The Nurse Practitioner: Your Partner in Health
In largely rural areas like West Texas, nurse practitioners (NPs) are essential to providing high-quality, cost-effective health care for patients of all ages. In fact, more than 18 percent of NPs practice in rural settings with populations of less than 25,000, according to the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP).
A nurse practitioner is a registered nurse who has advanced education and clinical training in a health care specialty. Currently there are more than 171,000 NPs nationwide.
The Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC) School of Nursing in conjunction with the AANP and nursing schools across the country, will celebrate Nurse Practitioner Week Nov. 10-16. The School of Nursing will host a luncheon from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 13 at the International Cultural Center, 601 Indiana Ave.
Nurse practitioner and TTUHSC School of Nursing Associate Professor Wendy Thal, DNP, R.N., FNP-C, CEN, will be the keynote speaker. In addition, the South Plains Nurse Practitioner Association will present the award to the 2013 Outstanding Nurse Practitioner for the South Plains.
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 14,000 new nurse practitioners were prepared between 2011 and 2012, according to the AANP. The School of Nursing graduated 130 nurse practitioners this year. An estimated 128 students will graduate from the program in 2014.
For more breaking news and experts, follow @ttuhscnews on Twitter.
Related Stories
Noise-Induced Hearing Loss in Rural Adolescents
Leigh Ann Reel, Au.D., Ph.D., CCC-A, discussed the causes and prevention strategies for noise-induced hearing loss, particularly for adolescents in rural areas.
Willed Body Memorial Service Honors Those Who Donated
On Memorial Day each May, a service is conducted at the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Institute of Anatomical Sciences to pay respect to the Willed Body Program donors and their families.
Molecular Pathology Preceptorship: Unmatched Value and Experience
Ericka Hendrix, PhD, MB(ASCP)CM, Program Director and Associate Professor in the Master of Science in Molecular Pathology program in the School of Health Professions spoke about the program’s preceptorship.
Recent Stories
The Future of Health: Musculoskeletal Care for Expectant Mothers
Dr. Deborah Y. Edwards, PT, DPT, ScD, OCS, discusses musculoskeletal care during pregnancy.
Logsdon Receives Grant to Study Vascular Side of Traumatic Brain Injuries
Supported by a three-year, $578,211 grant from the National Institutes of Health-National Institute on Aging, Aric F. Logsdon, Ph.D., will study how brain endothelial cells, or blood vessels within the brain, handle the stressors of neuroinflammation.
Historic collaboration brings shipping container-based health care clinic to Jeff Davis County
Texas A&M Health and TTUHSC joined with the student-led organization, Texas A&M BUILD—along with local leadership and other collaborators—to unveil a new, innovative medical care facility for a Trans-Pecos region rural community: a 40-foot, retro-fitted shipping container.