Medical doctors have help from a wide-ranging support system of professionals. In the old-days, a doctor was the only person trained to treat illnesses, injuries, and diseases. When women gave birth, mid-wives led the way to generations of registered nurses.
A nurse practitioner (NP) is similar to, but not a physician. Doctors are medical doctor (MD); have more years of education. They also may concentrate in a medical specialty. NPs are licensed by the Nursing Board; MDs are licensed by the Medical Doctor Board. With advanced training and education, nurse practitioners are able to treat people and even prescribe medication, whereas registered nurses aren’t. In 1965, as doctors needed more help, nursing evolved into a new field of nurse practitioner to fill the void.
Nurse practitioners are able to do examinations and make diagnosis. As physicians do, NPs examine patients and are allowed and trained to diagnose illnesses and injury. They see symptoms of disease, by tests that verify conditions, like high blood pressure or diabetes, for example. The NP can order and perform all kinds of testing like MRIs, x-rays and then diagnose the findings. Being able to do all these things, makes getting an appointment with your doctor, quicker than it would be, were their NPs not there. Nurse practitioners take a burden off doctors.
Similar to MDs, NPs do treatment plans for illnesses and injury. Both prescribe medication; both will refer to other medical specialists for things like physical therapy, bone density scans, and other medical services. When it comes to more severe medical disorders, only a doctor will treat you or refer you to a specialist. A NP would not, for instance, treat a brain condition. Only a medical doctor would treat that and would in fact, refer them to a neurologist and or other medical specialists.
Yearly checkups for the family are typically routine and preemptive in nature. This is one area where doctors are really assisted by NPs taking some of the caseload. Both professionals vaccinate, do wellness tests, and do all other routine examinations to keep us all healthy.
A doctor’s support system has come a long ways from the old-days, and isn’t that good news for us. Doctors often have offices and practices that include nurses, and nurse practitioners. Having a support system allows the maximum number of patients to get the care they want and need, while ensuring the health of all.
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