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Training and Duties of a Nurse Practitioner

Nurse Practitioner Training

Nurse practitioners are registered nurses who have successfully completed advanced levels of education and hands-on training. Most of the time, nurse practitioners are required to have a minimum of a master’s degree, accompanied with a high level of experience and training in the diagnosis and treatment of a wide range of diseases, illnesses, and other medical conditions. Many nurse practitioners undergo training in areas of medical specialty as well.

Before you become a nurse practitioner, you must first successfully complete all the necessary training and general education required to become a registered nurse (RN). In some states, RNs only require an associates degree, but most employers recommend a bachelor’s degree as the favored educational level. (Once again, a master’s degree is the common educational level of a working nurse practitioner.) After successfully obtaining your nursing degree, you can apply for and enter a state-mandated Nurse Practitioner training program.

Nurse Practitioner Duties

Nurse practitioners take on a job that is heavily similar to the job of a physician. Most nurse practitioners maintain close working relationships with certified physicians. Nurse practitioners perform the same duties that a primary care provider offers patients, ranging from pediatrics to general medicine and everywhere in between. Most states allow nurse practitioners to legally prescribe medication.

Nurse practitioners are legally allowed to manage independent medical practices. Some practitioners make the choice to work with medical teams that consist of doctors, assistants, and other nurse practitioners. The hospital setting is a very common choice for the nurse practitioner, as well as medical specialty facilities like oncology and cardiac practices.

Nurse practitioners not only handle the individual medical needs of their patients, they also monitor and keep track of the effects any given illness may have on the patient’s loved ones, as well as their work and home lives. They often conduct patient counseling and offer extensive information on self-care and maintaining good health. This counseling typically includes recommended treatment options for current issues and preventative measures to avoid future pitfalls. Most of the time, a nurse practitioner will place great emphasis on disease prevention, patient education, and overall health and wellness. Prioritizing overall wellness and disease prevention affords the nurse practitioner a lesser need to prescribe medication or recommend unnecessary medical procedures. However, if a particular case so dictates, the nurse practitioner can make referrals to an outlying specialist.

The government of each singular state regulates the level of care nurse practitioners are allowed to provide. For this reason, the working duties of the nurse practitioner can vary greatly. Their services are limited to the laws set forth by the state in which their practice is located. In most states, the nurse practitioner carries the duty of diagnosing and treating a wide range of illnesses, including chronic ailments, infection, and long term medical conditions. Nurse practitioners are also responsible for obtaining and updating medical histories and other records. Practitioners are also responsible, in some cases, for performing minor surgeries that can be executed in the office.

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