| What is a Nurse Practitioner (NP) and how the | | | | medications and ongoing treatments are experienced, |
| program works, and how can you become one? If | | | | addressing the concerns of patients. They are |
| you want to consider your career path in medical | | | | encouraging patients to be proactive in their medical |
| field, these are the questions you might ask first. In | | | | care and in their treatment from the beginning of the |
| order for you to work as a Nurse Practitioner, you | | | | process and comfort the patients' mind. They make |
| will need to attend a program that offers an | | | | sure the patient understands what is required of |
| advanced degree in that specialty. This requires a | | | | them when following doctor's orders. |
| Master's degree in advanced nursing education. You | | | | Other performance areas expected to be performed |
| will be trained to diagnose and manage common | | | | by a nursing specialists are including but not limited to |
| illnesses as well as manage chronic conditions. Nurse | | | | as following: |
| Practitioners work close with physicians and can | | | | - Provide patient referrals and working with doctors |
| provide the same care which, in the long run, lessens | | | | and other medical professionals |
| the burdens of physicians. | | | | - Provide counseling and education to patients or their |
| To be able to become one, you will need to have RN | | | | care givers |
| credentials; this can be done through online nursing | | | | - Manage and/or treat chronic conditions (heart |
| program courses, colleges/universities, or at a hospital | | | | disease, HBP, diabetes, etc.) |
| based program in your local area. They care for | | | | - Obtain medical history and providing physical |
| patients within all age groups and provide excellent | | | | examination |
| individual care. | | | | - Order diagnostic studies to include blood tests, |
| When a Nurse Practitioner is onboard, usually fewer | | | | x-rays and EKGs. |
| visits at the doctor's office, fewer prescribed | | | | |