Nursing Shortage »

Nurse practitioner enrollments are on the rise because many physicians are opting for specialized practices instead of primary care. As patient loads increase, this trend is creating a worsening shortage of primary care providers and a growing demand for nurse practitioners.

Nurse practitioners are advanced practice nurses generally work along with and in place of primary care physicians. They are registered nurses with advanced clinical training and a graduate degree, typically a masters in nursing. Some of their duties include physicals, diagnostic testing, diagnosing, prescribing medications and treatment, and patient care planning and management. Nurse Practitioners readily find work in clinics, doctor’s offices, hospitals, urgent care clinics, emergency rooms, in government agencies, and also practice independently in their own private practices.

According to the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, there are approximately 135,000 NP’s currently practicing in the U.S. as of 2010. They provide care to the tune of 600 million visits annually. Read the full story »

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