Regional Nurse Practitioners: Your Partners in Health Care

The U.S. is facing a primary care provider shortage, according to the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP). A solution for the need of health care professionals is the nurse practitioner. A nurse practitioner is a registered nurse who has advanced education and clinical training in a health care specialty. Currently there are more than 155,000 nurse practitioners nationwide.

The Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Nursing in conjunction with the AANP and nursing schools across the country, will celebrate Nurse Practitioner Week Nov. 11-17. This year’s observance kicks off on Veterans Day, highlighting AANP’s commitment to reaching out to veterans through the White House’s Joining Forces initiative to raise awareness of health issues affecting America’s military, veterans and their families.

Among the many services nurse practitioners provide:

• Deliver a unique blend of nursing and medicine, focusing on care and cure


• Order and interpret diagnostic tests such as lab work and X-rays


• Diagnose and treat acute and chronic conditions like diabetes and injuries


• Prescribe appropriate treatments


• Practice with other health care professionals to assess and manage patients’ health needs

More than 11,000 new nurse practitioners were prepared between 2010 and 2011, according to the AANP. The School of Nursing graduated 133 nurse practitioners this year. An estimated 149 students will graduate from the program in 2013.

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