What is a nurse practitioner?
A nurse practitioner is a professional healthcare provider who offers primary and specialty care services independently or alongside a doctor. Nurse practitioners—like primary care physicians—are essential in the healthcare system, particularly in rural regions. In emergencies like the recent COVID pandemic, they become front-line disease management and prevention workers. Nurse practitioners specialize in particular areas like orthopedics, pediatrics, oncology, psychiatry, and more.
A nurse practitioner is called an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) after attaining a Master's in Nursing (MSN) or a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP). This qualification enables them to serve as primary or specialty care providers, making them eligible to have more authority than registered nurses. They have similar responsibilities to that of a doctor and typically focus their care specifically on families, children, or the elderly population. Thus, they successfully bring a comprehensive perspective to health care and are most Americans' health partners of choice.
What does a nurse practitioner do?
Nurse practitioners (NP) are more than just health care providers. They are instrumental in implementing various local, state, national, and international health policy activities. They offer high-quality professional care at lower costs while maintaining professional standards of procedures and care. As independent medical practitioners alongside doctors, they provide the following primary and acute health care services-
- Ordered, performed, and interpreted diagnostic lab tests and X-rays.
- Diagnose and treat varied acute and chronic conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, infections, injuries, etc.
- Prescribe medications and other treatments.
- Manage a patient's overall health care.
- Provide counseling and patient education on disease prevention and positive health and lifestyle choices.
A nurse practitioner near you can also provide specialty care services in the following subspecialties:
- Adult health
- Family health
- Gerontology health
- Neonatal health
- Oncology
- Pediatric/child health
- Psychiatric/mental health
- Women's health
Acute care nurse practitioners (ACNPs) work in hospitals or critical care clinics. They treat patients with various health conditions, injuries, or surgical procedures from admission to discharge. They are qualified to order diagnostic procedures and laboratory tests to help with diagnosis. ACNPs also perform medical procedures such as intubation, debriding wounds, and putting casts on injuries. They are integral to a healthcare team in developing a treatment plan and follow-up care.
Most nurse practitioners in the U.S. are primary care nurse practitioners. They are also known as family nurse practitioners (FNPs). FNPs are qualified to diagnose and manage acute and chronic conditions in medical offices and other outpatient settings. They can work independently in 20 states under the supervision of a physician.
Training of a nurse practitioner
To become a nurse practitioner, one must qualify as a registered nurse (RN) by enrolling in an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or Bachelor's Degree in Nursing (BSN) program. Nurses with ADN can enroll in accelerated RN-BSN programs online. They can get a few years of experience before continuing higher education. Registered Nurses without Bachelor's degrees can opt for RN-to-MSN programs or ADN-to-MSN programs. Advanced doctoral degrees like Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) are the highest level of nursing education that interested candidates can pursue.
Once they graduate from their selected programs, nurse practitioners must get a license from their state. The individual states set the specifics and requirements for NP licensure. It may include renewing a license or completing a particular number of continuing education hours yearly. Pursuing continued education provides a competitive advantage to the nurse practitioner.
NPs lead and participate actively in various professional and healthcare forums to promote quality healthcare and improved clinical outcomes. They can conduct research and apply their findings to clinical practice. On an annual basis, the Ohio Board of Nursing oversees over 300,000 licenses. These include certificates for registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs), dialysis technicians, community health workers, and medication aides.
Different kinds of nurse practitioners
Nurse practitioners play vital roles in delivering specialized care across diverse medical environments. They excel in various specialties, including primary care, pediatrics, mental health, women's health, and acute care. These skilled professionals provide advanced care services, often collaborating with different kinds of physicians to enhance patient outcomes and healthcare delivery. Some specialized care options that would be offered by nurse practitioners near you are -
- A psychiatric nurse practitioner specializes in delivering mental health care services to individuals across different age groups, addressing specific mental health disorders and substance use issues.
- Family nurse practitioners deliver holistic healthcare services to individuals of all ages, cultivating enduring connections with patients while fulfilling primary care provider roles.
- A pediatric nurse practitioner specializes in providing healthcare to children from infancy through adolescence, offering wellness checks, immunizations, and the management of both acute and chronic illnesses.
- A neonatal nurse practitioner focuses on caring for sick and premature infants, which involves diagnosing and treating diseases and providing education and support to parents and families.
- These nurse practitioners specialize in providing short-term treatment to adults with severe illnesses or injuries, frequently in acute care environments such as post-surgery or trauma care units.
- An emergency nurse practitioner delivers urgent care to patients in emergency departments, making critical treatment decisions and closely monitoring their conditions.
- An adult gerontology nurse practitioner provides care for adult patients across all age groups, focusing on managing chronic health conditions and addressing the specific needs of older adults.
- Women’s health nurse practitioners specialize in providing reproductive, gynecological, and obstetric care to women and individuals assigned female at birth (AFAB) throughout their lifespan.
- An orthopedic nurse practitioner specializes in musculoskeletal health, addressing issues related to muscles, bones, joints, and connective tissues.
- An aesthetic nurse practitioner specializes in cosmetic procedure care, which involves counseling, performing procedures, and assisting patients throughout recovery.
- Oncology nurse practitioners provide comprehensive care to individuals diagnosed with cancer, collaborating with oncologists to develop personalized treatment plans and oversee their care.
What sets a nurse practitioner apart from a doctor?
Nurse practitioners and doctors offer similar healthcare to various patients. Research proves that nurse practitioners provide care of the same quality as physicians do. In some states, nurse practitioners can also be primary care providers. Those states grant them full practice authority, allowing them to work without doctor supervision. In other states, they must seek a doctor's approval for specific care decisions and prescribing medication.
However, nurses differ from doctors in certain aspects:
- Different philosophical approaches - Doctors, fundamentally, are scientists who study and treat diseases. Nurse practitioners are healers who start as registered nurses (RNs) and prioritize overall body and mind wellness. Although doctors may adopt a holistic healing approach, and nurse practitioners use scientifically tested treatments, their fundamental patient care philosophies differ.
- Variations in regulations - Doctors obtain national board certification in their specialty, necessitating exam success and periodic renewal every six to ten years. Additionally, they must hold a state medical license to practice. Similarly, nurse practitioners undergo a national certification exam before commencing their practice. Nevertheless, specific regulations may differ among states.
- Different paths to obtain a degree - Doctors and nurse practitioners have different education and training. Doctors attend medical school and earn a postgraduate degree like an MD. They undergo longer training compared to nurse practitioners.
- Various specialties - While some doctors pursue general practice, many opt for highly specialized fields. These require completing one or more medical residencies after earning their degree, adding three or more years to their training. Nursing specializations are typically broader than most physician specialties, enabling them to deliver primary care effectively.
You can review state requirements to learn more about what nurse practitioners can and cannot do under their licenses and find the best one near you for your medical needs!
Differences between registered nurses and nurse practitioners
Registered nurses (RNs) and nurse practitioners (NPs) share a focus on patient care, but their roles and responsibilities differ significantly. A nurse practitioner's scope of practice includes the authority to prescribe treatments, order tests, and diagnose conditions—tasks typically reserved for physicians. Registered nurses, on the other hand, work under the supervision of a physician who oversees patient care decisions, diagnoses, and follow-ups. This expanded responsibility for NPs stems from their advanced education and training.
The difference in responsibilities reflects the varying educational paths for each role. RNs need to complete an accredited program, pass the National Council Licensure Examination, and obtain state licensure. While some states accept an associate degree, a bachelor of science in nursing is steadily becoming the standard. In contrast, nurse practitioners must earn a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or higher, complete additional clinical hours, and obtain specialized certifications if focusing on specific patient populations. These advanced qualifications equip NPs with the skills needed for their independent and expanded role in patient care.
Although it is possible to become a nurse practitioner (NP) in one continuous educational path, most NPs begin their careers as registered nurses (RNs). They typically gain experience in the field before returning to school to complete an advanced degree. This decision often comes when they seek to advance their careers, motivated by factors such as higher salaries, more flexible work schedules, and increased responsibilities.
Find the best nurse practitioners near you in Columbus, Ohio
Do you want the unique, holistic, and personal style of health care that nurse practitioners provide? If so, Zocdoc can help you find top-rated nurse practitioners in Columbus, Ohio. To get started, visit the Zocdoc website, enter your location, symptoms or specialty area, preferred date and time of appointment, and click 'find.' A comprehensive list of providers will appear based on your selected criteria.
You can use other filters to narrow your results based on specialty, hospital affiliation, gender, fluent languages, and whether or not the expert treats children. Every nurse practitioner on Zocdoc has a unique profile that lists their achievements, training, experience, practice locations, and licenses, among other details. These profiles also mention the ratings and reviews left by previous patients to help you make an informed decision.
Zocdoc also makes finding the best nurse practitioners near you who take your insurance plan easy. After searching for nurse practitioners by specialty, click "insurance" in the search bar and select your specific insurance provider. You can add medical, dental, and vision insurance plans to your Zocdoc account.
However, when searching for and booking an appointment, you’ll need to choose just one insurance plan at a time. If you have more than one plan, you can note your secondary insurance carrier and plan details in the "notes for provider" section at the last step of booking.
If your provider uses Zocdoc's Intake forms, you’ll also have the option to add secondary insurance when completing your forms online. For any additional questions about insurance, visit Zocdoc’s insurance page.
Once you've chosen a nurse practitioner near you, you can directly book an in-person or virtual appointment with the practitioner.
All bookings on Zocdoc are fast, free, and secure!
Statistical overview of nurse practitioners in Columbus, Ohio
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that the number of nurse practitioners in the country will increase by 45 percent between 2020 and 2030. This anticipated growth rate is much faster than most other careers due to the predicted rise of the aging population, who would need primary care and extensive healthcare assistance in the next five years. Overall employment of nurse anesthetists, midwives, and nurse practitioners in the U.S. will grow 40 percent from 2021 to 2031. As per Ohio 2021 Workforce Data, approximately 43,174 APRNs are working in the nursing profession in Ohio state.
According to a report titled 'The Burden of Diabetes in Ohio' (2021) by the American Diabetes Association, approximately 1,111,161 people in Ohio have diabetes, accounting for 12.1% of the adult population. Another 263,000 people in Ohio have diabetes but are unaware of it, putting their health at risk. Additionally, 3,039,000 people, or 33.6% of the adult population, have prediabetes, defined as elevated blood glucose levels that are not high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes. Diabetes affects an estimated 81,416 people in Ohio each year. Visiting a nurse practitioner can help individuals screen, diagnose, and treat chronic conditions like diabetes.
Source
American Association of Nurse Practitioners
Nurse.org
Healthline
WebMD
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
American Diabetes Association
Cleveland Clinic
Walden University
Regis College[1]
Regis College[2]
