What tasks can nurse practitioners (NPs) perform?

Nurse Practitioner Roles and Responsibilities

Nurse practitioners (NPs) perform a wide range of clinical tasks including patient assessment, diagnosis, treatment planning, prescribing medications, ordering and interpreting diagnostic tests, and managing both acute and chronic conditions across various healthcare settings. 1

Clinical Responsibilities

• NPs conduct comprehensive patient assessments including obtaining clinical histories and performing physical examinations across various specialties 1
• NPs diagnose and manage both acute and chronic conditions, distinguishing between stable and unstable presentations 1
• NPs order, perform, and interpret diagnostic tests including laboratory studies, imaging, and specialized tests such as ankle-brachial index measurements 1, 2
• NPs prescribe medications including analgesics, intravenous fluids, and disease-specific pharmacological therapies 1
• NPs develop and implement treatment plans based on evidence-based guidelines and patient-specific factors 1, 3
• NPs perform certain procedures depending on their specialty training and institutional privileges 1

Specialty-Specific Functions

Emergency Department

• Emergency Nurse Practitioners assess and triage patients, manage minor ailments and injuries, request and interpret investigations, and prescribe medications 1
• Studies have shown Emergency NPs can be clinically equivalent to senior house-officer grade physicians in specific tasks 1

Hospital Settings

• Night Nurse Practitioners perform venepuncture, IV cannulation, assessment of unwell patients, ordering investigations, and in some cases, prescribing analgesia and intravenous fluids 1
• NPs can serve as constant clinical presence on hospital wards, improving continuity of care 1

Cardiovascular Care

• Cardiovascular NPs evaluate and manage patients with various cardiac conditions including stable ischemic heart disease, valvular heart disease, and peripheral vascular disease 1
• They interpret diagnostic studies such as ECGs, ankle-brachial indices, and noninvasive vascular studies 1
• Cardiovascular NPs prescribe and modify exercise prescriptions for cardiac rehabilitation patients 1

Surgical Settings

• NPs in surgical settings can assist in pre-operative assessment, post-operative care, and follow-up management 1
• Some specialized surgical NPs may perform endoscopic procedures independently 1

Leadership and System Roles

• NPs increasingly take on leadership positions including serving as inpatient medical directors in some healthcare systems 4
• NPs help improve access to care, particularly in underserved areas 5
• NPs contribute to team-based care models that have demonstrated enhanced practice performance, physician efficiency, revenue generation, improved clinical outcomes, and patient satisfaction 1

Practice Authority Considerations

• NP scope of practice varies by state laws and institutional policies 3, 6
• Some states require physician supervision while others allow independent practice 5, 6
• The American College of Cardiology supports collaborative team environments where NPs function with significant autonomy, extending the capabilities of physicians and the entire healthcare team 3

Educational Background

• NPs are advanced practice registered nurses with graduate-level education (master's or doctoral degree) 5
• Specialized training allows NPs to practice in various clinical areas including primary care, acute care, and specialty practices 1, 3

Collaborative Practice Models

• High-performing healthcare teams position each member to practice at the top of their education, training, licensure, and experience with clearly defined roles 1, 3
• Collaborative practice between NPs and physicians has demonstrated improved patient outcomes and enhanced care coordination 3