According to the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP 2016), nurse practitioners (NPs) are licensed, autonomous clinicians focused on managing people's health conditions and preventing disease.

NPs are quickly becoming the health partner of choice for millions of Americans. As clinicians that blend clinical expertise in diagnosing and treating health conditions with an added emphasis on disease prevention and health management, NPs bring a comprehensive perspective to health care. As advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs), NPs often specialize by patient population, including pediatric, adult-gerontological, and women's health. NPs may also subspecialize in areas such as dermatology, cardiovascular health, and oncology.

In this segment, Jasmine Pega, certified registered nurse practitioner at Meritus Health, explains the role of a nurse practitioner as an integral part of your health care team.