Nurse Practitioners

A nurse practitioner is an advanced level nurse who has undertaken an extensive course of study to degree level (BSc (Hons) Nurse Practitioner). This knowledge builds on nursing expertise and extends the traditional role to include some skills of medical colleagues.

These skills include:

• The ability to perform physical examination, assessment, diagnosis and treatment of a wide range of health problems in patients of all ages.
• Making professionally autonomous decisions, for which they have sole responsibility.
• Screening patients for disease factors and early signs of illness.
• Developing with the patient a care plan for health with an emphasis on preventative measures.
• The authority to refer patients to other health care providers as appropriate.
• The ability to take referrals from other health care providers.

In the Hadleigh Practice the nurse practitioners offer a complementary source of care to that offered by the GPs. Patients may decide to consult with a GP or the nurse practitioner.