A Nurse Practitioner as a Primary Care Provider

Not many people know that a nurse practitioner (NP) is similar to a primary care provider. The Association of American Medical Colleges said that there would be a shortage of some 120,000 primary care physicians in the next decade. That is why nurse practitioners will play an even more significant role than before. You can choose to see a nurse practitioner instead of a medical doctor for your primary medical needs.

Qualifications of a nurse practitioner as a primary care provider

An NP is a registered nurse with further training and education. Aside from passing the nursing board exam, a nurse who wants to be a primary care provider must have thousands of hours worth of training in the medical field. They will then be given a certification to perform tasks similar to a medical doctor. These are the tasks that a nurse practitioner can perform:

• Perform diagnostic procedures and evaluation
• Prescribe medication and discuss treatment plans
• Request for lab work for diagnostic purposes
• Manage the overall care for patients
• Write prescriptions

Almost all NPs are trained in primary care. In particular, NPs are geared toward adult, family, gerontological, psychiatric, neonatal, pediatric, and women’s health. The most popular field of study for nurse practitioners is family. Nurse practitioners can deliver important health care services to families — from senior citizens to infants.

Differences between NP and medical doctor

There are some differences between an NP and a medical doctor. Chief of these differences is the amount of training. NPs have more training than registered nurses but less than medical doctors. Because of this, NPs and doctors are licensed differently — nurses by the nursing board and physicians by the medical board.

Ease of access is another factor. Patients can quickly get an appointment with an NP, while it is harder to see a medical doctor. Most of the time, patients have to wait for weeks to see their primary physicians. It is said this might get worse in the coming years because of the shortage.

Typical sick visits

When patients are suffering from common illnesses such as flu, cough, and colds, who do they turn to? It is typically hard for patients to see a doctor because their schedules are too full for a same-day or next-day appointment. Since more NPs available, patients can get the diagnosis, treatment, and care immediately. Fortunately, nurse practitioners can also prescribe medications for common illnesses.

Annual wellness checkups

Patients visit a primary care provider every year for their routine checkups. Instead of looking for a doctor, patients can see NPs for annual checkups, routine lab tests, and prescriptions. In fact, patients may see it more advantageous to consult with an NP than a medical doctor. The fees are more affordable, and it is easier to make an appointment.