Where can I get experience in learing about a nurse practitioner and what they do?

Answer 1

You may not be able to follow a nurse practioner (NP) around on the job secondary to HIPPA (privacy) regulations. However, a nurse practioner was first an RN with a bachelors degree and then went on to get her/his Master's degree. What they are allowed to do will depend on the state in which they practice. I curently live in Oregon. There the NP can have their own office, prescribe narcotics, and not be associated with an MD. In California, an NP MUST be associated with an MD who has to co-sign ALL of the NP's chart notes.

An NP can work with children (pediatrics), the older adult (geriatics), emergency, pain, family practice (all ages), and women's health to name a few areas. They can work in a hospital or in a office clinical type setting. In many cases, seeing an NP is very like seeing a MD. One difference I have found being on the patient end is that NP's take more time and focus not just on my problems but on the whole me.

The following is taken from http://www.acnpweb.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=3479

"What is a Nurse Practitioner?

A nurse practitioner (NP) is a registered nurse with advanced academic and clinical experience, which enables him or her to diagnose and manage most common and many chronic illnesses, either independently or as part of a health care team. A nurse practitioner provides some care previously offered only by physicians and in most states has the ability to prescribe medications. Working in collaboration with a physician, a nurse practitioner provides high-quality, cost-effective and individualized care for the lifespan of patient's special needs.

NPs focus largely on health maintenance, disease prevention, counseling and patient education in a wide variety of settings. With a strong emphasis on primary care, nurse practitioners are employed within several specialties, including neonatology, nurse-midwifery, pediatrics, school health, family and adult health, women's health, mental health, home care, geriatrics and acute care.

Nurse practitioners are educated through programs that grant either a certificate or a master's degree. A registered nurse is recommended to have extensive clinical experience before applying to a nurse practitioner program. An intensive preceptorship under the direct supervision of a physician or an experienced nurse practitioner, as well as instruction in nursing theory, are key components to most NP programs.

Lastly, the scope of an NP's practice varies depending upon each state's regulations. Unnecessary obstacles to an NP's practice contribute to the rising costs and inaccessibility of health care for all Americans. "

Answer 2

If you have no health care experience I suggest you call several doctors offices and find out if they have a nurse practitioner working there. If so tell them you are interested in spending a day on the job watching the practitioner work. Some may not be receptive but in health care lots of people are receptive to teaching and mentoring. So if you don't get results at first just keep trying.
If you are already involved in healthcare in any way ..use your contacts to find someone willing to talk to you or let you observe a day on the job.

Answer 3

Nurse Practitioners expand the horizons of the nursing profession by providing a unique blend of nursing and medicine into their scope of practice.

You will find a career profile of Nurse Practitioner and excellent information about what they can and cannot do, education requirements, accredited schools, as well as areas they can specialize in and salary information here:

http://myonlinenursingdegree.com/nurse-practitioner-career-profile.html

Answer 4

go to a local community college and ask a counselor about it... they have brochures to pass out to students and they are very informative and also the counselor can answer any ? u may have