Direct Patient & Therapeutic Care

Advanced Practice Provider (APP)

Career Progression

Entry Level

C.N.A. or any direct care provider

Mid Level

Nurse

Senior Level

ARNP or Physician Assistant

Pathway Category

Senior Level: These positions are typically high-level management or specialized positions and require significant education, such as a master’s degree or advanced doctorate degree, in addition to applicable licenses, leadership training, and extensive experience in the industry. Learning a specific organization’s history, culture, and values is also often important to lead at this level.

What does a person in this career do?

You enjoy working with people! Your critical thinking and problem solving skills help to diagnose, troubleshoot, and treat a wide range of injuries, disorders, and diseases for your patients. You don’t mind being on the front line of the fight to help keep members of your community healthy, happy, and productive.

Occupations in the Direct Patient & Therapeutic Care family focus primarily on changing the physical health status of patients through direct care, treatment, and health education. They spend most of their time working directly with patients to diagnose, troubleshoot, and treat a wide range of physical illnesses, injuries, disorders, and diseases.  Someone who enjoys working with people, doesn’t mind being around illness, and wants to make a difference in their community will like these roles. Travel is not often required, but there are a growing number of institutions offering in-home and traveling or mobile medical services.

Description of duties

Examine, diagnose, and treat patients for common medical illnesses or injuries, often independently from a doctor or as the lead for a smaller health care team. May order, perform, or interpret diagnostic tests, such as lab work and x-rays, prescribing related medication or additional treatments. Promote and educate health care and disease prevention programs. May serve as a patient’s primary healthcare provider, such as in rural or harder-to-reach locations. Advanced patient care training and professional license required.

Quick Facts

Wage/Salary Range

Education & Training

Typical Work Environments

Personality Traits

Discover your strengths by taking the assessment.

Alison Lagrange, Family Nurse Practitioner, Vinton Family Medical Center

Partners who hire for this position

Knowledge and Skills Required

  • Advanced Medicine and Dentistry
  • Management and Leadership
  • Therapy and Counseling
  • Active Listening and Communication
  • Critical Thinking and Problem Solving
  • Medical and Office Software

Other Job Titles

  • Nurse Practitioner
  • Certified Nurse Specialist
  • Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist
  • Certified Nurse Midwife
  • Nursing Program Lead
  • Certified Physician Assistant (PA-C)
  • Clinical Physician Assistant
  • Family Practice Physician Assistant
  • Medical Provider Assistant
  • Doctor Assistant