Nurse practitioners have recently been in high demand in the medical industry globally. This upward trend took place, especially after the COVID-19 period. But what is a nurse practitioner? A nurse practitioner, abbreviated as NP, is an advanced practice for registered nurses and is categorised as a mid-level practitioner. NPs are professionally trained to assess the needs of patients and order and interpret diagnostic and laboratory tests. They also diagnose diseases and formulate and prescribe medications per treatment plans. The training curriculum of an NP holistically covers the basics of disease prevention, care coordination, and health promotion. However, it needs to analyse the expertise depth required to recognise critical conditions. If you are looking for top-notch nurse practitioners in the USA, you should consult Evergreen Park nurse practitioner.
There are differing licence laws when it comes to practising as a nurse practitioner in different countries. An NP is authorised to practise in 26 states in the USA fully. However, NPs are asked to work under a physician’s supervision in the other 24 states. Curious about NP’s scope of practice, responsibilities, and accountability? Read ahead to know more!
Table of Contents
Scope of practice
Nurse practitioners have the authority to practise in almost every healthcare setting, such as clinics, hospitals, healthcare facilities, veteran affairs, emergency rooms, private physicians, and urgent care sites, to name a few. Moreover, they are also found working in public health departments, nurse-managed clinics, and homeless clinics. NP practice further consists of the following assessments-
- Ordering
- Performing
- Supervising
- Interpreting diagnostic and laboratory tests
- Performing diagnosis
- Initiating and overlooking treatment
- Prescribing medication
- Non-pharmacologic treatments
Responsibilities
The role of an NP is highly centred around the patients. It demands a rock-solid commitment to meeting the ever-developing needs of society and advancing along with the healthcare sector. They are regarded as leaders in health care, as they perform the roles of a provider, mentor, educator, advocate, researcher, and administrator. They are actively involved with professional organisations and participate in local, state, national, and international healthcare policy activities. The major advantage of NPs in the healthcare system is that they offer safe, cost-effective, supreme quality, and patient-centric care.
Accountability
NPs are highly accountable to the patients first and then to the nursing profession, along with their respective State Board of Nursing. They must practice consistently by maintaining an ethical code of conduct, national certification, updated practice standards, and evidence-following principles.
In conclusion
Nurse practitioners are the all-in-one for the healthcare sector. It would have been highly cumbersome to manage the patients without the presence of our NPs.
