Nurse Practitioner

Whether you are currently working as a nurse (RN), or are thinking of switching to a health related career, a degree as a nurse practitioner is both stimulating and practical. Nurses can apply to a graduate program, while non-nurses with other degrees can look for combined bachelors and masters programs. A nurse practitioner (NP) is an RN with further didactic and clinical education from a master's degree. Many people are not familiar with the role of the NP, which is actually quite different from that of an RN's role. Nurse practitioners work independently in seeing patients, performing medical exams, diagnosing illnesses, creating treatment plans, prescribing medicines, and referring to other doctors as necessary. They generally work in an office with a physician, although they can open and run their own practices in some states. Most states require the nurse practitioner to have a doctor to consult with as necessary, whether in the office or by phone. However, the NP does not work under the physician-she has an independent license and is legally liable for her actions. A greater need is necessary for NPs in family care and medical offices, although NPs also work in hospitals, doing research, and in student/occupational/community health clinics. In medical offices, the NP often has the opportunity to specialize her practices; for example, at an endocrinologist's office she can see all of the newly-diagnosed diabetics, perform patient education and follow up care. What I like most about my role as an NP is the seemingly limitness opportunities for working in different areas of medicine, as well as the autonomy, despite being able to continually learn from more experienced health care professionals in the office through collaboration.