A nurse practitioner is a registered nurse with advanced academic and clinical experience, which enables him or her to diagnose and manage most common and many chronic illnesses, either, independently or as part of a health care team. A nurse practitioner provides some care previously offered only by physicians and in Oklahoma has the ability to prescribe medications. Working in collaboration with a physician, a nurse practitioner provides high quality, cost-effective and individualized care for the lifespan of patient's special needs.
NPs focus largely on health maintenance, disease prevention, counseling, and patient education in a wide variety of settings. With a strong emphasis on primary care, nurse practitioners are employed within several specialties, including neonatology, nurse-midwifery, pediatrics, school health, family and adult health, women's health, mental health, home care, geriatrics and acute care.