A nurse practitioner examines a patient in her clinic, diagnosing the respiratory infection, prescribing antibiotics, and arranging follow-up. The patient would have waited weeks for a physician appointment; the NP saw her today. In a remote community, a nurse practitioner provides primary care that would otherwise require hours of travel. In a long-term care home, an NP manages complex residents, reducing unnecessary transfers to hospital. In a hospital, NPs staff specialized units, providing care that once only physicians provided.