nurse practitioner
Meaning of nurse practitioner: What one may legally do varies by jurisdiction, so the same credential means independent practice in one place and a supervised role in another.
Definition of nurse practitioner
A nurse practitioner is a registered nurse with graduate-level education and supervised clinical training who assesses patients, orders and interprets tests, diagnoses many conditions, prescribes medicines and manages ongoing care. Most work within a population focus such as family, adult, pediatric, psychiatric or women's health.
How does the role compare with others?
| Registered nurse | Nurse practitioner | Physician | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education | Diploma, associate or bachelor's degree | Master's or doctoral degree in nursing | Medical degree and residency |
| Diagnosis | Assesses and monitors; does not diagnose disease | Diagnoses within the scope permitted | Diagnoses without that limit |
| Prescribing | No | Yes, with limits that vary by jurisdiction | Yes |
| Model of training | Nursing | Nursing, with advanced clinical practice | Medical |
The title belongs to the group known as the advanced practice nurse, alongside clinical nurse specialists, nurse midwives and nurse anesthetists. It builds on the nurse qualification rather than replacing it, and it is not a shortened route to becoming a physician: the two are separate professions with different training models.
What does scope of practice mean?
Scope is the set of activities a license permits, and it is decided by the jurisdiction rather than by the credential. In the United States, states are commonly grouped into full practice authority, where a nurse practitioner may evaluate, diagnose and prescribe independently; reduced practice, where a collaborative agreement with a physician is required for at least one element; and restricted practice, where physician oversight is required throughout. Prescribing of controlled substances is regulated separately again. Other countries have their own arrangements, and in some the title is not used at all, so a statement about what nurse practitioners can do means little until the place is named.
Where do they work?
Primary care is the largest setting, where a nurse practitioner may carry a panel of patients and manage long-term conditions between specialist reviews. Others work in emergency departments, hospital services, mental health, oncology, women's health and long-term care. In rural and underserved areas they often provide the main continuous access to care, which is a large part of why the role expanded. National certification in a population focus is typically required before licensure, and it has to be maintained.
Also known as
Used in a sentence
The nurse practitioner managed the patient's ongoing care between visits with the specialist physician.
Good to know
The scope of practice for a nurse practitioner, including prescribing and whether physician oversight is required, is determined by the regulations of the state or jurisdiction rather than being uniform.