Nurse Practitioners

Nurse Practioners are RNs who have specialized graduate education and licensure. They must be supervised by a physician, who does not need to be present, but authorizes a wide spectrum from interviewing and examining to treating routine problems. They may be on call 24 hours a day. Working in offices, clinics or healthe care facilities, either independently or on a healthcare team, they diagnose and treat acute illnesses, infections or injuries. They may order and interpret diagnostic tests, labs or xrays. They analyze patient histories, symptoms, and examinations. They prescribe medications as legally authorized. They may focus on disease prevention or health advocacy. They educate patients about management of illness, both acute and chronic, with specific attention to the patient’s situation. Their recommendations consider safety, efficacy, and cost.