Nurse Practitioner
Susan Sharp
A nurse practitioner is an advanced practice nurse who has prescribing qualifications. The skills of the nurse practitioner go beyond those of a registered nurse (RN) and often mimic doctors’ work. They are trained to assess patient needs, order and interpret diagnostic and laboratory tests, diagnose disease, prescribe medications, acute illness assessment, diagnosis, agree treatment plans, prescribe where appropriate and formulate treatment plans. NP training covers basic disease prevention, coordination of care, and health promotion.
Advanced Nurse Practitioner
Pauline Douglas
An Advanced Nursing Practitioner (ANP) is a nurse who has completed a master’s degree in clinical practice. ANP’s have diagnostic authority and are trusted to assess, diagnose, manage, and care for patients with complex clinical issues. They are educated at master’s level in advanced practice and are assessed as competent in practice, using expert knowledge and skills. ANPs have the freedom and authority to act, making autonomous decisions in the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of patients.
Practice Nurses
Susan Pike & Sally Bogus
Practice Nurses are fully trained in a wide range of skills including immunisations, health promotion, contraception and management of long-term conditions e.g. advise on diet and lifestyle choices, coronary heart disease, hypertension, asthma, diabetes, smoking cessation and obesity. Practice Nurses can extend their skills at Diploma Level and see many patients who previously would have seen the Doctor.
The Nursing Team run various Nurse-led clinics for diabetes, asthma, coronary heart disease and COPD as well as providing general nursing services, dressings, removal of sutures and blood tests.
