This week is National Nurse Practitioner’s Week, observed from November 10th to 17th, 2024, and the question ‘What does a nurse practitioner do?’ is often asked. So, what better time than now to answer this!
The most commonly known healthcare roles are nurses, doctors, and therapists, but there are so many more crucial clinical and non-clinical roles that lean into the broad scope of healthcare. This week though, we want to highlight the role of our nurse practitioners! Nurse Practitioners are registered nurses with advanced training who provide patient care and can perform many of the same duties as a doctor, while also working in collaboration with physicians and other members of a healthcare team.
Nurse practitioners have completed a specified graduate degree that requires extensive classroom education along with specialized clinical experience, and who also must pass a national certification exam. They use their advanced clinical experience to diagnose and treat health conditions, focus on disease prevention, and promote healthy lifestyles, sharing many of the same responsibilities as doctors, though nurse practitioners train and provide care using the nursing model. This means that they provide patient centered care, rather than focusing on a specific type of medicine as physicians and physician assistants do. Many nurse practitioners begin their careers in healthcare as nursing assistants, LVN/LPNs, and RNs, gaining hands-on experience while they work on their advanced degrees.
Using the practice of the nursing model, nurse practitioners can specialize in a variety of areas that correspond to a specific population. Nurse practitioners that work within a care facility setting often specialize in a few areas, including adult-gerontology nurse practitioner (AGNP), geriatric nurse practitioner (GNP), family nurse practitioner (FNP), and psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP).
An adult-gerontology nurse practitioner (AGNP) is an advanced practice registered nurse who specializes in the healthcare needs of adults throughout their lifespan, treating patients spanning from young-adulthood to seniors. They are trained to address physical, mental, and social effects of aging.
A geriatric nurse practitioner (GNP) is an advanced practice registered nurse who specializes in providing care for older patients, ranging from their 60s to their 90s and beyond. They often treat patients who experience incontinence, dehydration, falls, physiological dysfunctions, and other conditions related to aging.
A family nurse practitioner (FNP) is an advanced practice nurse who offers care, promotes health, and treats disease in clients ranging from adolescents to seniors. They provide comprehensive wellness care, as well as the management of acute and chronic illnesses.
A psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP) is an advanced practice registered nurse who diagnoses and treats mental health needs and substance abuse issues, while also providing mental health services to clients and families. They often provide psychotherapy, implement behavioral interventions, and educate patients, families, and communities about mental health.
Nurse practitioners provide a full range of health care services, like performing physical examinations, ordering diagnostic tests like laboratory tests or X-rays, analyzing these test results, diagnosing health conditions, prescribing medication, and writing referrals.
National Nurse Practitioners Week is an annual celebration of nurse practitioners and their contribution to health care. They are a crucial part of health care organizations and client care, and often dedicate their expertise, compassion, and care to improving the health and well-being of their clients. Their tireless commitment to providing high-quality, personalized healthcare makes a profound difference every day, whether that’s diagnosing, educating, or simply offering a comforting presence, their work is invaluable.
Here at Sprenger Health Care, we are grateful for our nurse practitioner’s knowledge, skill, and unwavering dedication to enhancing lives every day. Their compassion and professionalism are truly appreciated – thank you for everything you do!
