With Nurse Practitioner Week upon us (Nov. 13-19), Mayo Clinic Health System in Austin is highlighting the importance of the profession.

The team of approximately 10 serve patients in many different areas of care.

“Many nurse practitioners at MCHS are in a position to be part of the patient’s primary team of caregivers, which allows for greater continuity and efficiency in their care,” said Colleen Byrnes, a nurse practitioner in family medicine at Mayo Clinic Health System in Austin. “They work closely with nurses, physicians, pharmacists and other members of the inter-disciplinary care team to provide a holistic focus on health promotion, illness prevention and treatment of symptoms.”

A nurse practitioner is a registered nurse who has a master’s degree in nursing and who has passed a national certification exam.

Nurse practitioners diagnose and treat, perform physicals, order and interpret diagnostic tests as well as order medications such as chemotherapy under the supervision of physicians.

“We are not just treating the acute illness, but also are looking at the whole, big picture,” Byrnes said.

“We’re looking at vital signs as well as looking at stress levels, illness prevention and wellness promotion. We are focused on the whole patient and incorporate all of those things into treatment.”