The Nurse Practitioner (NP) profession was ranked #6 in the U.S. News and World Report’s 100 Best Jobs of 2016, and it’s easy to see why: good working conditions, the ability to be a dedicated provider, and increased job satisfaction are just few. According to the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP), there are more than 205,000 NPs in the United States as of 2014, with an estimated growth to 244,000 by 2025. Nurse practitioners care for patients in a variety of settings and are one of four recognized advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) roles, which also include Clinical Nurse Specialists, Nurse Anesthetists, and Certified Nurse Midwifes. All NPs must complete a master’s or doctorate degree program, and they hold certificates in one of 8 recognized specialties, with Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) being the most popular at 54.5%.
The American Association of Nurse Practitioners reports that more than 205,000 NPs are currently licensed to practice, and an estimated 17,000 new NPs completed academic programs in 2013-2014. Clearly a fast-growing part of the healthcare marketplace, NPs are now getting paid more often for procedures patients commonly associate with physicians, helping to alleviate the struggle to access quality healthcare when physicians are in short supply. Primary responsibilities of NPs include diagnosing and treating acute, episodic or chronic illness, focusing on health promotion and disease prevention, prescribing medications, and performing or interpreting diagnostic tests.
History of Nurse Practitioners
The NP profession is a fairly new profession dating back to the late 1950s. Due to a shortage of primary care physicians in the United States, the need for NPs increased. Physicians began training nurses to identify and treat the primary care needs of children and families. With collaboration from pediatrician Dr. Henry Silver, Loretta Ford, a public health nurse, developed the first training program for NPs at the University of Colorado in 1965.When Ford conceptualized the NP role she envisioned the NP to assess, diagnose, treat, and evaluate—the same as it is today. The early NP programs granted no degree upon graduation, only a certificate. The first master’s degree NP program was established in 1967 by Boston College and the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, the first organization for NPs of all specialties, was formed in 1985.
Specialty Fields
Some specialty fields are more likely to attract NPs than others. NPs practice in all types of specialties and settings: cardiology, emergency care, family practice, geriatrics, oncology, pediatrics, primary care, school health and women’s health.
According to the 2012 National Sample Survey of Nurse Practitioners, 75% of the NP workforce has earned certification in a primary care specialty, but less than half of them, 48%, work in a primary care office or facility.
The AANP data show that more than 16% of NPs are in internal medicine or pediatric subspecialties, while almost 9% are in surgical specialties and 6% are in psychiatry/mental health. Neonatal and emergency care, each making up 3%, and palliative care/pain management, at 2%, were the most frequently reported specialties in the “other” category.
Education Today
Today’s NP student graduates with either a master’s or doctorate degree and the ability to provide care in a wide range of settings, including inpatient, outpatient, and rural settings. Prospective NP students are RNs who typically have one year or more nursing experience in the area in which they desire to specialize. Current requirements for all NPs to practice include: a bachelor’s degree in nursing, registered nurse licensure, graduate nursing education, national board certification, and state-specific NP licensure and registration.
No matter what their chosen specialty, all NPs are a vital part of the American healthcare industry and are predicted to experience excellent opportunity in the near future.
