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The nurse practitioner is a unique licensed independent practitioner within the constellation of advanced practice nurses. Nurse practitioners assess and manage both medical and nursing problems in a variety of specialty areas such as family, adult, pediatric, gerontologic, women’s health, school health, occupational health, mental health, emergency, and acute care. Their practice emphasizes health promotion and maintenance, disease prevention and diagnosis, and management of acute and chronic illness. Nurse practitioners serve as primary care providers and consultants for individuals, families, and communities in a variety of ambulatory and inpatient settings. Responsibilities of nurse practitioners include: taking histories; conducting physical examinations; ordering, performing, and interpreting appropriate diagnostic and laboratory tests; prescribing pharmacological agents, treatments, and non-pharmacological therapies for the management of the conditions they diagnose. Teaching and counseling are major components of a nurse practitioner’s role. They also conduct clinical research.