified registered nurse anesthetists, certified nurse-midwives, and clinical nurse specialists. After training as a registered nurse, all APNs must have a graduate-level education, with many NPs also having advanced training within a specific specialty. After completion of an advanced degree program, usually obtaining a Master’s of Science in Nurse Practice (MS) degree or a Doctor of Nurse Practice (DNP) degree, NPs must be licensed in the state in which they work. Specific requirements vary by state nursing boards, and some states also require that NPs possess additional certification in a subfield by a national nursing specialty organization.
Specializations
Nurse practitioners can be trained and nationally certified in various areas where they can offer a specialization. Some of the more common certifications include the following:
- Acute Care (ACNP)
- Adult Health or Occupational Health (ANP)
- Emergency (as FNP or ACNP)
- Family Health (FNP)
- Gerontology (GNP)
- Neonatology (NNP)
- Oncology (ONP)
- Pediatrics (PNP)
- Psychiatry & Mental Health (PMHNP)
- Women's Health (WHNP)