Nurse Practitioners are registered nurses who have received graduate level education and clinical experience in a specialty area.
A nurse practitioner provides primary health care services, emphasizing health promotion and disease prevention. They are skilled in the diagnosis and management of acute and chronic diseases. Nurse practitioners may work individually or in collaboration with a variety of health care providers to diagnose and manage their patient’s health care needs, including:
Nurse practitioners practice under the rules and regulations of the Nurse Practice Act. They are educated at the graduate level and are nationally board certified. In Colorado, nurse practitioners have full practice authority, including prescribing of medications.
Many insurance programs and HMO organizations pay for their services. The type of insurance you have will determine what services are covered. Some health services are not reimbursable regardless of whether they are provided by a nurse practitioner or a physician.
…take a “whole person” approach to health care, viewing each patient as a physical, emotional and social person, not merely a collection of symptoms
….are interested in people and their lives, not just their illnesses
….take time to listen to their patient’s concerns and answer their questions.
…teach people how to take care of themselves, to achieve optimal health and avoid behaviors that contribute to poor health.
…help people use health care services effectively.