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Nurse Practitioners (NPs) provide much of the same basic, non-emergent 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 ) in their area of practice. Rather than a generic focus of education, Nurse Practitioners are able to specialize in an area of study they desire (e.g. Pediatrics, Family Practice, Adult, Geriatric, etc.), and provide care within the scope of their expertise. As well, Nurse practitioners in certain states can be "psychiatric clinicians" and perform similar practice (though at a different level) as a Psychiatrist would. Nurse practitioners may treat both acute and chronic conditions, as well as prescribe medications and therapies for the patient at hand. Many NPs have a DEA registration number that allows them to write for "controlled" medications in most states. Nurse practitioners may also bill for Medicare and 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. Often a patient will be referred by the NP to a physician for more definitive diagnosis and care. 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. 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 physician1 though they may Prescribe medications in all U.S. states, commonwealths, districts, and territories; and carry a DEA Number in most states. SCOPE OF PRACTICE Because the profession is state regulated, care provided by NPs varies. A nurse practitioner's duties may include the following:
PRACTICE SETTINGS NPs practice in all states. The institutions in which they work include the following:
EDUCATION, LICENSURE, AND BOARD CERTIFICATION Most NPs specialize in a particular field of medical care, and there are as many types of NPs as there are medical specialties. To be Licensed as a nurse practitioner, the candidate must first complete the education and training necessary to be a registered nurse (RN). 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. In most states a master's degree is required. To become NPs, nurses with an ADN or diploma must first comlete 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:
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 ). 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, but is linked with the ANCC. Some NPs pursue certification in a specialty. Several organizations oversee certification, including the following:
POST-NOMINAL INITIALS See Also: List of nursing credentials Post-nominal initials NPs may use include:
SEE ALSO
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