Nurse practitioners (NPs) play a significant role in modern-day health care. In addition to providing many of the same services as doctors, such as physical exams and performing and analyzing diagnostic tests, they bring a personal touch to the nation’s health care system. Their advanced training makes NPs uniquely qualified to help alleviate the current shortage of physicians.
According to a 2021 report published by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), the U.S. could potentially see a shortage of between 37,800 and 124,000 physicians by 2034. This includes physicians in primary, acute, and specialty care.
Unfortunately, this is only part of the shortage issue. The AAMC predicts a 42.4% increase in Americans aged 65 and older between 2019 to 2034. This will have a significant impact on patient care strategies, particularly among physicians who specialize in caring for adult gerontology patients. Moreover, it’s projected that more than two of every five American physicians will be 65 or older by the close of the next decade, which means the field is likely to lose a significant number of physicians to retirement.
Those wondering if being a nurse practitioner is worth it should know that pursuing an online MSN to DNP online program can help address those problems and provide care at a critical time.
Why Become a Nurse Practitioner?
So, why become a nurse practitioner? From a career standpoint, becoming a nurse practitioner is a noble pursuit because advanced practice nursing helps improve patient outcomes. While this is the ultimate goal, there are also a few other great reasons to engage in this dynamic profession.
The Nursing Shortage
The U.S. health care staffing shortage isn’t limited to doctors. Factors including retirements among doctorally-prepared nursing faculty and a lack of clinical education sites have created a shortage of nurse educators. This trend, combined with the shortage of primary care doctors, has made it difficult for those working in the medical profession to keep up with the needs of aging baby boomers and other populations that need medical care.
Not surprisingly, this has led to opportunities in the advanced nursing field. Those who decide to pursue a career in nursing can help alleviate the need for skilled health care professionals, bolster the industry as a whole, and improve patient outcomes.
Autonomy
Becoming a nurse practitioner also comes with an extra dose of independence and professional autonomy. In states that grant nurses full practice and full prescriptive authority, nurse practitioners can perform a broad range of care delivery functions without a physician’s supervision, such as delivering the full range of patient diagnosis and prescribing medications. This can enable nurse practitioners to establish their own practices. Considering the physician shortage, this independence can also make nurse practitioners valuable allies in delivering care to rural areas and underserved communities.
Currently, 25 states allow nurses to have full practice authority. Another 15 states offer reduced practice authority, meaning that nurse practitioners must have a career-long regulated collaborative agreement in place with another health provider to deliver patient care. The remaining 10 states require nurse practitioners to be supervised by a health provider. There is an ongoing push to promote regulations that will allow nurse practitioners to have full autonomy in more states, so the number of states with full practice authority could change over time.
Career Growth Opportunities
Those questioning whether being a nurse practitioner is worth it should know there are ample opportunities to grow in this career field. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects the employment of nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives, and nurse practitioners to increase by 45% between 2020 and 2030, which is much faster than the average projected growth for all occupations (8%).
When the BLS isolates this projection to just nurse practitioners, the job growth figure jumps up to 52%. The BLS attributes this change to an expanding demand for services due to “an increased emphasis on preventive care and demand for health care services from the aging population.” Since advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) can perform many of the same care functions as physicians, nurses with a DNP will be prepared to address the needs of baby boomers and other expanding patient populations.
Nurse practitioners can pursue a number of nursing specializations that are designed to provide care to a specific patient population. These include family care, pediatrics, psychiatric mental health, women’s health, and adult-gerontology. They can allow individuals to shape their nursing careers toward their interests.
Nurse Practitioner Skills
Nurses interested in pursuing a career as a nurse practitioner must hold relevant skills. In addition to remaining current on advancements in technology and care practices, they’ll need to develop the following nurse practitioner skills.
Communication
Being able to relay information to patients and care teams clearly and concisely is an important skill for NPs to have. This includes paying attention to patients’ nonverbal cues, such as body posture, and demonstrating active listening, which helps patients know their providers are engaged in the conversation.
Health Care Assessment
Health care assessment is among the most important duties NPs perform. Nurse practitioners who provide precise, accurate assessments can deliver better care, which often leads to better results. To this end, they record their patients’ blood pressure, pulse, and respiratory rate, among other data, to develop an informed diagnosis.
Health Care Delivery
Health care delivery involves providing patients with the best possible care every day. NPs must be able to evaluate and implement care in ways that improve patient outcomes.
Board Certification Needed for Advanced Practice Nursing Roles
Aspiring NPs who continue to wonder if being a nurse practitioner is worth it should know there are many specializations available in a Doctor of Nursing Practice program that can prepare them for board certification.
- Adult Gerontology – Primary Care (AGPCNP): The AGPCNP specialization prepares aspiring NPs with the education and skills needed to serve patients ages 13 and up.
- Family (FNP): FNPs develop the skills needed to work with patients of all ages in a family practice setting.
- Pediatrics (PNP): Nursing students with an interest in providing care to infants, children, and teens may be drawn to this specialty.
- Psychiatric Mental Health (PMHNP): Future NPs who want to work in mental health care should consider this specialization, as it will teach them about psychopharmacology and how to provide care to patients facing mental health challenges.
- Women’s Health (WHNP): The WHNP specialization is designed to prepare aspiring NPs about the aspects of providing care to women in all stages of their lives.
Make the Move Toward an Important Career
Nurses interested in becoming nurse practitioners can start by attaining an advanced degree. The MSN to DNP online program can provide students with the knowledge and skills to be successful nurse practitioners and improve patient care.
In addition to offering convenience and flexibility through all online coursework, the program offers three start times each year and six nurse practitioner specializations to choose from — Family Nurse Practitioner, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner, Adult Gerontology – Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, and Adult Gerontology – Acute Care Nurse Practitioner.
Discover more about obtaining an advanced nursing degree online at Regis College today.
Recommended Readings
The Baby Boomer Nurse Retirement Wave Has Started
Nursing Facts: 8 Things You Should Know About the Nursing Profession
The Primary Care Provider Shortage and Strategies to Help
Sources:
American Association of Colleges of Nursing, Nursing Shortage
American Association of Nurse Practitioners, “National Nurse Practitioner Week: NPs Are Key to Providing Better Rural Care”
American Association of Nurse Practitioners, State Practice Environment
Association of American Medical Colleges, “AAMC Report Reinforces Mounting Physician Shortage”
JAMA Health Forum, “Value-Informed Nursing Practice Can Help Reset the Hospital-Nurse Relationship”
NurseChoice, 10 Essential Nurse Communication Skills for Success
Regis College, Online BSN to Doctor of Nursing Practice
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Nurse Anesthetists, Nurse Midwives, and Nurse Practitioners
StatPearls, “Nursing Shortage”