Question

addressing the history, role, and competencies of Primary Care Nurse Practitioners in the United States.?

Answer 1

In the year 1960s physicians started to collaborate with nurses who were clinically experienced. Many of the physicians went out of the primary care sector due to specialization which created shortage of primary care physicians. In 1965, the Medicare and Medicaid programs provided health coverage to the rural areas which increased the demand for expanded primary care services. Since physicians could not meet the demand, nurses came into light. In 1965, Loretta Ford and Henry Silver, a nurse and a physician created the first training program for nurse practitioners. The curriculum included health promotion, disease prevention and children and family health.
Role of the nurse practitioners are they work directly with the patients, diagnose and manage common and chronic illnesses. They perform physical examination, order, interpret diagnostic tests, provide counselling and education and write prescriptions for the patients.
The competencies of nurse practitioners are:
• Leadership skills
• Quality care
• Technology and information knowledge
• Comprehensive subject knowledge
• Use of research
• Following health policies
• Planning and implementation of health program
• Understanding ethics
• Independent practice