Family Nurse Practitioners

A family nurse practitioner (FNP) is a registered nurse with a graduate degree in nursing who is prepared to offer primary healthcare to people throughout their life span. An FNP provides care either independently or as part of a healthcare team and has the ability to prescribe medications in all states.

What is the difference between a nursing practitioner (NP) and a physician assistant (PA)?

The primary difference is that the PA is a dependent practitioner who necessitates a relationship with a supervising physician. PAs are licensed health professionals who are taught by physicians and educated to practice medicine under a doctor's supervision, whereas NPs are educated to practice nursing independently or in cooperation with a physician. NPs are registered nurses with advanced training in nursing. They typically specialize during their training, whereas PAs are educated in the broad spectrum of medical and surgical care, allowing them to practice in the variety of specialties rather than in one area of study. While some areas overlap when it comes to medicine (PAs) and nurses (NPs), nurses focus on nursing assessment and patient care issues, while a PA is taught to diagnose and treat illnesses using the medical model. A registered nurse, according to the U.S. Department of Labor, works to promote health, prevent disease and help patients cope with illness.

Another difference between NPs and PAs is their relationship to physicians.

PAs work with physicians in a team model, with the physician providing appropriate supervision to ensure the patient is receiving quality medical care. This is because both PAs and physicians practice medicine. However, NPs work in a collaborative model with physicians in most states, which means they refer patients requiring specific medical care to a physician. This is because NPs practice nursing under the state nursing regulations rather than providing medical care under the state medical practice act like PAs.

The Illinois Kidney Disease and Hypertension Center is privileged to have three FNPs who specialize in the care of patients with chronic kideny disease and end stage renal disease.

Karen Helfers, MSN, FNP

Joined group in 2001
Diploma in Nursing, Methodist School of Nursing, Peoria, IL, 1994
B.S. - Nursing, Bradley University, Peoria, IL, 1999
M.S. - Nursing, Family Nurse Practitioner, Mennonite College of Nursing at Illinois State University, Normal, IL, 2001
Certified Family Nurse Practitioner, 2001

Tonya K. McDougall, MSN, FNP

Joined group in 2000
R.N. - Illinois Wesleyan University, Bloomington, IL, 1996
M.S. - University of Illinois, Chicago, IL, 2000
Certified Family Nurse Practitioner, 2000

Cheryl M. Wiemer, MSN, FNP

Joined group in 2004
Associate in Applied Science, Nursing, Illinois Central College, East Peoria, IL, 1971
B.S. - University of Illinois, Springfield, IL, 1994
M.S. - University of Illinois, Chicago, IL, 1997
Certified Family Nurse Practitioner, year?