COLLABORATIVE CARE BETWEEN NURSE PRACTITIONERS AND PRIMARY-CARE PHYSICIANS

Primary care practices are looking at methods of providing quality car e for an increasing number of patients, and one method of achieving th is goal is the development of a collaborative agreement with a physici an(s) and nurse practitioner(s). There is a need for information about the role of the nurse practitioner and the advantages of collaboratio n. This article reviews the history of the nurse practitioner movement , practice standards, and the scope of practice for nurse practitioner s. Models of collaborative practice and the advantages of these models are discussed. Considerations for entering into collaborative practic e are addressed also.