Nurse practitioners are registered nurses (RNs) who have continued their education and clinical training in a particular healthcare specialty area. Nurse practitioners have earned a graduate degree in advanced practice nursing.
Professional nurse practitioners are trained to deliver primary healthcare to people of all ages, including newborns. They provide such services in a high-quality, cost-effective manner, listening to their patients' concerns and answering their questions.
FHN nurse practitioners are certified to diagnose and manage acute illnesses and injuries, plus stabilize long-term chronic illnesses in collaboration with other members of the healthcare team. They assess health status by taking health histories and performing physical examinations. When needed, they prescribe medications, order and interpret laboratory tests, x-rays and developmental and screening tests to identify their patients' health problems, risk factors and strengths.
An integral part of a nurse practitioners' practice is emphasizing health education and providing health counseling. A nurse practitioner believes in a patient's right to know what is happening to him or her, all the while informing them of their choices when treatment is necessary.
When you are treated by a nurse practitioner within FHN, you're being treated by a professional who is your partner in healthcare.
Credentialing – what does it mean?
A nurse practitioner takes a special exam after training in his or her area of interest. The credentials after a nurse practitioner’s name are his or her area of certification, followed by –BC, which stands for Board Certified. Common certifications include:
FNP-BC – board-certified family nurse practitioner
GNP-BC – board-certified geriatric nurse practitioner
ANP-BC – board-certified adult nurse practitioner
CNM-BC – board-certified nurse midwife
NPWH-BC – board-certified nurse practitioner for women's health
AGACNP-BC – board-certified adult gerontology acute care nurse practitioner
Nurse practitioners can go on to earn a doctorate degree in nursing – a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), the highest level of certification.
Physician assistants (PAs) are found in all areas of medicine, from primary medicine to surgery. They are trained to conduct physical exams, treat patients' illnesses and injuries, develop and carry out treatment plans, provide preventive healthcare counseling, suture wounds, assist in surgery, order and interpret lab tests and write prescriptions.
PAs have received a broad education in primary care with a specific emphasis in the practice of medicine. They are licensed to practice with a physician's supervision. Most physician assistants have received their master's degree in an intensive medical program generally lasting two to three years. After graduation, their education is ongoing through state continuing-education requirements and interaction with healthcare providers.