As we all know, nurses are the largest group of health care professionals (Shi and Singh, 2015). When a registered nurse is qualified through advance training, education and clinical experience, to assume some of the duties and responsibilities formerly assumed only by a physician, becomes a Nurse Practitioner (Nurse Practitioner, n. d.). This program was first developed in the United States by Loretta Ford and Henry Silverman in 1967 at the University of Colorado (Kippenbrock, 2017).
According to United States Department of Labor (2016), Nurse Practitioners (NP) can diagnose and treat acute, episodic, or chronic illness, independently or as part of a healthcare team, order, perform or interpret diagnostic tests, prescribe medications and educate patients and families on continued care. As of May 2016, the national estimates for NPs were 150,230 with …show more content…
Thereafter, they must complete a master’s or doctoral degree program and an advanced clinical training to practice direct patient care in primary care, acute care, and long-term health care setting (AANP, 2018). Beside all the study and training, they also have to complete and pass rigorous examinations for national certifications offered by the American Nurses Credential Center (ANCC), the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners AANP), and specialty nursing organizations (Shi and Singh, 2015), as well as fullfill state-specific licensure requirements. Moreover, they have to follow ethical practice codes and be evaluated by clinical outcomes and periodic peer reviews, in conjuction with continue learning through continuing education programs for professional development and keep up clinical competency (AANP, 2018). In general, they undergo extensive training and rigorous credentialing
According to United States Department of Labor (2016), Nurse Practitioners (NP) can diagnose and treat acute, episodic, or chronic illness, independently or as part of a healthcare team, order, perform or interpret diagnostic tests, prescribe medications and educate patients and families on continued care. As of May 2016, the national estimates for NPs were 150,230 with …show more content…
Thereafter, they must complete a master’s or doctoral degree program and an advanced clinical training to practice direct patient care in primary care, acute care, and long-term health care setting (AANP, 2018). Beside all the study and training, they also have to complete and pass rigorous examinations for national certifications offered by the American Nurses Credential Center (ANCC), the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners AANP), and specialty nursing organizations (Shi and Singh, 2015), as well as fullfill state-specific licensure requirements. Moreover, they have to follow ethical practice codes and be evaluated by clinical outcomes and periodic peer reviews, in conjuction with continue learning through continuing education programs for professional development and keep up clinical competency (AANP, 2018). In general, they undergo extensive training and rigorous credentialing