Nurse Practitioner

Also called: Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Adult Nurse Practitioner, Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN), Cardiology Nurse Practitioner, Certified Nurse Practitioner

Nurse Practitioner

Varies

estimated salary

Nurse Practitioners (NP) Diagnose and treat acute, episodic, or chronic illness, independently or as part of a healthcare team. May focus on health promotion and disease prevention. May order, perform or interpret diagnostic tests such as lab work and x rays. May prescribe medication. Must be registered nurses who have specialized graduate education.

 

 

  • Analyze and interpret patients' histories, symptoms, physical findings, or diagnostic information to develop appropriate diagnoses.
  • 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.
  • Prescribe medications based on efficacy, safety, and cost as legally authorized.
  • 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.
Work Context
  • Telephone — 90% responded "Every day".
  • Electronic Mail — 90% responded "Every day".
  • Face-to-Face Discussions — 86% responded "Every day".
  • Importance of Being Exact or Accurate — 73% responded "Extremely important".
  • Consequence of Error — 76% responded "Extremely serious".
  • Freedom to Make Decisions — 64% responded "A lot of freedom".
  • Indoors, Environmentally Controlled — 90% responded "Every day".
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Work Activities
  • Assisting and Caring for Others — Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
  • Getting Information — Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
  • Documenting/Recording Information — Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
  • Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge — Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
  • Making Decisions and Solving Problems — Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
  • Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships — Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
  • Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events — Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
  • Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates — Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
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Detailed Work Activities
  • Train patients, family members, or caregivers in techniques for managing disabilities or illnesses.
  • Schedule patient procedures or appointments.
  • Advise patients on effects of health conditions or treatments.
  • Analyze test data or images to inform diagnosis or treatment.
  • Operate diagnostic imaging equipment.
  • Order medical diagnostic or clinical tests.
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Knowledge

Medicine and Dentistry
  • Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
Psychology
  • Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
English Language
  • Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
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Skills

Reading Comprehension
  • Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Active Listening
  • Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Speaking
  • Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Social Perceptiveness
  • Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
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Abilities

Oral Comprehension
  • The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Written Comprehension
  • The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
Oral Expression
  • The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Inductive Reasoning
  • The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
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Personality

People interested in this work like activities that include ideas, thinking, and figuring things out.
They do well at jobs that need:
  • Achievement/Effort
  • Persistence
  • Initiative
  • Leadership
  • Cooperation
  • Concern for Others
  • Social Orientation
  • Self Control
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Technology

You might use software like this on the job:

Data base user interface and query software
  • Microsoft Access Hot Technology
Spreadsheet software
  • Microsoft Excel Hot Technology
Electronic mail software
  • Microsoft Outlook Hot Technology
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