What is the job description of a nurse practitioner?

Common duties and responsibilities of a nurse practitioner include:

• Recording patient histories

• Ensuring medical records reflect symptoms, treatments, and administration of prescribed and over-the-counter medications

• Performing intake duties to obtain information from patients and, in some cases, from families or guardians

• Offering support for underserved/rural communities as primary caregivers who can perform routine and detailed examinations

• Prescribing some medications

• Ordering diagnostic tests and operating some kinds of equipment in the medical environment

• Evaluating test results to determine underlying physiological reasons for patient symptoms

• Diagnosing medical conditions and devising treatment plans designed to alleviate pain and to stop the progress of diseases and conditions

• Supervising the activities of nurses and other staff in clinics and hospitals to ensure tasks are completed promptly and patients receive the best care possible

• Educating patients and families about medical conditions and treatment plans

• Collaborating with others in the health care field to share knowledge, create treatment regimens and diagnose patients with unusual or difficult sets of symptoms

• Collecting and compiling information and samples from patients

• Performing scientific procedures using cell cultures and other biological materials

• Specializing in a wide range of medical categories, including pediatric care, geriatrics, acute care nursing, family practice, and emergency room nursing