“Advanced practice nurses and physician assistants play an increasingly important role in health care,” said Karen Anderson, RN, MSN, MBA, chief nurse executive and vice president, Patient Care Services, LUHS. “These weeks allow us to honor our advanced practice professionals who are pivotal in providing preventive services, education, and primary and specialty care to patients."
Loyola will recognize the weeks with a continuing education program for its advanced practice providers on “Credentialing, privileging and competency evaluation: An overview of standards, emerging trends and best practices.” This course provides one continuing education hour and will be offered to qualified health-care professionals at 12-1 p.m., Nov. 12, Stritch School of Medicine, Room 190, on the Loyola University Medical Center campus in Maywood.
Each state determines the scope of practice of APNs and PAs. In Illinois, an advanced practice nurse must complete an accredited educational program with a master’s degree in nursing (MS or MSN) or a doctorate degree in nursing (DNSc, DNP or PhD) and be board certified.
APNs are independent practitioners who work in collaboration with other members of a health-care team in both inpatient and outpatient settings. An APN’s responsibilities are varied and may include: performing physical exams, diagnosing and treating illnesses, providing routine health care, primary and specialty care, wellness and disease prevention, prescribing medications, ordering and interpreting tests, performing routine procedures, providing patient education and support, assisting in surgery and collaborating with other health-care professionals. APN services also are billable to Medicare, Medicaid and most insurance companies. Types of advanced practice nurses include nurse practitioners, nurse midwives, nurse anesthetists and clinical nurse specialists who have advanced knowledge in a particular field.
Physician assistants work under supervision in both the inpatient and outpatient settings. In Illinois, a physician assistant must complete an accredited educational program with a master’s degree of medical science in physician assistant studies and be board certified. PA responsibilities include: taking a medical history, performing physical exams, diagnosing and treating illnesses, ordering and interpreting tests, developing treatment plans, giving preventive health advice, assisting in surgery and writing prescriptions. PA services are billable to Medicare, Medicaid and most insurance companies.
Loyola employs more than 100 APNs and PAs in the following specialties:
• Anesthesia• Cardiology/cardiac surgery• Dermatology• Endocrinology• Ear, nose and throat• Family medicine• Hematology/oncology• Hepatology• Neurology/neurosurgery• Obstetrics and gynecology• Employee health• Orthopaedics• Neonatal intensive care• Pain control• Pediatric specialties• Psychiatry• Pulmonology• Radiology• Sickle cell disease• Surgical specialties• Trauma and burns• Urology
To make an appointment with an APN, call 888 (LUHS)-888/(888) 584-7888.
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