Nursing

Celebrating Nurse Practitioners: What is a nurse practitioner?

NursingApril 08, 2021

Nurse Practitioner Sharon Higuchi, MSN, NP-C, was recently named a top “Patient Preferred Nurse Practitioner” in the state of Colorado. The Denver College of Nursing graduate was chosen due to her dedication to excellence in patient care. Her private practice, Glo Medical located in Highland Ranch, Colo., provides treatments to enhance patients’ appearance. 

If you’re a nurse or nursing student, you may have wondered what it takes to become a nurse practitioner (NP). According to the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP), NPs are “licensed, autonomous clinicians focused on managing people’s health conditions and preventing disease.” While their responsibilities can vary depending on their state and specialization, NPs often perform physical evaluations and exams, order or perform tests, and diagnose patients. They may also develop individualized treatment plans, follow up on those courses of treatment, and work closely with other healthcare professionals. In many states, nurse practitioners may act as a primary care provider. 

NPs provide a high quality of healthcare. According to the AANP, Americans make over one billion visits to NPs each year. Patients under the care of NPs often report high levels of satisfaction with their service. These patients also have fewer ER visits, shorter hospital stays, and lower medication costs. 

Because of their popularity with patients, NPs are in demand not only to help the patient population, but to ease the burden on overtaxed physician time and expense. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, overall employment of nurse practitioners is projected to grow more than 40 percent over the next decade. This growth is largely due to an increase in the demand for healthcare services due to an aging population as well as an increased emphasis on preventive care.

A nurse practitioner can be a good “next step” for your career after you become a registered nurse (RN). To obtain this advanced practice designation, a Registered Nurse must complete their bachelor’s degree (BSN), and then continue their education with a master’s or doctorate nurse practitioner degree program. Typically, nurse practitioners choose a specialization such as pediatrics, adults, family, geriatrics, neonatal, acute care, women’s health, and more. 

If becoming a NP sounds like a rewarding career goal, you can follow in Sharon Higuchi’s footsteps by getting your nursing education from Denver College of Nursing. Click here for more information or call us today at (800) 600-6604 and speak to one of our career counselors.