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Nurse practitioners are registered nurses with advanced education and
training, who work as mid-level providers. They are qualified to evaluate,
provide, and coordinate comprehensive personalized health care. Many NP's
practice independently in their own offices or clinics; others serve as part of a
team of health care professionals. Family NPs treat children, adults, and older
people.

What Is the History Of Nurse Practitioners?
In the early 1960's, a physician-nurse team from the Department of Pediatrics,
at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center in Denver originated the
concept of nurse practitioner. They demonstrated that nurses, with their high
level of competence, were capable of providing more extensive health care
services than previously allowed. Since that time, NPs have made great strides
to develop the practitioner role in Adult, Family, Critical Care, Cardiac,
Orthopedics, Geriatrics, Psychiatry, Pediatrics, and in many other specialties.

What Does a Nurse Practitioner Do?
As primary health and specialty care professionals, NP's focus on preventative
health care, emphasizing the individual's responsibility for self care while
providing any of the following health care services:

		Perform physical examinations on adults.
		Diagnose and treat common acute illnesses such as earaches, sore
		throats, bladder infections; and chronic illnesses such as diabetes, hypertension, depression, using medications and other counseling.
		Provide well-child care, including screening, immunizations, and parental
		counseling.
		Provide comprehensive women's care, including pap smears, prenatal
		care, and family planning.
		Order and interpret diagnostic tests including x-rays, blood tests,
		electrocardiograms, CAT and MRI scans, and laboratory tests.
		Screen for problems that should be referred to other health care
		professionals, such as a medical doctor, nutritionist, dentist or psychologist.
		Provide health care information.
		Provide mental health counseling for individuals and families.
		Encourage disease prevention to curb health care costs.
		Assist individuals in learning problem solving skills and achieving
		personal growth.
		Perform procedures such as minor office surgery, apply casts and
		splints, and suture lacerations.

Why Choose A Nurse Practitioner?
Nurse Practitioners are committed to serving people in a way that will contribute
to the wellness of humankind.

		NPs focus on the individual as a whole person, encouraging clients to
		take responsibility for their own well-being.
		NPs emphasize education and preventative health care allowing for
		more cost effective care.
		NPs promote health care behavior changes based upon an
		understanding of personality, lifestyle, and culture.
		NPs practice with consideration of the effects that health problems have
		on individuals and their families.
		NPs emphasizing self-care, promoting healthy life style choices and
		health care decisions.
		NP services are covered by most insurance companies.

Where Do Nurse Practitioners Work?
In many small towns and rural areas around the state, a nurse practitioner may be the only medical provider readily available. But NPs also practice in the
following professional environments:

Health centers
Health departments
Hospitals and clinics
Group health practices
Private practice
Correctional institutions
School and college health centers
Nursing homes and hospices
Urban areas
Rural areas
House call services and home visits
Mental health centers
Research centers
Employee health clinics
Armed forces and Veteran's Affairs facilities

just to name a few...

How Are Nurse Practitioners Licensed?
NPs are licensed by the Missouri State Board of Nursing. The following are
required for initial licensure:

Licensure as a Registered Nurse;
A Masters Degree in Nursing, generally in a speciality, such as Family,
Women's Health, or Psychiatric.

In Missouri, only those who meet the above educational requirements AND who
pass a national certification test are entitled to be called Nurse Practitioners. To
keep pace with rapid changes in health care technology, NPs must also renew
their Registered Nurse license every 2 years, and their NP license every 5
years. In addition, NPs must complete Continuing Professional Education
requirements each year.

Can NPs prescribe all medicines in Missouri?
Almost. NPs can prescribe antibiotics, diabetes medications, cholesterol meds,
and most routine pills. However, only Missouri and one other state prevent
NPs from prescribing most pain medications, medicines for hyperactive
children, and even medicine for diarrhea. This can severely limit NP practice in
our state.

One NP said, "The Number One reason for passage of this kind of law is how
patients are affected...In our office, I work with two medical providers. This week
one is on vacation, and the other has hospital rounds to make. If a person
comes to the office in severe pain when I am the only one here, that person
either has to wait or go to the ER...There are studies done across the country
that look at pain management, and one released in October (2005) gave
Missouri a very poor rating." She added: "This (lack of prescription authority)
doesn't hurt me, it hurts my patients...I have vowed to work on this; it's the
fulfilling of another career goal." .