Colorado and New Mexico are 2 of nearly two dozen states that allow nurse practitioners to practice independently from a doctor, including authority to write prescriptions.

Nurse practitioners are independent healthcare practitioners licensed by the state. They hold advance practice registered nurse degrees such as NP-C, which stands for Nurse Practitioner-Certified. Advance degrees are just one part of the equation. Nurse practitioners also have rigorous post-graduate clinical experience.

They see and treat patients from birth to the elderly like other primary care professionals.

NP-Cs perform physical exams, diagnose illnesses and disease, provide care for chronic and acute conditions, prescribe medication and more.

by Mary Menz, Ouray Plaindealer May 2018

Additionally, they can become board certified in many specialties. Shirley Olson, NP-C, IFMCP is not only board certified as a Family Nurse Practitioner, she is also Board Certified by the Institute for Functional Medicine as a Functional Medicine specialist.