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Np Vs Registered Nurse Practitioner

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The role of the Nurse Practitioner (NP) can be described as diverse and challenging; while at the same time, rewarding and the mainstay for future healthcare. Like many early nursing pioneers, breaking misperceptions by focusing on national recognition and public awareness of the role continues to be an emphasis of today’s NP. Both similarities and distinct differences can be seen between nurse practitioners, registered nurses, and physicians. The nursing model, whether as a registered nurse (RN) or NP, has holistic care at the core of patient care. Both entities focus on the whole person, physically and mentally with an emphasis on the family unit and social structure, to provide a high level of care. Both entities complete physical …show more content…

Both NP’s and physicians assess, diagnose, and treat simple to complex medical problems according to the same evidenced based clinical guidelines. The NP, though, brings years of experience delivering holistic patient care to the forefront of medicine. Examples can be seen every day in primary care of how this holistic approach makes the care of an NP just as proficient, if not superior to physician based care. For example, a patient comes in with hypertension that meets appropriate guideline definitions, and the physician writes a prescription for a blood pressure medication that will likely work well. The NP, though, digs deeper into this new medical diagnosis and asks about other issues that may be causing or contributing to this patient’s elevated blood pressure; such as the patient may be having new stress or anxiety about a family or work situation, or maybe the patient has been experiencing pain after an injury that is interfering with sleep. Three unique qualities set NP’s apart from other healthcare providers: a.) NP’s don’t just diagnose: NP’s care why the patient is currently experiencing this medical issue; b.) NP’s don’t just devise a treatment plan: NP’s are part of the treatment plan thru active patient teaching; and c.) NP’s are not just responsible for the patient’s health status today: NP’s partner with patients and families to achieve improved overall health status thru patient’s taking an active part in their own health

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