What can a Nurse Practitioner do?
Nurse Practitioner's Scope of Practice in Australia
Nurse Practitoners
A nurse practitioner is a registered nurse who has undertaken a master’s level degree and is authorised by the relevant regulatory body to function autonomously and collaboratively in an advanced and extended clinical role.
The nurse practitioner role includes assessment and management of clients using nursing knowledge and skills and may include, but is not limited to, the direct referral of patients to other health care professionals, prescribing medications and ordering diagnostic investigations.
What is a nurse practitioner?
Additional training, skills and experience in advanced practice nursing give NPs the authority to do more than registered nurses. They can perform many of the same services that doctors provide.
NPs provide patient-centered care. They focus on disease prevention, living a healthy lifestyle and understanding your health concerns. An NP can serve as a primary care provider or as a specialty care provider focusing on a specific group of people. They work in a variety of healthcare settings, including:
- Physicians’ offices
- Clinics
- HospitalsEmergency rooms
- Urgent care sites
- Nursing homes
- Colleges