Physicians work with patients to treat what ails them, but nurse practitioners reach out beyond their patients' medical needs.
The leadership of the Iredell Regional Nurse Practitioner Group decided to use Nurse Practitioner Week to inform the general public what they as "NPs" do, compared to what a doctor does.
"A good physician has a good nurse practitioner," said Malinda Sherrill, a family nurse practitioner at Statesville Cardiology Clinic and president of the IRNP.
Sherrill said nurse practitioners have either a master's degree or doctorate, and can obtain a certificate to specialize in medical areas such as internal medicine, cardiology or pediatrics.
According to the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, the first NPs were educated at the University of Colorado in 1965. As of 2009, there are around 125,000 practicing.
Even though nurse practitioners can examine and write prescriptions for patients, they should be perceived as an extension — not a replacement — for a physician's care, Sherrill said.
Statesville resident Wayne Mills said he has discovered nurse practitioners take more time with their patients and have more contact with them.
"It's more personal, to be honest with you," he said. "You get to know them a lot better as far as the one-on-one situation. They know you good enough to know if something is wrong or not."
Mills said he doesn't believe the average person knows how much training nurse practitioners have, and how they can assist someone.
The group formed two years ago and meets monthly to network and discuss topics such as smoking cessation, hypertension and diabetes. Sherrill said the group hosts continuing education workdays for medical issues, such as narcotic dependency and anticoagulation.
The next meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. Tuesday at Black Angus Grille on North Center Street.
Sherrill said the organization provides nurse practitioners with the opportunity to network with one another.
The annual group dues go toward educational programs or are donated to community organizations such as HealthReach Community Clinic in Mooresville.
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Want to learn more?
For more information about the group, visit the Iredell Regional Nurse Practitioner Group's Web site at www.irnp.org.
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