Nurse practitioners provide some of the same care provided by physicians and maintain close working relationships with physicians. An NP can serve as a patient’s regular health care provider. Demographically, nurse practitioners tend to be female. Physician assistants (PAs) and nurse practitioners both provide similar services in most states, the major distinction being that nurse practitioners are Registered Nurses who have had advanced training in the nursing model while PAs are trained in medical centers in the medical model. Both are considered mid-level providers and have fewer education requirements than physicians.

Nurse practitioners see patients of all ages. The core philosophy of the field is individualized care. Nurse practitioners focus on patients' conditions as well as the effects of illness on the lives of the patients and their families. NPs make prevention, wellness, and patient education priorities. This can mean fewer prescriptions and less expensive treatments. Informing patients about their health care and encouraging them to participate in decisions are central to the care provided by NPs. In addition to health care services, NPs conduct research and are often active in patient advocacy activities.

NPs usually work autonomously and are able to open their own clinical practices. NPs may prescribe medications and carry a DEA number in at least 44 states.