What is a Nurse Practitioner?
A nurse practitioner is one of four categories of "Advance Practice Nurses," nurses who have received masters level detailed training beyond that required for RN licensure, in a specific area. NPs were originally designed as "physician extenders" to provide primary care to improve the health of children. But today's NP focuses more on holistic, preventive care tailored to individuals - a more skilled nursing approach - rather than just substituting for a physician. Nurse Practitioners can order and interpret diagnostic and laboratory tests, and can prescribe medication in all 50 states.
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NP education builds on a BSN and most programs are two years long - resulting in a masters degree in nursing. Some schools have post-masters certificate programs which allow you to focus on a new specialty area after you already have a masters in a different area. Certification comes from passing a national certification exam offered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center and the American Association of Nurse Practitioners.
Like Clinical Nurse Specialists, Nurse Practitioners may practice independently, or they may work in hospitals, long-term care facilities, and for various health care agencies. However, while CNSs may function primarily as administrators, researchers, policy-makers, educators, or consultants, most NPs function primarily as clinicians. NPs may diagnose and treat a wide range of acute and chronic illnesses and injuries, interpret lab results, counsel patients, develop treatment plans, and they may prescribe medication.
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Like CNS, NPs work within a defined area of specialization, many of which are listed below: