This research provides an overview of the role of the nurse practitioner. Specific issues addressed in this overview are (1) the role of the nurse practitioner as a care provider, (2) the role of the nurse practitioner as a manager, (3) the role of the nurse practitioner as an educator, (4) the role of the nurse practitioner as a consultant, (5) the role of the nurse practitioner as a researcher, (6) economic, political, ethical, and legal issues affecting the role of the nurse practitioner, (7) the role of the nurse practitioner in relation to psychiatric and metal health nursing, (8) the role of the nurse practitioner in relation to the California Nursing Practice Act, and (9) the role of the nurse practitioner in relation to credentialing by the American Nurses Association.
The Role of the Nurse Practitioner As A Care Provider, Educator, Consultant, Researcher, and Mental Health Care Provider
The future of the role of nurse practitioner is arriving sooner than might be expected (Burns, 1994, pp. 29-35). Among the more significant of the roles that will be filled by nurse practitioners in the near future and by some nurse practitioners and today are the following: (1) nurse practitioners will increase their role as promoters and educators of healthy lifestyle behaviors for their patients; (2) tertiary nurse practitioners and clinical nursing specialists will evolve to meet the specialized health care needs of complex patients including psychiatric and other mental health patients (Keane & Richmond, 1993, pp. 281-284; Chamberlain, 1987, pp. 132-138). Thus, nurse practitioners and clinical nursing specialists will migrate from primary care settings to acute care settings; because of the unique roles filled by nurse practitioners and clinical nursing specialists in the health care delivery system, increased participation by nurse practitioners and clinical nursing specialists in the conduct of health care research and filling t...