What is a Nurse Practitioner?

Nurse practitioners (NPs) are registered nurses who have additional education and nursing experience, which enables them to:

• Autonomously diagnose and treat illnesses

• Order and interpret tests

• Prescribe medications

• Perform medical procedures

NPs are health-care professionals who treat the whole person, an approach that includes:

• Addressing needs relating to a person’s physical and mental health

• Gathering medical history

• Focusing on how an illness affects a person’s life and family

• Offering ways for a person to lead a healthy life

• Teaching persons how to manage chronic illness

​