The problem with inaccessible health care for children was addressed by the University of Colorado’s Nurse Practitioner program in 1965. This was the first ever program and it paved the way for career opportunities for nurses and health care advantages for patients. Nurse practitioners, because of the level of knowledge and skill they have acquired, are given more authority and autonomy in clinical settings. Their job satisfaction does not only end there; they are also one of the highest paid nurse professionals. The demand for their expertise increases as the number of physicians entering the family practice field decreases.
They cover a wide range of duties, including those that were only limited to physicians before. Some of their responsibilities include giving physical examinations, diagnostic tests and treatment, evaluating tests and providing prescriptions.
A nurse practitioner has two very important duties to communities; these are educating and promoting to the people the significance of living a clean and healthy lifestyle. As they work in communities, they work closely with the people and establish a relationship that pushes their goals towards success.
Their duties are numerous and various. The most important ones are the following:
1) Provide assessment of medical records of patients to determine the kind of physical examination and preventive screening tests necessary to be taken.
2) Give diagnosis and evaluation
3) Prepare nursing care plan
They may also work on one specialization of nursing. These are some popular choices for specialization:
1) Neonatal nursing looks into the assessment, diagnosis and management of care for newborns with health complications.
2) The Nurse Midwife or OB/GYN Nursing see into the care of pregnant women such as prenatal care, and safe delivery of babies.
3) Geronotogical nursing specializes in elder adult care – long term care for chronic diseases in hospital or community settings.
4) Pediatrics nursing focuses on providing care for infants, children and young adult.
5) Family nursing sees to the primary health care of individuals regardless of age.
6) Anaesthesiology nursing mainly ensures the safe and proper administration of anesthesia to patients.
7) Other specializations- endocrinology, cardiology, neurology, pulmonolgy, gastroenterology, nephrology.
Nurse practitioners will never want for jobs as the demand for their services in hospitals, long term care facilities and government agencies increases given the shortage of physicians. More people turn to them for primary care because they are capable of doing most things a physician can do and their education comes relatively cheaper. Nurse practitioners skills and knowledge makes them one of the best paid nurses in the field; they receive between $70,000 to $120,000 annual salaries, depending on factors such as location and specialization.
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