Angie's LIST Guide to
Nurse practitioners

In many cases, patients opt to see an NP instead of their regular doctor. Most commonly, they need treatment right away, or at least sooner than the next available doctor's appointment. In some practices, NPs see patients before a formal doctor's examination. They coordinate medications and are responsible for administering all immunizations. NPs can write prescriptions in every state, and nearly 90 percent of NPs are trained in primary care, according to the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP).

In an increasing number of cases, NPs are a patient's primary healthcare provider, coordinating and managing office care, transitional care and home care. They order laboratory tests, give patients referrals to specialists and make sure all the practices involved share information about the person. In both inpatient and outpatient settings, they're often in charge of intravenous (IV) therapy for certain illnesses.

Patients also see NPs for counseling. These nurses educate people on disease prevention and lifestyle choices and are often the practitioner in charge when an on-the-job injury occurs. NPs also prescribe medication, and some work in research or administration.

These professional nurses fill the shortage of primary care physicians in the United States by providing high-quality, patient-centered care. They focus on health promotion, disease prevention, health education and counseling. The preventive care they offer, whether over the telephone or in person, can lower the cost of healthcare for patients.

A medical practice typically bills health insurance under a physician's name for services an NP provides. Some NPs with their own practices can bill insurance directly as care providers. Regulations vary per state.