What is a Nurse Practitioner?
What is a Nurse Practitioner?
Monday August 16, 2021
Nurse practitioners are playing an increasingly large role in the delivery of healthcare across a variety of settings. You may have been seen by one in your primary care physician’s office or maybe during a visit at an urgent care facility. With a projected shortage of primary care physicians, it may become more and more commonplace to receive care from a certified nurse practitioner.
A nurse practitioner is a registered nurse that has advance training, usually through a master’s or doctoral program. They are able to do a variety of patient care responsibilities and many choose to specialize in a specific care area, such as women’s health or pediatrics. Nurse practitioners are able to diagnosis and prescribe medication. In some states, they are allowed to practice without the supervision of a physician, while in others they must partner with an MD or DO.
At Abramson Senior Care, nurse practitioners provide care throughout a number of our services, including through our community nurse practitioner program, which provides medical care to seniors in their own homes. Our nurse practitioners’ work alongside client and patients’ primary care physicians to provide an additional level of care oversight.
What does a nurse practitioner do?
Our Abramson Senior Care nurse practitioners provide a number of services for their patients, including:
- Patient consultation and follow-up care
- Well and sick visits
- Collaboration with patient’s primary care physician
- Administer yearly flu shot
- Order labs and x-rays
- Prescribe medication
- Order durable medical equipment
- Referrals to physical, occupational, and speech therapists as needed
- Order dietary plans for clients
- Fall risk screenings and assessments
- Developing and ordering treatment programs
Whenever care is provided, the nurse practitioners will report back to the patient’s physician, relieving the burden of care management from patient and caregivers.
Can nurse practitioners prescribe medicine?
Yes, as mentioned above, nurse practitioners can prescribe medicine to patients as needed.
How can a nurse practitioner help senior patients?
A nurse practitioner can be beneficial to older patients in a variety of ways. Our community nurse practitioner program focuses on helping senior patients manage their health so that hospital visits or placement in long-term care facilities can be avoided. Ongoing assessments ensure any concerns are caught early and supports are quickly put in place, helping to maintain independence for as long as possible. Nurse practitioners regularly communicate with patient’s doctors to help coordinate care and make sure that appropriate care plans are being carried out in a timely manner.
Since our nurse practitioners are community-based, they visit patients wherever they live - making the program particularly ideal for those seniors with mobility or transportation concerns. Additionally, patients in the care of an Abramson Senior Care nurse practitioner have access to Abramson’s full array of senior care services should additional needs arise.
Nurse practitioners play a vital role across many healthcare settings and can be especially beneficial for older adults who need a higher level of medical supervision. If you are interested in learning more about how our community nurse practitioners can help you, please call Abramson care managers at 215.371.3400. A senior care manager is available to talk, free, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
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