Written by Esme Wang

In 2023, there were over 280,000 nurse practitioners employed in the USA. Their average wage was estimated to be between 94,000 to 170,000. (1) The healthcare industry has been pushed to the limits due to a significant shortage of primary healthcare providers. This trend has been seen right across the world, and it has been a key factor in how hospitals and other medical practices care for their patients. This is why the demand for more skilled healthcare professionals is at an all time high.

In recent years, nurse practitioner programs have seen an increase in growth and this could be because of the career opportunities available in the healthcare industry. In this article we’ll discuss why there’s been a higher growth in nurse practitioner programs and what it means for the future of the industry.

The Growing Demand for Primary Care Providers

Across the world, there’s a strong demand for healthcare providers and this has increased over the years. Without a sign of slowing down, the demand for more people to undertaking a nurse practitioner degree could be because of:

• A rise in chronic diseases affecting nations right around the world. According to the CDC, around 129 million people suffer from a chronic disease. (2). Conditions such as obesity, heart disease and diabetes have increased and managing these conditions requires help from professional healthcare providers. This can put a strain on the overall industry leaving a lot of people unable to get the care they need to help them with their ailments.
• Due to the increase in worldwide population, we’re seeing an increase in aging individuals. Many elderly individuals require specific healthcare services and sometimes require frequent medical attention. With limited health care providers, it can be hard for elderly patients to get the care they desperately need.
• Healthcare coverage has expanded across many insurance providers which leads to many people using their coverage for specific needs. Some people may use their coverage for routine check-ups, preventive care and treatment depending on their insurance, and this can take up the time of a healthcare provider.

Overall the demand for more people to apply for nurse practitioner programs has come down to a lack of professional healthcare providers on the field. This shortage has caused gaps in the industry and has limited those who really need medical care from receiving it. This is why the healthcare industry is urging more and more people to consider a career as a nursing practitioner.

The Role of Nurse Practitioners in Primary Care

As advanced registered nurses, nurse practitioners are trained to provide a number of healthcare services for the community. Some of these include but aren’t limited to:

• Prescribing medications
• Treating illnesses
• Diagnosing illnesses
• Managing patient care

In many countries and states, nurse practitioners can have the full authority to practice as an individual without the need for a physician to oversee them. The growing recognition of nurse practitioners as primary care providers is due to several factors:

• Nurse practitioner programs train in a holistic way in regard to patient care, focusing on health promotion, disease prevention, and patient education. This training equips nurse practitioners to provide high-quality care that addresses not only the physical aspects of health but also the emotional, social, and environmental factors that influence well-being.
• Nurse practitioners are often more accessible to patients than physicians, especially in areas where fewer healthcare providers are found. They’re more likely to work in rural and urban areas with limited access to medical care, helping to bridge the gap in healthcare disparities.
• Nurse practitioners can provide cost-effective care. This often results in lower healthcare costs for patients and the healthcare system as a whole. It’s possible that nurse practitioner care may directly help to lower hospitalization rates, reduce emergency room visits, and improve patient outcomes.
• Nurse practitioners are known for their patient-centered approach. This means they take the time to listen to patients’, their concerns and involve them in decision-making about their health. This approach fosters strong patient-provider relationships and contributes to high patient satisfaction.

Nurse Practitioner Program Enrollment

With the demand for healthcare providers on the rise, the demand for nurse practitioner enrollment is also increasing, with many students and nurses enrolling in these programs. Some factors which may contribute to this increase in enrollment, includes, but isn’t limited to:

• More career opportunities for healthcare students. The role of nurse practitioners in healthcare has created a great number of career opportunities for nurses seeking advanced practice roles. With the growing recognition of nurse practitioners being at the forefront of primary care providers, many nurses are pursuing these programs to advance their careers and meet the demand for healthcare services.
• Many nurse practitioner programs offer flexible education options, including online and part-time programs, which make it easier for working nurses to pursue advanced degrees. This flexibility allows nurses to continue working while earning their degrees, making these programs more accessible to a broader range of students.
• Scholarships, loan repayment programs, and other financial incentives are available to support nurses pursuing this type of degree. These incentives are designed to address the primary care provider shortage by encouraging more nurses to enter advanced practice roles.
• There’s a growing awareness of the nurse practitioner role and its importance in the healthcare system. As more people recognize the value of nurse practitioners and their role of providing healthcare services, more nurses are choosing to enter these programs to make a meaningful impact on patient care.

Tips for Aspiring Nurse Practitioners

For those considering a career as a nurse practitioner, here are some tips to keep in mind:

• Nurse practitioners can specialize in various areas of healthcare, including family practice, pediatrics, geriatrics, women’s health, and more. Researching different specialties can help you determine which area aligns with your interests and career goals.
• Selecting the right nurse practitioner program is crucial to your success. Consider factors such as program accreditation, faculty expertise, clinical placement opportunities, and the availability of online or part-time options.
• Gaining clinical experience as a registered nurse (RN) is essential before pursuing this degree. Working in different healthcare settings can provide valuable insights into patient care and help you develop the skills needed for advanced practice.
• After completing your nurse practitioner program, you’ll need to pass a national certification exam in your specialty area. Preparing for this exam requires a thorough understanding of your specialty and the ability to apply your knowledge in clinical scenarios.
• Building a professional network can be invaluable as you pursue your new career. Joining organizations, attending conferences, and connecting with other nurse practitioners may be able to provide support, mentorship, and opportunities for professional growth.

Challenges and Considerations for these Programs

While the growth of nurse practitioner programs is a positive development, there are several challenges and considerations that need to be addressed:

• With the rapid expansion of these programs, maintaining high educational standards is crucial. Accreditation bodies play a key role in ensuring that programs meet rigorous academic and clinical standards, but prospective students should also carefully evaluate program quality.
• The demand for nurse practitioner education has led to a shortage of qualified faculty to teach the programs. This shortage can impact the availability of programs and the quality of education, making it essential to invest in faculty development and recruitment.
• Clinical training is a key component of this education, but finding sufficient clinical placements can be challenging, especially as program enrollment increases. Collaborations between educational institutions and healthcare organizations are essential to ensure students receive the hands-on experience they need.
• A nurse practitioners’ scope of practice varies by state, with some states granting full practice authority and others requiring physician oversight. Before you apply to become a nurse practitioner you should be aware of the regulations in your state.
• As the population becomes increasingly diverse, nurse practitioner programs must prepare graduates to meet the needs of various patient populations. This includes training in cultural competency, language skills, and understanding the social dynamics of healthcare.

The Future of Nurse Practitioner Programs

The future of nurse practitioner programs looks promising. This is especially true with continued growth expected in response to the ongoing demand for healthcare providers. Key factors that may shape the future of nurse practitioner education and practice include:

• Online nurse programs are likely to continue expanding, offering more flexibility and access to education for students across the country. Advances in technology may also enhance online learning experiences, making them more interactive and immersive.
• There’s a growing emphasis on interprofessional education, where nurse practitioners train alongside other healthcare professionals such as physicians, pharmacists, and social workers. This collaborative approach prepares nurse practitioners to work effectively in team-based care models, which are increasingly common in healthcare settings.
• As healthcare shifts towards a focus on prevention and wellness, nurse practitioner programs may place greater emphasis on preventive care strategies, including lifestyle counseling, chronic disease management, and health education.
• The role of nurse practitioners is expanding globally, with many countries recognizing the value of them in addressing healthcare shortages. This trend may lead to increased opportunities for nurse practitioners to work internationally and contribute to global health initiatives.
• Continued advocacy efforts are likely to push for full practice authority for nurse practitioners in all states. Achieving this goal would allow nurse practitioners to practice to the full extent of their training and improve access to care for patients nationwide.

Conclusion

The growth and demand for nurse practitioners has seen a positive influence on the healthcare industry. With more nurse practitioners entering the industry to help primary care providers, it’s able to help take the pressure off an industry that’s already struggling to cope.

If you’re a student or current nurse who wants to take their career to the next level, nurse practitioner programs are one of the best options to do this. Not only will you have a long term career but a rewarding one at that.

References

• S Bureau Of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, nurse practitioner https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes291171.htm
• Center for Disease Control: Chronic Disease Prevalence in the US: Sociodemographic and Geographic Variations by Zip Code Tabulation Area https://www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2024/23_0267.htm

Author Bio

Esme Wang is a copywriter and content strategist. She helps businesses stop playing around with content marketing and start seeing the tangible ROI. She loves writing as much as she loves the cake.

Please also review AIHCP’s  Certification programs and see if it meets your academic and professional goals.  These programs are online and independent study and open to qualified professionals seeking a four year certification

Healthcare is an industry that is continuously growing, expanding and learning. To provide the best service, providers need to strive to improve their practice offerings, data and diagnostic information.

Better Informed Patients

More than ever, today’s patients are smarter and more informed than ever. With the advent of the internet and many legitimate medical websites such as sites on nursing informatics, patients can learn significant insight into symptoms they are experiencing as well as different types of healthcare that is offered. They come alone or with family to their doctors with questions in hand and listen attentively.

More Choices

The healthcare field now includes urgent care and walk in clinics, where patients can be seen without appointments. This increases competition and takes money away from other practices. In addition, patients with minor illnesses can see a physician’s assistant or nurse practitioner to obtain an antibiotic for a simple easy to diagnose condition. These walk in practices are often open on weekends and nights when many doctors no longer have hours. Unless experiencing a life threatening or serious injury, patients will go to urgent care.

Better Faster Diagnoses

Healthcare practitioners need to have improved ability to diagnose and treat more quickly than before to keep patients coming and leaving with more information than when they came in. Private office could improve by expanding hours. Many internal medical and family practices have their own laboratories and radiology services in their own offices fulfilling the needs of patients. Patients are happier when they can save time by not having to go to another building, filling out more paperwork and waiting all over again for labs or X-rays. Patient’s value time saved.

Less Insurance, More Money

Some patients, disgusted with attempting to obtain public or private insurance, opt to self-pay for some services. These services may include annual checkups or vaccinations. They feel by the time they pay the premiums and battle over reimbursement, it is easier to simply just pay out of pocket for some health care costs. These patients are going to want the most bang for their buck, so well maintained offices and caring staff are a necessity. Pleasant surroundings and modern equipment will keep self-pay and insurance covered patients feeling they are being well served.

State of the art diagnostics in office will help achieve turnaround time for labs and radiology reports. Patients want to know test results quickly and have a right for that. Regularly updating practice software, diagnostic equipment and continuing education for employees will keep practices well recommended and busy.

Conclusion

Overall, constant improvement is essential for the healthcare industry because there is always a better and more efficient way that things can be done. It needs to keep developing so that we can save more people and make more of a difference. It will be incredible to see how this industry keeps advancing in the future. There is an incredible amount of potential!

Author Bio-Kara Masterson is a freelance writer from West Jordan, Utah. She graduated from the University of Utah and enjoys writing and spending time with her dog, Max.

Please also review our various certifications for nurses.  Ranging from case management to legal nurse consulting, AIHCP offers a wide variety of certifications for nurses and other healthcare professionals.

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Moving Forward: How to Boost and Revitalize Your Nursing Career

The rapid shift of the United States healthcare system over the past decade has resulted in both experienced and new nurses trying to adapt to a slew of new responsibilities in an expanded field. The new role that nurses are expected to fulfill can be difficult when they are already trained and accustomed to one, but just because there are new changes taking over the healthcare system doesn’t mean that your career needs to suffer. There are plenty of ways for you to revitalize your nursing career and get into the mindset necessary to thrive in the evolving times.

Think Outside Hospital Walls

The challenges of the U.S. healthcare system have resulted in a major shift in the way people receive medical care. Hospitals were once a one-stop location for most patients’ needs, especially those without an insurance plan. But now there has been a surge of acute-care facilities and many portions of hospitals are being converted from in-patient care areas to primary and ambulatory care facilities. This change has given rise to the need of a shift in the mindset of American nurses. The methodical, task-oriented approach that has worked so well in hospitals for years is no longer enough to get you by. A nurse now needs to know how to respond in the same fast and efficient way a hospital dictates while operating under a care-centered perspective.

Changing Focus from Sickness to Health

A nurse is used to seeing people at their worst. They help treat illnesses and many have taken care of people in their final moments. But the new paradigm of American nursing has resulted in a different function of hospitals. Instead of directing all of your attention toward maladies, you now need to be able to meet patients and treat them with their ongoing wellness in mind. This may not initially strike you as exciting as trauma care, but it can actually bestow you with a much more optimistic and upbeat approach to work as you focus on nutrition and wellness coaching, care and stress management and so on.

Don’t Be Afraid to Wander

Exploring your career options and wanting to broaden your horizons as a medical professional is completely okay. If you have a particular field that you’re passionate about and don’t see it as a viable choice in your current location, start searching elsewhere. Return to school, study a specialization you always wanted. Consider pursuing an online master of science in nursing degree to further sharpen your skills. Try out ambulatory care or primary care even if you’ve dedicated yourself to working the hospital floors. You won’t adapt or find any happiness in your career unless you’re willing to branch out and shape the new changes sweeping the field to your advantage.

Although there’s much more involved with revitalizing your nursing career, there are distinct keys to success that can guide you no matter what direction you decide to take. First and foremost, don’t be afraid of change. It’s just another word for opportunity. Second, find camaraderie. You aren’t the only nurse struggling, and an open discussion with your fellow nurses may be exactly what you all need to move forward. Lastly, have the courage to do what is best for your nursing career, even if it means leaving familiar territory in search of something more gratifying.

About the Author: Marlena Stoddard is a freelance writer who received her BA from University of Georgia.

Please also review our certifications for nurses offered at AIHCP.

How Health Information Systems are Changing Healthcare

Information is at the core of modern healthcare. Aggregated data from multiple sources to produce a broad perspective of insights is critical to improving patient care. The following are examples of ways health information systems are affecting change in today’s healthcare system.

Health Information Systems and Big Data Analysis

Healthcare is becoming so information-driven that the need for big data analysis has become central to modern healthcare concerns. From population studies to localizing medical resources for efficient patient treatment regimens, the ability to track and treat disease trends inline with these trends as they happen is a science that has come of age. Health information systems end up being a vast source of aggregated data that fits into these big data models; therefore, these systems require constant data updates and analysis to reflect vital events in current health trends.

HIS and Global Metrics

As with any system of information collection and analysis methods, the ability to accurately gather and properly account for health information to establish health information systems is a big issue. According to Phinnetwork.org, the Health Metrics Network, which was established back in 2005, is dedicated to strengthening the development of global health information systems. One area of critical interest is focused on accurate collection of data on births, deaths, and causes of deaths in different countries to establish accurate metrics for use in health information systems shared across the globe.

Health Information Management

Since there is great demand for developing useful health information systems, this has given rise to the need for RHIA certified professionals who complete health information management degree programs. From focusing on legal and ethical standards to understanding components of HIS databases and information documentation standards, qualified health information management technicians are integral in helping to gather and manage the data needed to affect change in medical policies and practices within the healthcare industry.

Data Quality Improving Healthcare in Less Developed Countries

While it is common for developed countries, like the United States or Britain, to enjoy the advantage of vast streams of medical information, the modern drive for quality health information systems has helped to bring this advantage to other less-developed countries. With improvements to the rate at which these countries receive updated medical knowledge, this new method of disseminating quality medical information makes it possible for medical treatments and procedures in these countries to catch up with how these practices are being implemented in the rest of the developed world.

As new information is being gathered to support the viability of health information systems, the tendency of these systems is to produce an ever-evolving picture of health. Whether that picture is tightly focused to a local region or broadly reflects the state of health across the globe, the ability to manage this data in useful ways is a testament to modern healthcare’s innovation. With enough data collection and analysis, it is believed that many modern diseases and costly healthcare concerns will inevitably be eliminated by a more efficiently functioning healthcare system.

Anica is a professional content and copywriter who graduated from the University of San Francisco. She loves dogs, the ocean, and anything outdoor-related. She was raised in a big family, so she’s used to putting things to a vote.

If you would like to learn more about certifications for nurses and other information technologies, please review our programs for nurses.

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The 5 Most In-Demand Healthcare Careers

Even with difficult economic times now and in the foreseeable future, healthcare personnel continue to find jobs faster than just about any other industry. Baby boomers are aging, and their children have had their children. Who is getting hired at such staggering rates?

Nurses

For the last 20 years it has been nurses, and for at least the next 10 years it will still be nurses. Job openings for nurses are expected to number 500,000 in the next three years. Baby boomers will be needing more nurses and more of the baby boomer nurses will be retiring. The fastest growth areas for nursing appear to be in outpatient care facilities, home health care and physicians’ offices.

Medical Assistants

These are support personnel for doctors and nurses that perform both clinical and administrative functions. They’ll take a patient’s vital signs, administer medications and injections, and enter them on medical records. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, opportunities in this field are expected to increase 29 percent by 2022. Those interested in a career as a medical assistant should pursue an online health education degree, which typically requires the completion of an internship before the degree is awarded.

Medical Records Technologists

With the aging of both the baby boomers and their children, somebody has to maintain all of those medical records. This field has become much more complex than it was 20 years ago, primarily due to electronic record systems. They’re mostly employed in hospitals, long term care facilities and doctors’ offices. The Bureau of Labor expects a 30% increase in these jobs to 2022. There are programs that offer an associate’s degree in this field.

Medical Lab Technologists

These technologists work under the supervision of a lab manager and senior medical technologist. They perform laboratory tests on specimens. A large percentage of decisions made by physicians are based on medical laboratory test results. Job growth projected through 2018 is at a 22 percent increase. A four year bachelor’s degree is required for this position.

Physical Therapists

There are more jobs for physical therapists than available physical therapists. There is an expected 36 percent increase in demand for them through 2022. Although training is extensive, the career pays very well. Physical therapy assistants are also in demand and will be in the future.

The job forecast in the healthcare industry is robust. The demand for quality healthcare continues to grow with more jobs than personnel to fill them.

By Marlena Stoddard

If you are interested in learning more about healthcare or are a healthcare professional seeking certifications for nurses, then please review our programs.