How Nurse Practitioners Solve Healthcare Access Challenges

Over the years, the shortage of primary care providers in the United States has reached critical levels. Finding a primary care provider taking new patients is just the first hurdle to overcome in the search for good healthcare. Initial appointments with a primary care provider may take months to get. The result of delayed initial appointments is that there is a long lapse in care which can lead to health conditions becoming worse.

Family nurse practitioners bridge the gap in primary care

As a licensed RN, you are more limited in what type of care and treatments you can administer. RNs do not make diagnoses, for example. A family nurse practitioner can perform almost all the duties of a Doctor of Medicine or Osteopathic Doctor degree holder.

Most of the issues that people are seen for at a primary care office can be taken care of by a family nurse practitioner, thus freeing up MDs and DOs for more serious matters or, at the very least, significantly reducing the interaction a patient needs with an MD.

Nurse practitioners are critical for good preventative medicine.

Practicing good preventative medicine habits is vital, so patients must plan routine appointments and health screenings with their primary care provider. By planning appointments well in advance, it is possible to get them at the right time. Waiting too close to when screening is needed is a bad idea because primary care providers are so booked up.

Nurse practitioners are qualified to take care of a lot of the preventative care needed by people of all ages. Encouraging preventative care is one way in which nurse practitioners can make a difference in the health and well-being of the community.

Health insurance

More people are getting medical care because they have the health insurance required to afford to see a doctor when they feel ill or notice something about their physical health that does not seem right. With insurance covering visits with little to no copay and some preventive and routine visits being 100% covered with no copay, primary care providers are needed more than ever.

NPs reduce medical costs

A nurse practitioner is far less expensive to see than a specialist or medical doctor. When medical costs are lower, everyone benefits, especially those covered by insurance but needing more advanced care and treatments. When overall costs are lower, insurance premiums are not as likely to go up for everyone.

For those paying out of pocket for visits and care, seeing a nurse practitioner is still less expensive than a medical doctor or specialist.

Diverse need for nurse practitioners

If you gain your NP credentials, you can choose to work in a variety of settings. Schools and university health clinics often employ NPs to take care of the basic medical needs of students and staff. Urgent care facilities are used a lot by people from all backgrounds. When an injury or illness is not serious enough for an emergency room visit, urgent care and walk-in clinics can provide care promptly. Many people almost exclusively use urgent care centers because making appointments with a primary care provider is difficult. Walk-in services are available regardless of whether you are a patient. Urgent care centers are heavily used by immigrants and other disadvantaged groups that are less likely to have a primary care doctor or are afraid to go to a large hospital.

Nurse practitioner training takes less time

There is currently such a shortage of primary care providers that getting qualified nurses and nurse practitioners trained is a priority for universities and medical facilities alike. Becoming a nurse practitioner typically requires six years of education and training compared to the 11-12 years many MDs and specialists need. Getting more NPs licensed can take care of more of the healthcare demand faster than training doctors. That is not to say that doctors are not as needed, but one needs to understand the value of meeting basic healthcare and preventative care needs on a shorter timeline.

Preventative care visits can also reduce the need for consultations with MDs because conditions can be diagnosed and treated early rather than being diagnosed after they have progressed into a condition requiring many appointments and costly treatments with specialists and MDs.

Nurse practitioners help the disadvantaged

Nurse practitioners often work in healthcare clinics in rural and remote communities as well as those serving people relying on Medicaid and other low-cost healthcare benefits.

Studies have shown that the use of nurse practitioners increases the usage of health benefits of those on Medicaid by 8%. While naysayers claim this is just because people are running to the doctor every time they get a sniffle or a scratch, the truth is that more people are seeking care for preventative visits and health screenings as well as not waiting until an illness gets incredibly worse before they get a professional medical opinion.

Since nurse practitioners help keep healthcare costs low, more people can be seen using the same amount of money, especially considering that preventative care appointments keep overall visits to a minimum.

More older adults are retiring and needing more care

The population demographics of most developed countries show a large population of older adults who are reaching retirement age and in need of more healthcare. As more people get to the age where they will be relying on Medicare to help with major healthcare and assisted living costs, the demand for nurse practitioners and other healthcare workers is set to rise dramatically. Since there is already a shortage of workers, it is important that more people decide to embark on a career in healthcare.

Why consider a career as a nurse practitioner?

Since healthcare workers are in such high demand, now is a great time to change your career, or if you are an experienced RN, consider an advanced degree.

Nurse practitioners make an excellent salary

As an NP, you will make considerably more on average than working as an RN. Increasing your earning power by gaining your degree can be done while keeping your current job, thanks to the availability of online degree programs.

You can work in many different types of facilities and regions

When you have credentials that are in high demand, you can pick and choose where you want to live and work more easily than with other jobs. Relocation can be beneficial in many ways. If you are open to moving, you can apply for the exact position you want more easily. Of course, it is also important to consider the cost of living in a specific area. A higher salary and benefits package may not seem so great if the cost of living is 20% higher than what you are used to.

Nurse practitioners help people from many different backgrounds

If you want to make an extra effort to offer medical services to those from disadvantaged backgrounds, then working as a nurse practitioner is a good way to accomplish your goals. As an NP, you can choose to work at clinics and in areas that have a great need for expanded healthcare services.

You are an RN that wants to take the next step in your career

While being an RN offers a lot of opportunities and the ability to work in many places, gaining an advanced degree can open more doors and ensure that you get a significant promotion.

Family nurse practitioner programs require that you have an unencumbered RN license and a minimum undergraduate GPA. However, there is no experience requirement so if you do want to go straight from undergraduate to graduate school, you can do that.

That being said, it is very beneficial to you to have at least 2-3 years of experience when applying to a graduate program simply because your experience will make your classes easier for you. In addition, you can continue to work as an RN while you earn your advanced degree. This means you can start to apply all that you learn immediately in your daily work life.

You can specialize in a specific area

While a lot of NPs work at facilities that are general primary care providers, you can specialize in an area that is of particular interest to you. These specialties include pediatrics, adult, primary care, neonatal, mental health, and women’s health. Of course, you can always work in a primary care position regardless of your specialty, which can make it easier to find a job immediately after graduation.

Placement in a clinical setting within your specialization

Finding a good clinical placement can take a lot of time and energy. In some cases, students have been known to pay for services to find them a placement. This can increase how long it takes to finalize your degree and become a licensed NP. Thankfully, many degree programs include clinical placement services so you can get the exact experience you need to fulfill your career goals.

You want to play a larger role in the medical field

Nurse practitioners have different duties than regular RNs. As an NP you will perform some of the following tasks:

Physical and annual exams.

Everyone should occasionally have a full physical exam. How often these exams are recommended is based on the age of the patient, but once a year is considered the minimum.

Diagnosis.

As an NP, you will be allowed to assess and form a primary diagnosis for common health problems. Your opinion may lead to further examination by a physician or specialist for a confirmation of a diagnosis or more extensive testing and treatments.

This is one of the major ways that being an NP differs from being an RN, where you concentrate on care and administering medications.

Ordering tests.

NPs regularly order medical tests to confirm or rule out a condition. Samples may be drawn during an NP visit, or they may be taken at a specialist or other facility.

Prescribing medications.

Nurse practitioners can prescribe any or most medications. If an NP cannot prescribe what a patient needs, the supervising physician at the clinic typically takes care of this role.

Offering referrals.

In some cases, an NP may feel that a patient would benefit from seeing a specialist for a physical or mental health condition. NPs will find themselves making plenty of referrals to get patients the comprehensive care they need.

NPs work with a variety of specialists to form a complete treatment plan for each patient. Sometimes specialists all work within the same healthcare system, or it may be necessary to refer a patient to someone outside of the typical network.

Can a nurse practitioner practice independently?

The rules for what a nurse practitioner can and cannot do vary by the state you wish to practice in. Here are the categories of operation.

Full practice authority

A large proportion of the United States offers full practice authority to licensed nurse practitioners. This means that an NP can operate independently if they desire. So as an NP you could even set up your own private practice with just yourself or a few other medical professionals. You would be allowed to diagnose patients, prescribe medications, and order tests without working under a licensed physician. Some states that are considered full practice do, however, require that you work at least some time under a licensed physician before you are allowed full practice authority.

Reduced practice

In reduced practice states NPs are not allowed to practice independently of a physician and may be restricted in the types of drugs they can prescribe without the permission of a physician.

Restricted practice

A restricted practice state requires that all NPs work under a licensed physician at all times. The physician they operate under is responsible for making sure the nurse practitioner is doing their job correctly at all times and must authorize some prescriptions. Some states have rules that are loosened as an NP gains experience.

Texas Woman’s University offers an online Master of Science in Nursing – Family Nurse Practitioner degree designed to further develop leadership skills that will enable students to provide enhanced patient care. If you are curious about how to become a nurse practitioner in NC, you should consider TWU’s online program authorized in the state, preparing graduates for licensure and practice. Nurses studying with TWU will learn about the various NP regulations, and how to deliver excellent patient care within these parameters.

Always check the rules for the states you are interested in practicing in

If you are considering a career as a nurse practitioner, it is important to consider the scope of what you can and cannot do. In most cases, an NP is going to be working at a clinic that has a licensed physician anyway, so the restrictions described above are not really a problem. Over time the limitations in the more restrictive states are likely to loosen as healthcare demands necessitate it in order for the maximum number of patients to be seen at each and every clinic or hospital.

Conclusion

There is a significant and increasing need for nurse practitioners in North America due to better healthcare which has caused an elongated lifespan for humanity. NPs can help bridge gaps between doctors and nurses and the community they serve in the healthcare industry, helping more people to receive the quality of care and information they need to lead healthy and productive lives.

In many states, nurse practitioners are authorized to do practically anything that a physician is allowed to do. In contrast, a few states are more restrictive and require that an NP works under the authorization of a licensed physician. It’s important to check which regulations apply to which states if you are practicing or hoping to graduate soon.

Now is a great time to work towards a career as a nurse practitioner due to the demand, overall job satisfaction, and excellent benefits offered. Not only will NPs find a rewarding salary and greater autonomy while working, but they’ll also make meaningful bonds with patients and coworkers all while delivering the best quality patient care.