FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTION
What is a Nurse Practitioner?
A nurse practitioner is an advanced practice registered nurse classified as a midlevel practitioner. A nurse practitioner is trained to assess patient needs, order and interpret diagnostic and laboratory tests, diagnose illness and disease, prescribe medication and formulate treatment plans.
According to the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, a nurse practitioner is educated at the graduate level to provide “primary, acute, chronic, and specialty care to patients of all ages”, depending on their field of practice.
In Ohio, “Certified Nurse Practitioner (CNP)” means a RN who holds a valid certificate of authority issued under the chapter that authorizes the practice of nursing as an NP in accordance with section 4723.43 of the Revised Code and rules adopted by the board of nursing. (O.R.C.A. 4723.01)
What do the letters stand for?
All of the following are designations of a Nurse Practitioner:
CNP = Certified Nurse Practitioner
APRN = Advanced Practiced Registered Nurse
FNP-BC = Family Nurse Practitioner – Board Certified: means that the specialty is Family Practice Certification comes through either the ANCC (American Nurses Credentialing Center) or AANP (American Academy of Nurse Practitioners)
What does it mean when you say NP Primary Care Provider?
A Nurse Practitioner will be your Primary Care Provider, taking care of your illnesses, chronic medical problems and preventative care.
Will I see a Doctor?
No, in this practice you will be cared for by an experienced and knowledgeable nurse practitioner. The nurse practitioner will refer you to a physician (doctor) if you need a specialist’s care.
The nurse practitioner has a collaborating physician who is always available for consultation.
What can I expect from a Nurse Practitioner at Care Excellence?
Competent, Compassionate, Wholistic care (physical, spiritual and emotional aspects; You will be listened to, examined, and completely informed.
What's the difference between a Nurse Practitioner and a Physician Assistant?
An NP attends a nursing school while a PA attends a medical school or center of medicine. NP follows the nursing model in which they focus on disease prevention and health education in addition to physical assessment, diagnosis and treatment. Physician assistants follow a disease-centered model, in which they focus on the biologic and pathologic components of health, and also practice assessment, diagnosis, and treatment. NPs can specialize in several areas, including adult-gerontology/geriatrics, mental health, pediatrics and women’s health. PAs have more of a generalized education, but can also specialize in areas like emergency medicine, orthopedics and general surgery. When thinking through the similarities and differences between physician assistants and nurse practitioners, keep in mind the different health care philosophies, educational options and available specializations to determine which might be the best fit for you.
DID YOU KNOW
Optimism may help you live longer
Can seeing the glass half full help you live longer? Studies have found that there is a correlation between increasing levels of optimism with decreasing levels of death from cancer, disease, infection and stroke. This is particularly true for cases of cardiovascular disease. Those who had the highest levels of optimism had an almost 40% lower risk of heart disease.
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