The Fire-Based Urgent Medical Services Program in Green Valley, AZ is staffed by four nurse practitioners who are available for house calls. These health care professionals are on hand to treat patients who call 911 but are unable to visit their primary care physician or urgent care. If you’d like to make a difference for patients who are suffering from care disparities because they face financial, mobility or other issues, you might consider becoming a nurse practitioner.
The Green Valley nurse practitioners evaluate patients to determine if emergency transport to the hospital is needed. If it’s not necessary, the nurse practitioner provides care at the patient’s home. The team has treated a wide range of conditions, including respiratory problems, dehydration, diarrhea, minor wound infections, simple fractures and sprains, mild skin burns, rashes, cuts requiring stitches, tests for strep, flu and prescribing antibiotics. Additionally, they can schedule house calls through the nurse practitioner telephone line at the station.
Should You Become a Nurse Practitioner?
Nurse practitioners are advanced practice registered nurses who diagnose and treat common acute illnesses and injuries, provide physical examinations and immunizations and educate and counsel patients and their families about healthy lifestyles.
The need for nurse practitioners is expected to grow 31% between 2014 and 2024, much faster than the average for all occupations, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In 2011, the average salary was $90,583.
To become a nurse practitioner, you must first become a registered nurse and then attend a graduate program. Most nurse practitioners have a master’s degree, which requires at least two years of full-time study beyond a bachelor’s degree in nursing.
Other options for nurse practitioners in the mobile health field include those who are able to do a short period of time in a specific geographic location. Fields like psychiatry, urgent care, and emergency medicine often present opportunities for nurse practitioners.