We hear from women all the time about the special relationship they have with their nurse practitioner at Virginia Women’s Center. In honor of National Nurse Practitioner Week, November 11-17, we wanted to remind our patients that a nurse practitioner makes a great health care provider for many of your routine care needs–whether you are a young adult, pregnant or menopausal woman.
A nurse practitioner is a registered nurse who has completed specific advanced nursing education, typically a master’s degree, and is trained in diagnosing common and complex medical conditions. Nurse practitioners can provide a full range of services such as ordering, performing and interpreting diagnostic tests; diagnosing and treating acute and chronic conditions; prescribing medications and treatments; and managing overall patient care. At Virginia Women’s Center, our nurse practitioners are board certified by national professional organizations.
Women’s health nurse practitioners are specially trained and board certified in obstetrics and gynecology and collaborate with our physicians to provide services that include the following:
- Care before and after menopause
- Contraceptive care
- Evaluation and treatment of common vaginal infections
- Health and wellness counseling to patients of all ages, including family planning care and gestational diabetes consultations
- Annual exams, including Pap test
- Pregnancy testing and routine care before, during and after pregnancy
- Screening and referral for other health problems
- STD screening and follow-up
Women with medical conditions, especially those that require surgery, need the services of a physician. But when women have typical health care needs, a nurse practitioner can serve as their health care provider.
Nurse practitioners distinguish themselves from other health care providers by focusing on the health and well-being of the whole person, in addition to specific concerns. They work as partners with their patients, guiding them to make educated health care decisions and healthy lifestyle choices. Their aim is to educate patients on the effects their health choices can have on them, their loved ones and their communities.
To read the biographies of Virginia Women’s Center’s nurse practitioners, visit the staff page on their Website. To learn more about the care that nurse practitioners provide, read their comments here.
Additional links:
American Academy of Nurse Practitioners
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