A nurse practitioner is a registered nurse (RN) who has also completed a masters degree in nursing science and specialty training in a specific area such as family practice, pediatrics, or midwifery. In addition to educational requirements, nurse practitioners (also referred to as advanced practice nurses, APNs, or sometimes NPs, are required to pass national board certification in their area of specialty.

Licensed as both nurse practitioners and registered nurses, NPs follow the rules and regulations of the Nurse Practice Act of the state where they work. They are required to maintain their certification through a regular program of continuing education. Family practice NPs often provide a range of routine health care to all age groups for immediate (acute) and chronic (long-term) health needs including:

• Treating common childhood and adult illnesses
• Writing prescriptions for treatment of health diagnoses
• Performing routine tests and procedures
• Ordering medical and laboratory tests
• Developing health histories
• Answering questions and providing education about health issues
• Referring to and consulting with other health care professionals, including physicians, for development of health care plans
• Changing the plan of care with a person’s primary physician doctor as needed
• Educating families about the effects of illness on a child’s growth and development
• Teaching children and adults about self-care and healthy lifestyle choices
• Teaching other local groups about health care

NPs and Doctors

NPs can work closely with doctors to provide individualized care for their patients. NPs are licensed in all 50 states, and can dispense most medications.  A few states, not including Alaska, require a doctor to co-sign prescriptions. Although doctors have additional training to help patients deal with complex medical problems, many people believe that NPs may spend more time with their patients. Experts who study NP practice report that their training emphasizes disease prevention, reduction of health risks, and thorough patient education. Like doctors, NPs are involved in more than just direct patient care. Many participate in education, research, and legislative activities to improve the quality of health care in the United States.

Nationally, NPs have helped to fill an important need for convenient, cost-effective, same day walk-in health care. Due to a limited supply of primary care physicians in some communities and increasing consumer demand for convenience, many patients find themselves seeking care for minor routine procedures in a relatively expensive emergency room setting. Walk-in care clinics, often staffed by NP’s or other mid-level providers, fill this need by providing professional services scaled to the patient’s basic health care needs. These clinics help uninsured individuals, self-insured employers, and health insurance companies substantially reduce the costs of health care while increasing access to routine procedures. In addition to financial savings, walk-in health care clinics can help meet the needs of busy families and individuals.