Nurse practitioners (NPs) are valuable members of the cancer care team at MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper. Their scope of practice allows them to see patients independently or in collaboration with a physician. During a patient’s visit at Cooper, their care may be managed by one of these health professionals.
What kind of education do NPs receive?
Nurse practitioners are nurses who have completed their four years of college-level nursing school (BSN) and have furthered their education through a graduate master’s degree (MSN) or a post-graduate doctorate degree (DNP) in their area of specialty. In addition to their college education, they are also licensed by the state in which they practice and certified by their specialty organization. To maintain their licenses, specialized knowledge, and clinical competency, NPs continue to receive a self-directed education while they are actively practicing.
What roles can NPs play in the clinical setting?
NPs are able to provide care at many levels. This includes:
- Assessing, diagnosing, treating and managing patients in the oncology clinic for both acute and chronic problems.
- Developing and implementing a treatment plan.
- Monitoring the effectiveness of the treatment plan and modifying it as necessary.
- Managing the side effects of the treatment of cancer.
- Ordering, performing and interpreting diagnostic and laboratory procedures and studies.
- Prescribing medications including narcotics.
- Counseling and educating patients and their families.
- Referring patients to other healthcare professionals or for other therapies.
- Participating in admitting and discharging patients from the hospital.
When might a patient have a visit with an NP at Cooper?
Patients might see an NP when they come to any visit at the cancer center. NPs usually work in collaboration with one or two physicians but they can also work on their own. Therefore, patients might see both the physician and NP when they come for an appointment, or they might see only one of these providers.
Is the quality of care just as good with an NP?
Many studies have shown that patients are extremely happy with the care they receive from NPs. NPs help maintain continuity of care so that patients receive quality care over time from the same members of the team, and improve access to care so patients can be seen in a timely manner. Other studies have shown that when physicians partner with NPs to manage chronic conditions, patients have better outcomes. NPs are good educators and communicators and provide high-level, cost-effective quality care.
What if an NP cannot handle a problem I have?
Should a new problem or question arise, a collaborating physician is always available for consultation with the NP.
NPs help to improve the patient experience and are an integral part of the MD Anderson Cooper team!