The Nurse Practitioner (NP) is a RN with advanced education and experience. He/she applies specialized clinical nursing knowledge and skills to patient care as well as the improvement of the quality of care provided by others. The NP provides a unique approach to healthcare that allows the incorporation of traditional nursing skills as well as advanced practice skills in the care of patients ranging from young adulthood to geriatrics. Advanced Practice Nurse (Nurse Practitioner) Basic Requirements English Language Proficiency. In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7403(f), no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English. U.S. Citizenship; non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in