Did you know that nurse practitioners must complete at least a master’s degree program, and many complete doctoral degree programs? Did you know that the nurse practitioner profession has been around for more than 50 years, and that there are over 222,000 licensed nurse practitioners practicing medicine in the United States today? We have 16 wonderful Advanced Practice Registered Nurses who are part of our care team at MANA clinics. National Nurse Practitioner Week is a great time to learn more about nurse practitioners!
What is an Nurse Practitioner (NP) or Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN)?
Nurse practitioners – also called Advanced Practice Registered Nurses – are highly knowledgeable and highly educated medical professionals. NPs must complete a master’s or doctoral degree program. Nurse practitioners must also undergo national certification, periodic peer review, and clinical evaluation.
NPs may work independently or in cooperation with other medical professionals to provide primary or acute health care for patients. NPs are licensed to do everything a licensed practical nurse (LPN) or registered nurse (RN) can do, and can also write prescriptions. They can provide counseling, primary care, specialty care, diagnosis, education, and more.
Nurse Practitioners are licensed in all 50 states, and can work in hospitals, doctor’s offices, clinics, or private practices.
Facts and information about NPs
- NPs have full practice authority in 21 states and the District of Columbia. NPs in Arkansas have reduced practice authority.
- There are more than 220,000 licensed NPs in the United States.
- NPs focus on wellness, health promotion, and disease prevention.
- Americans visit NPs over 870 million times each year, and report extremely high levels of satisfaction.
- Patients with an NP for their primary care provider have fewer ER visits and shorter hospital stays, on average.
- Malpractice rates among NPs are low, with just 1.9%of nurse practitioners named as a primary defendant in a malpractice case.
There are 16 APRNs within the MANA network of clinics. Take a moment to thank your advanced nurse practitioner this week!