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

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.