Nurse practitioner currently ranks in the top 10 of the Best Jobs list according to U.S. News and World Report, and surveys show a high level of job satisfaction in this profession. Regis NP graduates enter their profession confident that the reputation of our university will be an invaluable calling card in the nursing community.
The following links and content reflect current definitions of the nurse practitioner role by the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) and the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBON).
All About NPs: NPs have been providing primary, acute, and specialty health care to patients of all ages and walks of life for nearly half a century. NPs assess patients, order and interpret diagnostic tests, make diagnoses, and initiate and manage treatment plans—including prescribing medications.
What's an NP?: NPs are clinicians who blend clinical expertise in diagnosing and treating health conditions with an added emphasis on disease prevention and health management.
Consensus Model for APRN Regulation: Licensure, Accreditation, Certification and Education July 7, 2008 (PDF): For the certified nurse practitioner (CNP), care along the wellness-illness continuum is a dynamic process in which direct primary and acute care is provided across settings. CNPs are members of the health delivery system, practicing autonomously in areas as diverse as family practice, pediatrics, internal medicine, geriatrics, and women’s health care. CNPs are prepared to diagnose and treat patients with undifferentiated symptoms as well as those with established diagnoses. Both primary and acute care CNPs provide initial, ongoing, and comprehensive care that includes taking comprehensive histories; providing physical examinations and other health assessment and screening activities; and diagnosing, treating, and managing patients with acute and chronic illnesses and diseases. This includes ordering, performing, supervising, and interpreting laboratory and imaging studies; prescribing medication and durable medical equipment; and making appropriate referrals for patients and families. Clinical CNP care includes health promotion, disease prevention, health education, and counseling as well as the diagnosis and management of acute and chronic diseases.
