If you wonder whether you should see a Nurse Practitioner instead of a Doctor, you’re not alone. Many people do not understand the differences between these titles. You may be surprised to find out they are more alike than you think. A Nurse Practitioner (NP) is a registered nurse with advanced training and education – in addition to receiving the degree necessary to become a registered nurse, NPs must also obtain master’s or doctoral degrees and undergo advanced clinical training. They can obtain board-certification in specialties like family practice, adult health, pediatric health, dermatology, oncology, cardiology and more. Nurse Practitioners are typically equally skilled and knowledgeable compared to a doctor in their field of expertise.
Like a doctor, NP’s can diagnose and treat acute conditions, perform certain procedures, and order diagnostic tests such as X-Rays, lab work or screenings. They can provide preventive care services such as physicals or Annual Wellness Visits, prescribe medications, manage a patient’s overall care, and serve as a patient’s Primary Care Provider. Nurse Practitioners possess clinical expertise in diagnosing and treating health conditions, and they emphasize disease prevention and health management to promote the patient’s whole health and well-being. The icing on the cake? You can often get an appointment to see an NP quicker than getting an appointment to see a doctor.
At Spectrum, we have 4 incredible Nurse Practitioners available to serve your unique healthcare needs: Judith Bergman, Kate Schaub, Ethan Nguyen and Ari Kravitz. You can learn more about each of these outstanding providers here: https://smcazstage.wpengine.com/about/providers-hiv-specialists/ Call us at (602) 604-9500 to schedule your appointment today!
