Who are Nurse Practitioners?
Nurse practitioners perform physical exams and authorize treatments, among other duties. Most of the time, nurse practitioners work with patients for their entire lives, treating them from birth to death. Nurse practitioners can also specialize in orthopedics, pulmonology, and other areas.
Nurse practitioners help make health care more affordable for patients and expand access to health care across the country, said April Kapu, president of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners.
Do you want to be a Nurse Practitioner?
If you’re looking to become an NP, first you’ll become a registered nurse by completing a bachelor of science in nursing and earning an RN license. Once you’ve worked as an RN for several years, you can attend graduate school to earn a master’s degree. The American Nurses Association recommends that nurses spend 10 years working as RNs before going back to school for their master’s degree.
Consider spending time with a nurse practitioner to get an understanding of the job. Research different programs and requirements, which are also outlined on the AANP’s website.
What AANP is Doing?
The American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP), a national organization that promotes the profession and supports nurse practitioners, is urging state lawmakers to give the nation’s 200,000 nurse practitioners full authority to practice. Currently, only half of U.S. states allow nurse practitioners to practice with such autonomy. The AANP believes that making this practice standard in all 50 states would lead to better health outcomes for patients who currently have limited access to this type of care.
Job opening?
The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that the number of job openings for nurse practitioners will increase 52% between 2020 and 2030, from about 19,500 to a projected 33,200.