Introduction
Nurse practitioners (NPs) are rapidly becoming the preferred health partner for millions of Americans. Because of their unique training and focus on both illness prevention and management, nurse practitioners (NPs) are able to provide care that is both comprehensive and individualized.
What’s a Nurse Practitioner (NP)?
A Nurse Practitioner (NP) is an APRN who has earned a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) and has completed specialized nurse practitioner education (DNP) (Weiland, 2017). Both primary and secondary care are within their purview. All NPs, in addition to their original professional preparation as RNs, must complete a master’s or doctoral program and undergo extensive additional clinical training. Nurses can practice in a variety of settings, from basic care to hospitals to retirement homes, thanks to the didactic and clinical training they get.
An NP’s focus on a patient as a whole, as opposed to only treating symptoms, is what sets them distinct from other medical professionals. Nurse practitioners (NPs) help people save their medical expenses by advising them on how to improve their health and cut down on preventable medical problems through lifestyle changes and education. A nurse practitioner’s (NP) responsibilities extend far beyond direct patient care (van et al, 2019). The advancement of the NP’s position and the upkeep of professional standards are aided by their engagement in professional organizations and health policy activities at the local, state, national, and international levels.
Reduced health care expenditures for patients are one of the many benefits of having NPs care for them. Patients who have NPs as their main care provider, for instance, typically have fewer hospitalizations, shorter stays, and lower pharmaceutical expenses (Weiland, 2017). More than 355,000 solutions to the primary care deficit currently plaguing the United States can be attributed to the work of nurse practitioners (NPs), who provide high-quality, cost-effective, patient-centered health care.
Qualifications
Expertise in the field of medicine requires accreditation at the national level, ongoing peer review, evaluation of clinical outcomes, and adherence to a code of ethics that all NPs must follow. In addition to formal education, self-directed learning and professional growth are crucial for keeping clinical competence at a high level.
Nurse practitioners (NPs) not only lead and participate in professional and lay health care forums, but they also conduct research and apply findings to clinical practice in an effort to promote quality health care and improve patient outcomes.
License and practical locations
All 50 states and the District of Columbia need NPs to obtain a license before they can practice, and NPs must adhere to the laws and regulations of the state in which they are licensed. They do so in a wide variety of settings, including clinics, hospitals, emergency rooms, urgent care centers, private physician or NP offices, nursing homes, schools, universities, and public health agencies in both rural and metropolitan areas as well as in the suburbs (van et al, 2019).
Nurse Practitioner Salary
Average NP compensation is $119,601, with a median salary range of $110,980 – $129,931. Many criteria, such as level of education, certifications, supplementary talents, and years of experience in the field, can have a significant impact on salary.
References
Weiland, S. A. (2017). Understanding nurse practitioner autonomy. Journal of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, 27(2), 95-104.
van Dusseldorp, L., Groot, M., Adriaansen, M., van Vught, A., Vissers, K., & Peters, J. (2019). What does the nurse practitioner mean to you? A patient‐oriented qualitative study in oncological/palliative care. Journal of clinical nursing, 28(3-4), 589-602.
