Nurse Practitioners

Analyze and interpret patients' histories, symptoms, physical findings, or diagnostic information to develop appropriate diagnoses.

Prescribe medications based on efficacy, safety, and cost as legally authorized.

Diagnose or treat acute health care problems, such as illnesses, infections, or injuries.

Recommend diagnostic or therapeutic interventions with attention to safety, cost, invasiveness, simplicity, acceptability, adherence, and efficacy.

Educate patients about self-management of acute or chronic illnesses, tailoring instructions to patients' individual circumstances.

Prescribe medication dosages, routes, and frequencies, based on such patient characteristics as age and gender.

Order, perform, or interpret the results of diagnostic tests, such as complete blood counts (CBCs), electrocardiograms (EKGs), and radiographs (x-rays).

Maintain complete and detailed records of patients' health care plans and prognoses.

Recommend interventions to modify behavior associated with health risks.

Develop treatment plans, based on scientific rationale, standards of care, and professional practice guidelines.

Detect and respond to adverse drug reactions, with special attention to vulnerable populations such as infants, children, pregnant and lactating women, or older adults.

Read current literature, talk with colleagues, or participate in professional organizations or conferences to keep abreast of developments in nursing.

Counsel patients about drug regimens and possible side effects or interactions with other substances, such as food supplements, over-the-counter (OTC) medications, or herbal remedies.

Diagnose or treat chronic health care problems, such as high blood pressure and diabetes.

Provide patients with information needed to promote health, reduce risk factors, or prevent disease or disability.

Treat or refer patients for primary care conditions, such as headaches, hypertension, urinary tract infections, upper respiratory infections, and dermatological conditions.

Consult with, or refer patients to, appropriate specialists when conditions exceed the scope of practice or expertise.

Diagnose or treat complex, unstable, comorbid, episodic, or emergency conditions in collaboration with other health care providers as necessary.

Schedule follow-up visits to monitor patients or evaluate health or illness care.

Perform routine or annual physical examinations.

Supervise or coordinate patient care or support staff activities.

Maintain current knowledge of state legal regulations for nurse practitioner practice, including reimbursement of services.

Provide patients or caregivers with assistance in locating health care resources.

Maintain departmental policies and procedures in areas such as safety and infection control.

Perform primary care procedures such as suturing, splinting, administering immunizations, taking cultures, and debriding wounds.

Advocate for accessible health care that minimizes environmental health risks.

Keep abreast of regulatory processes and payer systems, such as Medicare, Medicaid, managed care, and private sources.