What a nurse practitioner is
A nurse practitioner is an advanced practice registered nurse: a registered nurse who completed graduate clinical education and then passed a national board certification examination in a defined population focus. The population focus is the part people overlook, and it is the part that tells you who that clinician is trained to care for.
| Population focus | Who it covers |
|---|---|
| Adult-gerontology primary care | Adolescents through older adults, including the very old |
| Family | Across the lifespan, including young children |
| Pediatric | Infants, children and adolescents |
| Women's health, psychiatric-mental health, and others | Their own defined populations |
How it works in Texas
Texas licenses advanced practice registered nurses through the Texas Board of Nursing, which also grants prescriptive authority. An APRN practising with prescriptive authority can take a history, examine, diagnose, order and interpret testing, prescribe, and manage ongoing conditions within their population focus and scope of practice. Many Texans have had a nurse practitioner as their regular primary care provider for years.
Licensure rules and the structure of collaborative agreements are set by the state and can change. We describe our own licensure, and we do not offer legal interpretation of anyone else's arrangements. You can verify any Texas licence yourself through the Texas Board of Nursing's public licence look-up.
What to ask before you choose a practice
- Which population focus is the provider certified in, and does it cover everyone in my household?
- Is the licence current, and is prescriptive authority active?
- Will I see the same provider each time, or whoever is available?
- How long is a visit, and how do I reach the practice between visits?
- What happens when I need something outside primary care — how are referrals handled?
Who provides care at Presence
Presence care is delivered by licensed providers, including Melissa House, a board-certified Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner licensed in Texas and Illinois with active Texas prescriptive authority. Her verified credentials are listed on your provider. Because her population focus is adult-gerontology, our in-office care is for ages 13 and older; children 12 and under are cared for virtually through a household membership.
We never describe our care as being provided by a physician, because it is not. If your situation calls for a physician or a specialist, we will tell you.