More often than not, physicians or medical doctors are the one responsible for diagnosing and providing treatment for patients who seek answers for their health problems. Doctors are the one who do their physical exams, discern what the diagnosis is and determine which laboratory tests to assign to the patient, interpret, and correlate the results for the medical treatment to follow. They are also the ones who write the prescriptions and do the surgical operations, both major and minor. However, doctors do not always have the ample amount of time to follow up and do all of their treatment.
This why they have a doctor’s order sheet and nurses are the ones who usually implement these orders. Still, sometimes physicians need more assistance than what nurses and other staff of the healthcare team can give them. Hence when a shortage of physicians occurred in the mid-1960s, the term nurse practitioner was born (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 2003). Nurse practitioners were not meant to replace physicians entirely. The nurse practitioner has a bigger scope in terms of medical practice when compared to a registered nurse.
Albeit a nurse practitioner is actually a registered nurse too, he or she has completed a more advanced education, which includes a master’s degree and training (Healthcommunities. com, Inc. , 2007). Training includes studies in diagnosing and management of regular medical conditions and chronic diseases (Healthcommunities. com, Inc. , 2007). In addition, nurse practitioners promote good health, and provide assistance through health teachings in the prevention of diseases and injuries (Delmar Cengage Learning, 2005). Nurse practitioners give very individualized care (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 2003).
Not only are they focused on their patient’s condition, but also on the overall effects of the illness on the life of the patient and their respective families (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 2003). Since nurse practitioners make prevention, wellness, and health teachings to patients their priorities, it could mean lesser prescriptions and not expensive treatments (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 2003). Nurse practitioners often conduct researches and studies and are very active in activities that are patient-centered (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 2003).
In general, nurse practitioner duty includes physician and healthcare staff collaboration, which includes providing referrals, the diagnosis and treatment of acute disorders, infections, and injuries and even chronic illnesses (Healthcommunities. com, Inc. , 2007). The nurse practitioner is to provide health maintenance care for adults, plus yearly physical exams, and well-child care, that includes immunizations and screening, not to mention prenatal care and family planning health teachings (Healthcommunities. com, Inc. , 2007).
The nurse practitioner can also counsel and educate patients about their health behaviors, their self-care skills, and the available treatment options for their illnesses (Healthcommunities. com, Inc. , 2007). They can also obtain medical histories and conduct the physical exams, order, perform, and interpret the result of diagnostic studies, prescribe or recommend therapy and rehabilitation treatments (Healthcommunities. com, Inc. , 2007).