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? Names and faces in business MLive.com, MI - Nov 30, 2008 Michigan Medical PC hired: Sarah Akers, nurse practitioner at the Center for Diabetes and Endocrinology in Grand Rapids; Jessica Baxter and Hanh Nguyen, ...
Registered Nurse - RN ADVANCE, PA - The (C)WOCN RN is an experienced practitioner who demonstrates in-depth knowledge of nursing, patient care, and the ability to practice independently. ...
New nurse practitioner for Shelburne County Nova News Now, Canada - Nov 28, 2008 by Carla Allen/The Vanguard A new nurse practitioner will be providing primary health care services to residents of Shelburne County. ...
Customers Get Medical Check Up Next to Grocery Check Out KOLN, NE - Nov 30, 2008 "The idea behind these kinds of clinics is that they fill a gap that isn't currently being served by the medical community," said Nurse Practitioner Kathie ...
Nurse practitioner clinic is a step forward Sault Star, Canada - Nov 27, 2008 Marie and current employee of the Sudbury District Nurse Practitioner Clinics, I would like to commend the Ministry of Health and congratulate the City of ...
Helena Iannaccone, oncology nurse practitioner Fort Worth Business Press, TX - Aug 4, 2008 She said she realized it?s where she belonged, and after she went back to school to become a nurse practitioner she returned to oncology. ...
Office / Medical Practice ADVANCE, PA - In addition, incumbent will provide professional nursing care to clinic patients under the supervision of nurse practitioner in accordance to guidelines ...
3 clinics open in local Walgreens The Wichita Eagle, KS - Aug 5, 2008 The clinics offer medical treatment by an advanced nurse practitioner who is authorized to diagnose and treat minor illnesses and injuries, ...
Itemized hospital bill clarifies charges Tampabay.com, FL - Aug 5, 2008 I was examined by a nurse practitioner; X-rays showed I had a broken rib. I was prescribed Darvocet and sent home. Once home I received a bill from the ...
Nurse Practitioner Seattle Times, United States - Jul 18, 2008 Within a nurse practitioner scope of practice, takes histories, performs physical examinations, orders and interprets results of diagnostic tests, ...
The Burlington randomized trial of the nurse practitioner. - WO Spitzer, DL Sackett, JC Sibley, RS Roberts, M … - N Engl J Med, 1974 - ncbi.nlm.nih.gov N Engl J Med. 1974 Jan 31;290(5):251-6. The Burlington randomized trial
of the nursepractitioner. Spitzer WO, Sackett DL, Sibley ...
Comparison of the work of a nurse practitioner with that of a general practitioner - CJ Salisbury, MJ Tettersell - JR Coll Gen Pract, 1988 - pubmedcentral.nih.gov ... Copyright notice. Comparison of the work of a nursepractitioner with that of a
general practitioner. ... [PubMed]; Spitzer WO. The nursepractitioner revisited. ...
Imagine this: your child's fever is soaring, but the doctor's schedule is completely booked. The receptionist tells you that a nurse practitioner is available to see your child. Although you don't know much about nurse practitioners, you set up an appointment.
If this has happened to you, your apprehension is understandable - every parent wants the best medical care available. Many parents have discovered that nurse practitioners (NPs) provide excellent care for their infants, children, and teenagers, and recent studies show that in some respects these trained specialists deliver the same - or better - care as medical doctors.
What's an NP?
According to the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP), a nurse practitioner is a registered nurse (RN) who has additional education and training in a specialty area such as family practice and pediatrics.
You may also hear NPs referred to as advanced practice nurses (APNs). NPs or APNs have a master's degree in nursing (MS or MSN) in the specialty area of their interest. For example, a pediatric NP has advanced education, skills, and training in caring for infants, children, and teens. If accredited through the national board exam, the APN will have an additional credential such as Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (CPNP) or Certified Family Nurse Practitioner (CFNP).
Pediatric and family practice NPs can provide regular health care for your child. An APN who specializes in pediatrics can perform the following tasks, according to Karen Smail, a pediatric nurse practitioner:
take your child's health history and perform a physical exam
plan your child's care with you and your child's health care team
perform some tests and procedures
answer questions about your child's health problems
treat common childhood illnesses
change the plan of care with your child's doctor as needed
teach your family about the effects of illness on your child's growth and development
teach your child about self-care and healthy lifestyle choices
write prescriptions
order medical tests
teach other health care members and local groups about child health care
provide referrals to community groups
These nursing professionals work closely with doctors to provide high quality and individualized care for their patients. However, just like doctors, NPs often do more than direct patient care. Many are involved in education, research, and legislative activities to improve the quality of health care in the United States.
NPs follow the rules and regulations of the Nurse Practice Act of the state where they work. Many are also nationally certified in their area of specialty.
NPs and Doctors
According to the AANP, research shows that NPs provide high-quality and cost- effective care and a unique approach to health care, which results in a high level of patient satisfaction.
Investigators at Columbia University in New York conducted a study to determine whether patients received the same quality of care from doctors as from NPs. The study authors reported that, in these cases, patient outcomes were not significantly different for these two groups of medical professionals. NPs are licensed in all 50 states, and they can dispense most medications. Some states (Pennsylvania, Georgia, Michigan, and Ohio) require a doctor to cosign prescriptions.
Many people think that, although doctors are capable of dealing with complex medical problems, NPs may spend more time with their patients.
Experts who study NPs report that their training emphasizes disease prevention, reduction of health risks, and thorough patient education.
Should My Child See a Nurse Practitioner?
Pediatric and family practice APNs can treat acute illnesses such as upper respiratory diseases, ear infections, rashes, urinary tract infections, and a multitude of other acute illnesses. They can also assist with management of chronic illnesses such as asthma or allergies.
"A large part of the pediatric NP's role is to educate the child and the family regarding the normal growth and development issues and problems that arise in childhood such as toileting, temper tantrums, biting, and other common problems that arise during the growth process," says Carol Savrin, a pediatric nurse practitioner and nursing instructor.
If your child has severe health problems that require advanced training or highly specialized medical care, you may need to seek the care of a doctor. If you're unsure about your child's specific illness and want to know if an NP can help, ask your child's doctor. The scope of an NP's practice depends upon your state's regulations.
If you want to verify an NP's credentials, check with the American College of Nurse Practitioners (ACNP). It's also a good idea to ask NPs about their specific qualifications, education, and training, just as you would interview a prospective doctor for your child.
Also be sure to check with your health insurance provider to ensure that services provided by NPs are covered through your policy.
How Can I Find an NP?
You can find pediatric APNs through the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (NAPNAP) and through local hospitals or nursing schools.
In addition, many doctors share office space with NPs to provide all types of primary care. Other doctors work with NPs to offer them training in different types of health care. Your child's doctor may already have these types of arrangement in place - all you need to do is ask.
