The growing demand for Nurse Practitioners

The demand for registered nurses is projected to grow steadily over the next few years, and according to figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, overall employment of nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives and nurse practitioners is expected to grow by up to 40 percent between 2021 to 2031, which is faster than the average for all other occupations. The Bureau predicts there will be approximately 30,200 openings for professionals performing these roles over the coming decade.

These figures are calculated in this way partly because the US population is growing older. The Administration for Community Living reports that people over 65 represented 16% of the population in 2019 but will grow to be 21.6% of the population by 2040, with the number of over 85s expected to more than double to 14.4 million in that time. 

The healthcare system is also experiencing a shortage of physicians, so Nurse Practitioners may be expected to fill that gap. Additionally, the Affordable Care Act of 2010 prompted changes to the healthcare system to promote preventative care, and this focus has created an ongoing demand for primary care providers to treat patients. So-called ‘retail clinics’ are also increasingly available at grocery and drug stores. These are some of the issues and challenges that are creating an ongoing demand for Nurse Practitioners.

What is a Nurse Practitioner?

A Nurse Practitioner (NP) is an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) that had completed Nurse Practitioner schooling and earned a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP). A Nurse Practitioner can serve as either a primary or specialty care provider. Nurse Practitioners have more authority than registered nurses and have similar responsibilities to that of a doctor, and mainly focus their care on a specific population such as families, children or the elderly. 

The scope of responsibilities for NPs includes prescribing medication, ordering diagnostic tests, examining patients and providing treatment. They have full practice authority in 25 states, which means that they don’t have to work under the supervision of a doctor. In the remaining states, they have more authority than registered nurses but need a medical doctor to sign off on certain patient care decisions. 

Where can Nurse Practitioners work?

There are a lot of opportunities to specialize, for example as Acute Care Practitioners, who provide care to patients in acute care and or hospital situations, seeing patients when they are sick, after a surgical procedure or trauma or when they are admitted to the hospital. Family Nurse Practitioners provide primary health care for individuals and families throughout their lifespan, whereas Pediatric Nurse Practitioners treat children from infancy. Other specialized areas include emergency, psychiatric, adult-gerontology, neonatal and women’s health.

They can work in a variety of settings, such as emergency rooms, hospitals, managed care facilities, private practice and surgical clinics. Tasks may include recording a patient’s medical history, collecting samples, performing detailed examinations, prescribing medications, performing small medical procedures, managing other nurses and creating and implementing treatment plans.

Skills required of Nurse Practitioners

Working within such a responsible and rewarding field will require the right qualifications, clinical and scientific knowledge, such as how to perform certain procedures, give injections and conduct an exam, and soft skills to enable you to work at your best. These could include interpersonal skills, conflict resolution or creating a calming environment.

Effective time management is crucial. You may have a certain amount of time to see a patient, for example, and other tasks to complete within your working day that have an impact on people’s health and wellbeing. The ability to be flexible and adaptable is very important, as you will be working in what can be a fast-moving and changeable environment. You will also need to cultivate good interpersonal skills as these are at the center of everything you do, whether dealing with patients, their relatives and caregivers or co-workers in order to build trusting and effective relationships.

You will also need to be competent in using new technology, for example, you may need to deliver health care via Telemedicine from a distance via a computer link or telephone conversation. Constantly updating your skills and knowledge is also vital in the ever-evolving world of medicine, reading magazines and publications to keep abreast of new developments and ideas is helpful, and ensuring you get the right training when necessary is key.

How to become a Nurse Practitioner

According to the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, the pathway to becoming a Nurse Practitioner is to obtain a bachelor’s degree in Nursing, then pass the National Licensure Examination and receive an RN license. After obtaining an RN license, you can enroll in a graduate program, then pass the National NP Certification Board Exam to gain a license as an NP.

Generally, students decide their patient population when they enter an NP program – this helps focus the education to align the learned knowledge and skills to the requirements of the patients in the group the Nurse Practitioner will be looking after. 

Texas Woman’s University online nursing programs are designed to prepare both male and female nurses for a career in healthcare, enabling them to develop advanced healthcare knowledge, clinical skills and research techniques, while gaining a wide-ranging perspective on the wellness of patients, communities and families. You can study for a Family Nurse Practitioner Master of Science or a Post Master’s Certificate. The university’s faculty and placement coordinator will organize and prepare students for every aspect of their clinical experience from ensuring any placement sites are close to home to introducing you to your preceptor. 

For anyone deciding to start their career within the health system and take steps towards their first degree, or those who have decided to focus on a role as a Nurse Practitioner, there will be many opportunities throughout your working life. For more information on how to apply to any of the Texas Woman’s University nursing programs, the admissions team are happy to help.