Description
Assess, diagnose, and manage acute, episodic, and chronic conditions in adults and older adults, independently or in collaboration with a healthcare team. Provide preventive care, age-appropriate screenings, and health promotion. Order, perform, and interpret diagnostic tests. Prescribe and manage medications within legal scope. Must be a registered nurse with graduate education and certification in adult practice.
- • Educate adults and older adults on self-management of acute and chronic conditions, tailored to health literacy and culture.
- • Schedule and manage follow-up visits, labs, and monitoring to evaluate treatment response.
- • Counsel on medication regimens, side effects, and interactions with OTC drugs, supplements, and alcohol; address polypharmacy.
- • Order, perform, and interpret adult-focused diagnostics (CBC, CMP, A1c, lipids, EKGs, radiographs, PFTs).
- • Obtain and analyze adult health histories, symptoms, and physical findings to develop differential diagnoses.
- • Diagnose and treat common acute adult problems such as URIs, UTIs, bronchitis, injuries, and skin conditions.
- • Manage chronic adult conditions including hypertension, diabetes, COPD/asthma, heart failure, and hyperlipidemia.
- • Stabilize and co-manage complex or comorbid adult conditions with collaborating physicians and specialists.
- • Provide preventive care and screenings (blood pressure, diabetes, lipids, colorectal, cervical and breast, prostate, AAA as appropriate).
- • Administer and recommend adult immunizations per CDC guidelines.
- • Develop and adjust evidence-based, patient-centered treatment plans and care goals.
- • Prescribe, titrate, and deprescribe medications within scope, considering age, renal/hepatic function, and cost.
- • Identify, document, and manage adverse drug reactions and interactions, especially in older adults.
- • Perform adult primary care procedures such as suturing, splinting, incision and drainage (I&D), wound debridement, and cultures.
- • Conduct routine, annual, employment, and Medicare wellness examinations.
- • Provide lifestyle and risk-reduction counseling on nutrition, exercise, weight, sleep, tobacco, alcohol, and sexual health.
- • Screen for and manage or refer common adult mental health conditions (depression, anxiety, substance use).
- • Recommend diagnostic or therapeutic interventions emphasizing safety, simplicity, acceptability, adherence, and value.
- • Treat or refer adult primary care conditions such as headaches, hypertension, back pain, and dermatologic disorders.
- • Coordinate referrals to specialists and community services when needs exceed scope or require multidisciplinary care.
- • Support care transitions, medication reconciliation, and follow-up after hospital or emergency department discharge.
- • Educate and involve family or caregivers in plans for adults with functional or cognitive limitations.
- • Document care thoroughly in the EHR, including assessments, plans, patient education, and outcomes.
- • Maintain current knowledge of adult care guidelines, quality measures, and professional standards.
- • Navigate payer and regulatory requirements (Medicare, Medicaid, managed care, prior authorizations).
- • Adhere to state NP practice laws, prescribing regulations, and collaborative practice agreements.
- • Uphold clinic policies, safety protocols, and infection control standards.
- • Supervise or coordinate nursing and support staff to optimize adult patient care.
- • Advocate for accessible, equitable adult health care and address social and environmental determinants of health.
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Tasks & skills:
O*NET occupational data (work activities, skills, knowledge).
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This site includes information from O*NET by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. Career Clutch has modified some of this information for student readability. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
Last reviewed: Jan 2026
