The healthcare industry is experiencing a significant shift as more primary care physicians retire. It is estimated that over 60 million Americans reside in parts of the country that offer limited healthcare options, leaving them without access to a doctor. In these cases, the role of Advanced Practice Providers is critical. In fact, the Association of American Medical Colleges predicts that within the next decade, the shortage of doctors could be as great as 90,000. This staggering number is expected to grow dramatically as Baby Boomers age and need more consistent medical care.
What can be done to lessen the impact of the inevitable doctor shortage?
The answer, for many, will be the Nurse Practitioner or commonly referred to as NPs.
Advanced Practice Providers or Nurse Practitioners are a special class of registered nurses. Traditionally, an NP will have a master’s or doctoral degree and receive extensive training in diagnosing, treating and managing illnesses. Nurse Practitioners are also able to conduct physical examinations, write prescriptions, and refer patients to specialists for further care. In many rural counties, the NP is a patient’s lifeline, serving them in a very similar role as a primary care physician would.
But, are Nurse Practitioners really like doctors?
The practice restrictions placed on advanced practice providers varies throughout the country. 19 states allow NPs to fulfill the duties for which they have been trained, without the oversight of a licensed doctor. However, in 31 states a nurse practitioner cannot lawfully practice unless under the supervision of a physician. Over the past decade, medical lobbyists have advocated to reduce these restrictions and increase the autonomy of Advanced Practice Providers as well as to provide the public with greater access to healthcare. The legislative debate will likely continue well into the future as opponents to proposed changes cite that doctors have more directed training and higher professional standards, making them irreplaceable.
However, as medical school costs become more prohibitive and the population needing immediate care grows, the number of new nurse practitioners is expected to rise. This eye-opening trend has caused a marked shift in how Nurse Practitioners are trained. Many medical programs have revised their nursing curricula to include stringent requirements similar to those required in medical schools. The result: more qualified nurse practitioners to help curb the growing physician shortage. So much so that the proportion of practitioners who are NPs is expected to increase from 19% to 29% by 2025.
Nurse Practitioner recruiters have also experienced a spike in job openings for advanced practice providers. From hospitals to urgent care facilities, hiring Nurse Practitioners has served to be more productive than leaving primary care physician vacancies open for months or years.
As the nation grays and the number of chronic illnesses rise, Nurse Practitioners will play a vital role in keeping Americans healthy.