PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Heather Taylor
TI  - Parallels between the Development of the Nurse Practitioner and the Advancement of the Dental Hygienist
DP  - 2016 Feb 01
TA  - American Dental Hygienists Association
PG  - 6--11
VI  - 90
IP  - 1
4099  - http://jdh.adha.org/content/90/1/6.short
4100  - http://jdh.adha.org/content/90/1/6.full
SO  - J Dent Hyg2016 Feb 01; 90
AB  - Purpose: Dental hygienists have often been described as the registered nurses of the dental field. Similar parallels also exist between the development of the nurse practitioner from the nursing profession and the evolution of the dental hygiene practice and profession. This article explores 3 major similarities between the professions of nurse practitioner and dental hygienist. Public health issues, educational constructs, and the social and political environments shaping each profession are discussed to inform dental hygienists of their potential career options for future expanded therapeutic care roles.