Health Care Providers: 5 Things You Should Know About Nurse Practitioners by Joyce Knestrick, CRNP, FAANP

Family Health
5 years ago

Health Care Providers: 5 Things You Should Know About Nurse Practitioners

If you’re looking for care, chances are you will encounter a nurse practitioner (NP). People are seeking out NPs for everything from routine, complex and urgent care. Before your next visit, here are five things you should know about NPs:

  • They are everywhere. Ninety percent are trained in primary care, but they also specialize in things like gerontology, neonatology, oncology, pediatrics and mental health.
  • They have a different approach. NPs focus more broadly on patient-centered wellness.
  • They provide complete patient care. NPs can diagnose patients, analyze tests and write prescriptions.
  • They spend more time with patients. NPs spend more time with patients, which leads to higher satisfaction rates.
  • They are more accessible. NPs go where the need for care is the greatest, making them popular in rural and shortage areas.

Most patients want the same thing – the best, most accessible care. NPs saw more than one billion patients last year, and that number is growing with their popularity. If you haven’t done so yet, consider an NP.

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Elisa Schmitz
I have always found NPs to be patient and take their time to get to know a patient and also to find the right treatment. Thank you for this, Joyce Knestrick, CRNP, FAANP !
Roy Bruce
NPs are great. But recently the AANP has been flooding the market with online diploma mills schools. NP education is not standardized. Patients need physicians to manage their care. Make sure you NP is being supervised. A 2 year masters degree does not a physician make.

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