History

• The career of a nurse practitioner came about in the 1960s. Nurse practitioners are nurses who have at least a Bachelors of Science in nursing. Nurse practitioners are also called N.P.s.
  
  

Scope of Practice

• Each state regulates the role of a nurse practitioner and what a nurse practitioner may do. In some states, nurse practitioners work under doctors, while other states allow nurses to practice without a doctor's supervision.
  
  

Prescription Rights

• In certain states, nurse practitioners have full prescription rights, including controlled substances. Other states require a nurse practitioner writing prescriptions to be supervised by a doctor.
  
  

Nursing Model

• Nurse practitioners use a nursing model that focuses on holistic patient care, including health promotion and behavior change.
  
  

Medical Procedures

• Nurse practitioners do routine medical procedures, including minor surgery such as suturing. They also take patient histories and interact with patients.
  
  

Doctoral Programs

• Many nursing programs are currently switching to a doctoral nursing program, which means that people becoming nurse practitioners will have to earn a Doctor of Nursing Practice. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing has recommended that all programs switch to doctoral programs by 2015.