Nurse practitioners (NPs) provide high-quality primary care to patients of all ages. They have extensive experience in diagnosing and treating illnesses, and today they fulfill a vital role in the healthcare industry.
Because receiving health services from nurse practitioners is cost-effective, they are a highly desirable option for those looking for affordable healthcare. Let’s discuss what primary care is, what nurse practitioners do, some of the key advantages of getting primary care from nurse practitioners, and where you can find an experienced nurse practitioner right here in Kent, Washington.
What Is Primary Care?
Primary care is the first point of contact for patients who are seeking healthcare. It focuses on the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of illnesses and injuries, and a primary care provider keeps an eye on what the patient’s susceptibilities are so any health issues can be thwarted as much as possible.
Family nurse practitioners offer the full range of primary care services. They see patients regularly – usually annually – for a wellness exam, where they perform diagnostic tests like blood tests and urine tests to make sure the patient is in good overall health. They will also recommend having preventive scans as appropriate, such as a colonoscopy or mammogram, as well as preventive vaccinations.
Because family nurse practitioners provide primary care to patients of all ages, they are a highly desirable option for those who need affordable healthcare for the whole family.
What Are Nurse Practitioners?
A nurse practitioner is a registered nurse (RN) who has completed graduate-level education as well as clinical training in a specific area of healthcare. They can order and interpret diagnostic tests, and they can prescribe many types of medication.
Why Would I Want to See a Nurse Practitioner for Primary Healthcare?
Nursing Model vs. Medical Model
One of the main advantages of getting primary care from a nurse practitioner is that they use a nursing model of care. This means that they focus on the whole person, not just the illness or injury.
Nurse practitioners provide holistic care that takes into account the patient’s physical, emotional, and social health, which is a proactive approach. In contrast, medical doctors typically use a medical model of care, which employs a more reactive perspective in which the illness or injury is treated but not necessarily analyzed insofar as to why it occurred.
Cost-Effective Care
Another advantage of receiving primary care from a nurse practitioner is that they are cost-effective. Nurse practitioners can provide high-quality care at a lower cost than medical doctors because nurse practitioners have fewer overhead costs and can see more patients in a day.
NPs Can Do What Primary Care Doctors Do
There are very few differences between what nurse practitioners can do and what doctors can do in terms of your care. Nurse practitioners cannot perform surgery, but they can do everything patients need the most from primary care – including determining a diagnosis, performing minor office procedures, prescribing core medications, ordering diagnostic tests, and treating disease.
Family Primary Care in Kent, Washington
Nurse practitioners offer a number of advantages in primary care, including lower costs, more personalized and holistic care, and more time spent with each patient. The nursing model of healthcare focuses on the whole person, not just the illness or injury, and a nurse practitioner takes into account the patient’s total health when considering treatment approaches.
At Family Care of Kent, our family nurse practitioners are dedicated to providing the highest-quality primary care. Our experienced nurse practitioners have been practicing for more than 20 years, and our team is eager to provide primary care to you and your family.
Schedule an appointment with us today by calling (253) 859-2273, or click here to request an appointment. We look forward to caring for your health and well-being!