What Does a Nurse Practitioner Do?
Delivering ongoing diagnosis, treatment, and preventive care.
Nurse Practitioners assess patients, order and interpret diagnostic tests, prescribe medications, and manage acute and chronic conditions. They focus on preventive care, patient education, and follow-up, coordinating with specialists when needed. Success is measured by clinical outcomes, continuity of care, and patient satisfaction rather than episodic intervention.
Typical responsibilities include:
- Conducting comprehensive patient evaluations
- Diagnosing and managing acute and chronic conditions
- Prescribing medications and therapies
- Ordering and interpreting diagnostic tests
- Providing preventive care and health counseling
- Managing follow-up and long-term treatment plans
- Coordinating referrals to specialists