What Is A Nurse Practitioner?
There are more than 200,000 nurse practitioners in the U.S. alone. Nurse practitioners impact lives every day and is important professionals in the medical industry.
What is a nurse practitioner? What are their responsibilities? Are they like a doctor?
Continue to read to learn more about nurse practitioners and the role they play in the medical community across America and in Omaha, Nebraska.
What Is a Nurse Practitioner?
A nurse practitioner has the ability to diagnose conditions and order medical tests. Nurse practitioners can also order treatments such as medication. They diagnose both short-term and chronic conditions and have the authority to prepare a care plan.
Depending on the state, nurse practitioners will work under a licensed physician or have the ability to work independently.
Nurse practitioners are the closest profession to physicians in the medical industry. While there are key similarities between the two roles, nurse practitioners often work with patients to prevent diseases.
Core to a nurse practitioner's philosophy is proactivity. Nurse practitioners help patients with their long-term health and well-being.
Nurse Practitioner Training
Nurse practitioners receive extensive training. As per their name, nurse practitioners are trained as nurses. They must receive a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Additionally, they must earn a Master's or Doctorate in nursing.
Once completing their education, nurse practitioners have to take an exam to earn a nurse practitioner certification. After passing the exam, nurse practitioners will have to file for a license through their state.
As highlighted above, a nurse practitioner's authority will vary by state. Some states require that nurse practitioners practice with a licensed physician. 20 current states allow nurse practitioners to have their own practices without supervision.
Qualifications and Skills
Nurse practitioners are talented medical professionals who save lives every day. While they do not receive as extensive training as physicians, they hold very similar responsibilities.
Nurse practitioners in Omaha must have specific qualifications and skills to succeed in their roles. These include, but are not limited to:
Proper time management
The ability to effectively communicate with patients
Knowledge of modern technology and procedures
The ability to analyze lab results and diagnose patients
Why Should I See a Nurse Practitioner?
Some patients in Omaha prefer to work with nurse practitioners. Why is this?
Nurse practitioners do more than treat patients. They help patients focus on their overall health.
Visiting a nurse practitioner can also be more affordable for families. With a nurse practitioner, you can receive medical care with fewer financial worries.
Contact Balanced Health Clinic of Nebraska Today
At the Balanced Health Clinic of Nebraska, we have a team of nurses helping a licensed Nurse Practitioner in Omaha, who love what they do every day. They have seen firsthand the impact their job has on the lives of their patients.
We provide a variety of different services to our patients and want to be a partner in your health journey. To learn more about our clinic and our services, we invite you to contact us today.