3 Things You Should Know About Nurse Practitioners

Nurse practitioners are responsible for a lot of things when it comes to patient care. However, a lot of people aren’t sure what they do. With so many different medical professionals, it can be helpful to know exactly what a nurse practitioner does. In this article, we highlight three things to know about these types of nurses. They aren’t normal registered nurses, but they also aren’t physicians either. Find out more by reading below!

Three things to know about nurse practitioners

Nurse practitioners play a very important role in healthcare. It is important to be aware of what they do and who they are. Read on to find out more!

#1 They have more responsibility than an RN

A lot of people are under the impression that a nurse practitioner is the same thing as a registered nurse or RN. However, this isn’t true! They actually have a lot more responsibility than a registered nurse does. A nurse practitioner is an advanced registered nurse that undergoes additional training and certification.

The responsibility of a nurse practitioner involves more in-depth patient care. They can examine and diagnose patients for minor medical conditions, as well as prescribe medications to help treat the illness or disease. In simpler terms, a nurse practitioner’s responsibilities include a combination of what a registered nurse and physician does.

#2 Nurse practitioners undergo a lot of training

It is really important to understand the difference between a nurse practitioner and a registered nurse. One of the main differences is that practitioners undergo a lot more training than an RN does. They are required to get a Bachelor’s or Doctorate degree in order to further advance their education.

Aside from the educational side of things, nurse practitioners also must declare a specialty that they wish to train in. They are required to do this prior to entering nursing school so that they can receive the appropriate training.

#3 You can see them if you’re sick

It’s normal to think that a doctor has to be the one to diagnose a patient if they are sick, but nurse practitioners can provide healthcare without a doctor! When a patient is feeling under the weather, they can visit their local nurse practitioner and receive just as good of care.

Nurse practitioners can examine, diagnose and treat patients in a primary care environment. They have the ability to write prescriptions and perform general healthcare advice and treatment. If it’s a very serious illness or concern then a visit to the nurse practitioner won’t hurt. They can always refer you to a doctor or the necessary specialist.

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Are you interested in learning more about nurse practitioners? We can help you. Whether you’re curious about what they do or you’re in need of an appointment, we are available to assist. Give us a call or stop by our office!

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