Why See a Nurse Practitioner?

By KELLY YOUNG NPC, APRN
MANNM

Nurse practitioners (NPs) are caring and competent primary health care providers.

A graduate degree and licensure are required for entry-level practice. We are registered nurses prepared with advanced education and clinical courses designed to teach specialized content and clinical competencies relevant to primary care.

Essentially, NPs are licensed, independent providers with a blend of medical and nursing preparation. This blend uniquely prepares NPs to provide the patient-centered care that is central to meeting the primary care needs of our patients.

An NP can practice independently and manage patients as a primary provider. We can prescribe medications, recommend treatments, order tests and interpret the results, and provide education. NPs also practice a team-based approach to primary care. NPs work with many other health care professionals to provide coordinated, high quality, patient-centered care.

At MANNM, I practice in collaboration with all of the other exceptional providers on a day-to-day basis, and according to the preferences of patients and in order to help meet the goals of each patient. I can access specialists in cardiology, endocrinology, nephrology, dermatology, and internal medicine, as well as incredible, very experienced family practitioners, all of whom are happy to help and answer questions.

Nurse Practitioners are taught under the nursing model of health care, which is based on the idea that effective care must be patient-centered and team-based. Within this model, the patient and his or her environment are viewed as a whole. NPs care for the patient, not just the patient’s illness.

NPs work with patients to diagnose and manage acute and chronic conditions, with an emphasis on health promotion and disease prevention. The patient is an active participant in his or her health care, while the NP provides support, education, and recommendations.

One of the most practical reasons to see an NP is access. It is generally much easier to get a timely appointment with an NP, and the NP usually has more time to spend with each patient at each appointment.

NPs take the time to listen to and talk with patients. They do not have to rush appointments because they do not have overwhelming constraints on their time. So, why see a Nurse Practitioner? They care, they listen, and they are capable.

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