Nurse Practitioner

Nurse Practitioner
A nurse practitioner (NP) is an advanced practice registered nurse and a type of mid-
level practitioner. NPs are trained to assess patient needs, order and interpret
diagnostic and laboratory tests, diagnose disease, formulate and prescribe medications
and treatment plans. NP training covers basic disease prevention, coordination of care,
and health promotion, but does not provide the depth of expertise needed to recognize
more complex conditions.
What Does a Nurse Practitioner Do?

When it comes to understanding what a nurse practitioner does, the most important
factor to remember is that a nurse practitioner acts as a primary care provider for their
patients. This means that nurse practitioners can provide care to their patients without
being directly overseen by a physician in many states. They can also write
prescriptions and order diagnostic tests when necessary. The result is that NPs have
vastly more freedom and flexibility in their role than many other types of nurses,
including registered nurses.
Nurse practitioners work in a variety of settings, including emergency rooms,

hospitals, managed care facilities, surgical clinics, and private practice. In these
settings, NPs treat a wide range of patient populations depending on their unique area
of focus. This can include pediatrics, women’s health, and adult gerontology, among
many others (see below).
From day to day, NPs can perform any combination of the tasks and duties below,
depending on the needs of their employer and patients:
○ Recording a patient’s medical history

○ Updating medical records
○ Documenting symptoms
○ Collecting samples (blood, urine, mucus, stool, etc.)
○ Ordering lab tests or diagnostic procedures as necessary
○ Performing detailed examinations of the patient
○ Creating and implementing treatment plans
○ Coordinating with other medical professionals and specialists as necessary
○ Prescribing medications
○ Performing small medical procedures
○ Managing other nurses, such as CNAs, LPNs, and RNs
○ Monitoring patients to determine if treatment is successful and, if not, to identify
which adjustments might be made
Nurse Practitioner Specialties

As mentioned above, nurse practitioners will generally specialize in either performing
a certain type of care or in working with a particular patient population. This is known
as the nurse practitioner’s specialty. Some of the most common NP specialties
include:
○ Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP): These NPs focus on family-focused care, and
can work with patients ranging from infants to the elderly.
○ Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP): These NPs specialize in working with
children, and are well-versed in issues related to development.
○ Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP): These NPs focus on
working with patients who have been diagnosed with various mental health
conditions.
○ Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner (WHNP): These NPs specialize in
providing care to women, including wellness examinations, breast cancer
screenings, gynecological services, pregnancy, childbirth, and post-natal care.
○ Adult Gerontology Nurse Practitioner (AGNP): These NPs focus on working
with patients ranging in age from adolescence to the elderly, and typically do not
treat children.
Nurse Practitioners vs Other Roles

While nurse practitioners play a critical role in many healthcare settings, you may or
may not find that it is a suitable career for you. Below is a look at some other roles
you may also want to consider:
○ Registered Nurse (RN)

○ The duties of registered nurses will often overlap with those performed by nurse
practitioners. For example, RNs will conduct patient assessments and
examinations, record medical histories, collect biological samples, administer
medications or treatments, create and implement patient care plans, perform
wound care, and more. The primary difference between RNs and NPs is that NPs
can prescribe medications and order diagnostic tests, which RNs cannot do. RNs
also work under the supervision of others, while NPs have more freedom.
○ Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL)

○ Clinical nurse leaders act as a point of contact for their patients, coordinating and
collaborating with each of their patients’ caregivers. The role is primarily focused
on improving communication between members of the medical team, ensuring
that the organization’s policies and protocols are being followed, and acting as an
additional layer of oversight. Whereas NPs are trained to act as a primary
caregiver to their patients, CNLs are trained to coordinate care for their patients.
This means that CNLs often do not perform patient care themselves, but oversee
those that do and act as a resource when necessary.
○ Physician Assistant (PA)

○ The duties of physician assistants overlap significantly with the duties performed
by nurse practitioners. One key point of difference, however, is the fact that PAs
work under the supervision of a physician, while NPs do not in many states.
Another difference is the fact that NPs will often specialize in serving a particular
patient population. Physician assistants, on the other hand, will typically
specialize in performing a certain type of medicine, such as internal, emergency,
or surgical.

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Nurse Practitioner

What Does a Nurse Practitioner Do?

Nurse practitioners work in a variety of settings, including emergency rooms,

○ Recording a patient’s medical history

Nurse Practitioner Specialties

Nurse Practitioners vs Other Roles

○ Registered Nurse (RN)

○ Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL)

○ Physician Assistant (PA)

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