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Encyclopedia > Nurse practitioner

A nurse practitioner is a registered nurse who has completed specific advanced nursing education (generally a master's degree) and training in the diagnosis and management of common medical conditions. Nurse practitioners provide a broad range of health care services. A registered nurse (RN), is a health care professional responsible for implementing the practice of nursing through the use of the nursing process (in concert with other health care professionals). ... Nursing is a profession focused on assisting individuals, families, and communities in attaining, re-attaining, and maintaining optimal health and functioning. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... A physician visiting the sick in a hospital. ...


Nurse Practitioners (NPs) provide much of the same care provided by physicians generally of the type seen in their specific practice areas like family practice offices, urgent care centers, and rural health clinics, and maintain collaborative working relationships with physicians. NPs are licensed by the state in which they practice, and have a board certification (often through ANCC - American Nurses Credentialing Center or for specialty practice such as the NCC: National Certification Corporation) in their area of practice. Rather than a generic focus of education, Nurse Practitioners specialize in such areas as pediatrics, geriatrics, family, psychiatry and acute care. The word physician should not be confused with physicist, which means a scientist in the area of physics. ... The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) is the largest nursing credentialing organization in the United States. ...


Nurse practitioners treat both acute and chronic conditions through prescribing medications, physical therapy, ordering tests and therapies for patients. Many NPs have a DEA registration number that allows them to write for federally defined "controlled" medications. Nurse practitioners may also bill Medicare, Medicaid and private insurance for services performed. An NP can serve as a patient’s "point of entry" health care provider and see patients of all ages depending on their designated scope of practice. 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. Informing patients about their health care and encouraging them to participate in decisions are central to the care provided by NPs. The DEAs enforcement activities may take agents anywhere from distant countries to suburban U.S. homes. ...


In eight states, including Oregon, Washington DC, Washington state, New Hampshire, and many Mountain/Pacific Time Zone states NPs work totally autonomously, and many choose to open their own clinical practices. American NPs, according to the American College of Nurse Practitioners, are required in 28 states to practice in collaboration with and under the supervision of a physician[1] though they may prescribe medications in all U.S. states, commonwealths, districts, and territories; and carry a DEA number in most states.[citation needed] A medical prescription ) is an order (often in written form) by a qualified health care professional to a pharmacist or other therapist for a treatment to be provided to their patient. ... The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is a United States Department of Justice law enforcement agency tasked with enforcing the Controlled Substances Act of 1970. ...

Contents

Scope of practice

Because the profession is state regulated, care provided by NPs varies. A nurse practitioner's duties may include the following: Image File history File links Broom_icon. ... Prose is writing distinguished from poetry by its greater variety of rhythm and its closer resemblance to the patterns of everyday speech. ...

  • Diagnosing, treating, evaluating and managing non-life-threatening acute and chronic illness and disease (e.g. diabetes, high blood pressure)
  • Obtaining medical histories and conducting physical examinations
  • Ordering, performing, and interpreting diagnostic studies (e.g., routine lab tests, bone x-rays, EKGs)
  • Prescribing medications (limited in some states)
  • Prescribing physical therapy and other rehabilitation treatments
  • Providing prenatal care and family planning services
  • Providing well-child care, including screening and immunizations
  • Providing primary and specialty care services, health-maintenance care for adults, including annual physicals
  • Providing care for patients in acute and critical care settings
  • Performing minor surgeries and procedures (with additional training and usually under supervision) (e.g., dermatological biopsies, suturing, casting)
  • 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
  • Some NPs are formally trained for surgical First Assistants in the OR.

This article is about the disease that features high blood sugar. ... Arterial hypertension, or high blood pressure is a medical condition where the blood pressure is chronically elevated. ... For other uses, see X-rays (disambiguation). ... ECG may also refer to the East Coast Greenway Lead II An Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG, abbreviated from the German Elektrokardiogramm) is a graphic produced by an electrocardiograph, which records the electrical voltage in the heart in the form of a continuous strip graph. ... Physical therapy (or physiotherapy[1]) is the provision of services to people and populations to develop, maintain and restore maximum movement and functional ability throughout the lifespan. ... Prenatal means before birth (is widely used in biology). ... Immunization (AmE) or Immunisation (BE) has a number of meanings: In medicine immunization is the process by which an individual is exposed to a material that is designed to prime his or her immune system against that material. ... The word counseling or counselling comes from the Middle English counseil, from Old French conseil, from Latin cōnsilium; akin to cōnsulere, to take counsel, consult. ...

Practice settings

NPs practice in all states. The institutions in which they work include the following: Image File history File links Broom_icon. ... Prose is writing distinguished from poetry by its greater variety of rhythm and its closer resemblance to the patterns of everyday speech. ...

  • Community clinics and nurse-managed health centers
  • Health departments
  • Health maintenance organizations (HMOs)
  • Home health care agencies
  • Hospitals and hospital clinics including ER, Urgent Care, wards, and intensive care units
  • Hospice centers
  • Nurse practitioner offices
  • Nursing homes
  • Nursing schools
  • Physician offices
  • Public health departments
  • School/college clinics
  • Veterans Administration facilities
  • Walk-In Clinics

A clinic or outpatient clinic is a small medical facility that provides health care for ambulatory patients - as opposed to inpatients treated in a hospital. ... A Nurse-Managed Health Center (NMHC) provides health care services in medically underserved rural and urban areas where there is limited access to health care. ... A health maintenance organization (HMO) is a prepaid health plan. ... Home care can refer to health care provided in the home by health care professionals (often referred to as home health care or formal care) or by family and friends (informal care). ... For the town in the Republic of Ireland, see Hospital, County Limerick. ... Palliative care is any form of medical care or treatment that concentrates on reducing the severity of the symptoms of a disease or slows its progress rather than providing a cure. ... Rest home for seniors in Český Těšín, Czech Republic SNF redirects here. ... A health department is a part of government which focuses on issues related to the general health of the citizenry. ... The United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is a Cabinet department of the United States government responsible for administering programs of veterans benefits for veterans, their families, and survivors. ... Convenient Care Clinics (CCCs) are health care clinics located in retail stores, supermarkets and pharmacies that treat routine family illnesses and provide preventative health care services. ...

Education, licensure, and board certification

NPs specialize in a particular field of medical care.


To be licensed as a nurse practitioner, the candidate must first complete the education and training necessary to be a registered nurse (RN). Licensure refers to the granting of a license (in the US, whilst, elsewhere the term registration is used), usually to work in a particular profession. ...


Requirements for a registered nurse (RN) include either 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 years. BSN programs are offered by colleges and universities and take 4 years. A registered nurse (RN), is a health care professional responsible for implementing the practice of nursing through the use of the nursing process (in concert with other health care professionals). ... An associates degree is the degree awarded by community colleges in Canada and the United States upon completion of a course of study equivalent to the first two years in a four-year college or university. ... The Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) is a four year academic degree in the science and principles of nursing, granted by a tertiary education university or similarly accredited school. ...


In most states a master's degree is required. To become NPs, nurses with an ADN or diploma must first complete a bachelor's degree or enter in various programs offering an ADN to master's degree via a "bridge program," most of which award the bachelor's degree while completing the requirements for the master's.


Once registered nurse status is attained, the candidate must complete a state-approved advanced nursing education program that usually specializes in a field such as family practice, adult health, acute care or women's health. The degree can be granted by:

  • A university, which grants a master's of science in nursing (MSN) degree which is now the minimum degree required
  • A university, which grants a doctorate in nursing

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. ...


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 degree in nursing and certification by an accrediting body (AANC, AANP). The license period varies by state; some require biennial relicensing, others require triennial.


Before or after receiving state licensing, a nurse practitioner can apply for national certification from one of several professional nursing organizations such as the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) or the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP). Contrary to popular belief, the American Nurses Association (ANA) does not offer certification directly, but through its credentialing arm, the ANCC. Some NPs pursue certification in a specialty. Several organizations oversee certification, including the following: The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) is the largest nursing credentialing organization in the United States. ... The American Nurses Association (ANA) is a professional organization to advance and protect the profession of nursing. ...

Post-nominal initials

See also: List of nursing credentials

Post-nominal initials NPs may use are regulated by the state in which they are licensed and include: Usage Credentials usually follow the name in this order: Academic Licensure or state designation Board certification Awards Other AAS - Associate of Applied Science ACLS - Advanced Cardiac Life Support ACNP - Acute Care Nurse Practitioner ADN - Associate Degree in Nursing ALS - Advanced Life Support ACRN - AIDS Certified Registered Nurse ANP - Adult Nurse... Post-nominal letters also called Post-nominal initials or Post-nominal titles are letters placed after the name of an individual to indicate that that individual holds a position, educational degree, accreditation, office, or honour. ...

  • 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)
  • ACNP-C (Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Certified)([1])
  • CPNP (pediatric NP when certified by the pediatric nursing certification board (PNCB)
  • CRNA (Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist)
  • CRNP (certified registered nurse practitioner) used primarily in Pennsylvania ([2])
  • MSN (master of science in nursing)
  • MN (master 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, being phased out due to confusion with Doctor of Naturopathy)
  • DNP (doctor of nursing practice)
  • DrNP (clinical doctorate in nursing)
  • Initials of the NP's specialty may also follow their name:

It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Nurse anesthetist. ... A Masters of Science in Nursing is an advanced degree a Registered Nurse may obtain to become an advanced practice nurse, such as a Nurse Practitioner or Clinical Nurse Specialist. ... Acute care refers to necessary treatment of a disease for only a short period of time in which a patient is treated for a brief but severe episode of illness. ... Geriatrics is the branch of medicine that focuses on health promotion and the prevention and treatment of disease and disability in later life. ... A human infant The word Infant derives from the Latin in-fans, meaning unable to speak. ... For information about the field, see Psychiatric and mental health nursing. ... Pediatrics (also spelled paediatrics or pædiatrics) is the branch of medicine that deals with the medical care of infants and children. ...

See also

Nursing Portal

Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... This article is about the occupation. ... Nursing is a profession focused on assisting individuals, families, and communities in attaining, re-attaining, and maintaining optimal health and functioning. ... Advanced Practice Nurses (APN), also known as Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs), are Registered Nurses with advanced education, knowledge, skills, and scope of practice. ... Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... In the United States, a nurse midwife is an advanced practice nurse who has specialized in the practice of obstetrical and gynecological care of relatively healthy women. ... In the United States, a Physician Assistant (PA) is a health care professional licensed to practice medicine with the supervision of a licensed physician (either an M.D. or D.O.) [1] PAs are not to be confused with medical assistants, who perform administrative and clinical tasks in hospitals and... A nurse anesthetist (AE) is a registered nurse and advanced practice nurse who has acquired additional education and training to administer anesthesia. ... A registered nurse (RN), is a health care professional responsible for implementing the practice of nursing through the use of the nursing process (in concert with other health care professionals). ... This is an List of counseling topics is incomplete list. ...

References

  1. ^ Nurse Practitioner Scope of Practice. www.acnpweb.org. American College of Nurse Practitioners. Retrieved on 2007-08-24.

Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 236th day of the year (237th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links


  Results from FactBites:
 
NYS Nurse Practitioner License Requirements (1859 words)
Completion of a nurse practitioner educational program registered by the New York State Education Department as qualifying for certification, or a program determined by the Department to be equivalent to a registered program, which is designed and conducted to prepare graduates to practice as nurse practitioners.
If you are licensed or certified as a nurse practitioner in another state or country, the Department may certify you upon receipt of satisfactory evidence that you have met the substantial equivalent of the New York requirements for certification.
Practice protocols must identify the area of practice to be performed by the nurse practitioner in collaboration with the physician and reflect accepted standards of nursing and medical practice.
Nurse practitioner - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (990 words)
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 much of the same care provided by physicians and usually maintain close working relationships with physicians.
Nurse practitioners focus on patients' conditions as well as the effects of illness on the lives of the patients and their families.
  More results at FactBites »


 

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