Registered nurses have always been highly regarded in the healthcare sector and the entire labor force. As such, it is no surprise that this career path is ranked 12 on a list of the best jobs by the US News and World Report. Nursing as a profession has always been a popular choice, yet, in recent years, there has been even more significant growth, with increasing demand for professionals such as nurse practitioners.

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics states that nurse practitioners are among the fastest-growing medical careers. The profession has more than doubled within 12 years, with more registered nurses opting for advanced degrees and practice than ever before. The recent increase in demand for nurse practitioners can result from different factors, including the scope of practice, NPs’ versatility, autonomy, expertise, quality, and so much more.

Licensed and qualified nurse practitioners are entering a thriving market that demands their skills to fill essential roles in the healthcare industry. As such, we highlight the NP profession in detail, exploring their increasing demand in the healthcare industry and the features driving this rise.

The profession in numbers

The growth and current rise for NPs have been evident, yet some professionals have wondered if this is a sustainable rise, or another trend bound to fade off after some years. The answer to this has been made apparent by economists and industry professionals who have conducted various studies and analyses on the sustainability of the profession’s rise.

The overall employment of nurse practitioners is projected to grow by 46% from 2021 to 2031, making it the fastest-growing occupation. This means over 11,000 job openings are projected annually for the next 10 years.

This growth has been attributed to an increase in demand for healthcare services, making the services of NPs or advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) essential in various healthcare settings. Some predicted trends across the United States have also been identified as significant drivers for the impressive job outlook, one being the country’s potential large baby-boom population.

As this population ages, they are bound to experience ailments and conditions that require the medical expertise and flexibility of healthcare workers, most of whom are close to retirement age. Hence, the flexibility, expertise and autonomy of NPs are, and will continue to be, crucial for a very long time.

Job opportunities are also vast for NPs, due to how well they fit into various industries. The highest-paying industries include personal care services, management, scientific and technical consulting, religious organizations and office administrative services.

The current state of NP practice

About half of nurse practitioners practice in primary care, which makes it the highest-paying industry for this career path. That said, the scope of practice for NPs includes, but is not limited to, assessment, performing, supervising, ordering, interpreting diagnostic tests, developing and managing treatment plans and counseling, as well as educating patients, their families and communities.

The professional role of NPs makes them licensed and independent, capable of practicing autonomously and in coordination with other medical professionals. Evidently, they can engage in various healthcare services while serving as researchers, interdisciplinary consultants and advocates for patients and other healthcare workers.

The current state of the NP practice follows the APRN Consensus Model, allowing for an approach centered around the following specializations:

• Family/individual across lifespan Pennsylvania
• Adult-gerontology
• Neonatal
• Psychiatric mental health
• Pediatrics
• Women’s health

The scope of practice for NPs is patient-centric and requires a dedication to meet the evolving needs of society and breakthroughs in healthcare science. This necessitates the need to be flexible and adaptable to dynamic changes in the industry. Nursing practitioner practice also incorporates leadership responsibilities that combine the roles of provider, mentor, educator, researcher, advocate and administrator.

To fulfill these diverse responsibilities effectively, NPs take full responsibility for their continual professional development, participation in a professional organization, and involvement in healthcare policies across various levels.

While the scope of practice for nurse practitioners (NPs) is generally standardized across the United States, individual states have their own regulations that significantly impact an NP’s ability to practice.  These variations are important to consider when researching nursing license requirements by state.  Some states grant NPs full autonomy, while others require a collaborative agreement with a physician.  Regardless of your location, several universities provide accredited nursing degree programs that can equip you with the knowledge and skills to succeed in your nursing career.

Across the United States, over 20 states allow full practice under their exclusive licensure authority. However, states like Delaware, Illinois, New York, Ohio, Kentucky, Wisconsin, Nebraska, Indiana, Utah, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and West Virginia have reduced practice environments. These states typically require a career-long collaborative agreement with at least one healthcare professional.

Finally, some states, including California, Texas, Michigan, Missouri, North and South Carolina, Tennessee, Massachusetts, Georgia, Florida, and Oklahoma, have the most restrictive practice environments.  In these states, NPs are often required to have career-long supervision, team management, and delegation by another healthcare professional. Understanding these variations is crucial when researching nursing license requirements by state.

Reasons for the increasing demand for nurse practitioners

Nursing happens to be one of the most in-demand professions in the healthcare industry in recent times. Some of the reasons for this include the following:

● Flexibility

While this factor has not been the sole reason for the surge in demand for nurse practitioners, it is worth noting that it has never been easier to train and practice as an NP. First, eLearning and online education have made it easy to obtain an advanced degree without going through a campus’s rigors. Registered nurses also can access this option without having to relocate or put their professional life on hold for a couple of years.

Instead, studying has been made very flexible with several top-quality nursing courses online — a factor that has encouraged several registered nurses to transition into an NP. If you seek to explore higher positions in the healthcare industry, toggling an advanced degree and active professional work has never been easier.

Aside from education, professional flexibility is another crucial driving force behind the rise in demand for NPs. Nurse practitioners are qualified to practice in every healthcare setting, allowing for a healthy job market in most geographic areas. Several specialty areas also provide the opportunity to practice outside a hospital, including management, research, and other patient-centric positions.

Flexibility spans several aspects of an NP’s practice, providing multiple benefits depending on the needs. Other available flexibility options include per diem, pro re nata (PRN), and job sharing.

● The effects of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA)

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, referred to as the Affordable Care Act or ‘ACA’ for short, is the comprehensive healthcare reform law enacted in March 2010. The law aims to make affordable health insurance accessible to more people, expand the Medicaid program to cover all adults with income below 138% of the FPL, and support innovative medical care delivery methods designed to lower healthcare costs.

In 2014, the Congressional Budget Office projected that about 26 million Americans would gain access to health insurance by 2017 due to the PPACA provisions. Concurrently, the act also incorporates investments to expand the role of nurse practitioners in healthcare delivery. These investments include $65 million for developing NP-managed outpatient clinics.

All these measures border down to the need to develop more qualified NPs to meet the growing demand for primary healthcare delivery. For years, the United States has implemented various measures that foster a professional’s switch to NP practice.

For instance, the PPACA also includes grants to educational institutions, contributing to increased enrollment in NP programs. Various studies have suggested that 90% of NPs receive training for primary care practice, with 70.3% of that figure practicing primary care. There are efforts to fill the gap by increasing the supply of qualified NPs.

● Shortages in the industry

There has been a global shortage of healthcare workers, which is predicted to worsen over time. According to the World Health Organization, over 4 million healthcare workers are needed to fill the gap, which is most prominent in Africa and Asia. Clearly, there is an imbalance in the healthcare workforce between developed and developing countries — however, the industry’s workforce shortage also severely impacts even developed countries.

In the United States, an estimated shortage of about 120,000 healthcare workers is predicted by 2034. This would inevitably coincide with the rising size of the elderly and growing baby-boom population, which has left healthcare institutions scrambling to find caregivers qualified to fill in this gap and address the increasing number of patients.

Consequently, the qualification and broad scope of practice of NPs make them ideal professionals to fill a significant chunk of the gap, engaging in several medical responsibilities that can help ease the shortage and provide the healthcare needs of patients.

The burden of the COVID pandemic and the aging population of most medical professionals are significant reasons for the healthcare workforce shortage in most developed countries, including the United States. Many medical institutions have to cope with several medical professionals nearing retirement age, which is where the expertise and flexibility of NPs come in.

● Changing demographics

According to the AAMC, the United States population is predicted to grow by 10.4% between 2018 and 2033. The most significant growth is seen in the aging population. Older people use healthcare services more than others, and with this population growing by as much as 45.1% in the next few years, the demand for skilled and specialized medical professionals is bound to rise.

As the world’s population continues to increase, people will always grow old and require increasing medical attention. Typically, chronic diseases and the demand for specialists are prevalent among the aging population — hence, the predicted growth of this population would lead to a rise in specialist health visits, most of which qualified nurse practitioners can address.

Additionally, advancements in medical treatments have constantly been on the rise and inevitably increased the lifespan of people dealing with chronic diseases and injuries. However, this also means more people require consistent medical care for longer. Nurse practitioners fit seamlessly into this role, and their ability to engage in a vast scope of practices autonomously is crucial in helping people maintain a healthy lifestyle regardless of changing demographics.

● Growing healthcare industry

The current economic downturn has made it generally difficult to get a job or explore career advancement opportunities. Yet, while career opportunities have become limited in several industries, more options are being made available annually in the medical and healthcare sectors. This is a result of the ever-growing healthcare industry.

Healthcare has remained one of the highest-growing industries globally, and willfully incorporates several sectors. In addition to the rate at which the healthcare industry is growing, some of the fastest-growing career paths are tied to the healthcare industry. Nurse practitioners lead this charge.

The overall employment in healthcare is projected to grow by 13% from 2021 to 2031, much faster than the average rate for other occupations. Several factors contribute to this remarkable growth, from high deductible health plans to flexibility and increased coverage for facilities by private insurance companies.

While several specialties and settings make up the flourishing healthcare sector, an NP’s ability to practice in every possible specialty and environment makes them a frontrunner for the benefits of a growing healthcare industry — better job opportunities.

All in all, the factors spearheading the demand increase for NPs are interconnected. Structural changes regarding the PPACA, as well as changing demographics and physician shortages, are all driving significant changes in the healthcare sector, and the success of each depends on the others.

Moreover, factors contributing to the high demand for NPs in the healthcare system will be around for a while. As a result, the increasing need for nurse practitioners may continue well into the next decade. If you have seriously considered taking steps in your career to become a nurse practitioner, now is a great time to make the move.

Becoming a nurse practitioner

The perks of earning an advanced degree, such as an MSN, go beyond practicing in a single medical institution or community. Nurse practitioners are skilled in engaging in high-quality primary healthcare, contributing to the wellness of the entire healthcare system, and handling the increasing physician shortages. According to the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, registered nurses and other professionals seeking to become NPs can explore the following qualification pathways:

Undergraduate degree and advanced degree

Becoming an NP can be highly rewarding, however, the process is a painstaking educational task centered on evidence-based coursework and clinical rotations. Only registered nurses are qualified to explore NP practice. Hence an undergraduate degree is required. An individual must hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree, complete an NP-focused graduate master’s or doctoral nursing program and pass a national NP certification examination.

Nurse practitioners are classified as advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs), clinical nurse specialists (CNSs) and certified nurse midwives (CNMs). Hence, professionals should be versed in each classification and decide on their specialty.

Advanced NP programs build upon the fundamental knowledge obtained from undergraduate education. NPs then develop and acquire relevant knowledge and competencies to engage in the full scope of practice, including diagnosis, prescription management and other treatment options.

Choose patient focus

As part of their advanced training, nurse practitioners determine their specialty and determine their patient populations. This process is done at the start of the NP program, which makes it possible to match the knowledge and skills required to address the needs of patients and tailor the program to the selected specialty.

For example, professionals opting for primary care pediatric practice will explore a program dedicated to addressing the challenges of developing healthcare treatment options for pediatric patients. All in all, these specialty-centered programs ensure NP students dedicate time to clinical areas where they will be practicing. The population foci students can choose from include:

• Adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioners (AGACNP): This specialty offers advanced, acute healthcare to every age group, from adolescents to adults and elders.
• Adult-gerontology primary care nurse practitioners (AGPCNP): As opposed to acute care, this specialty offers advanced primary care to every age group.
• Family nurse practitioners (FNP): This is the most popular specialty and incorporates professionals trained to provide several family-focused healthcare services to patients of all ages.
• Neonatal nurse practitioners (NNP): NNPs are trained to offer advanced care to premature babies and newborns dealing with any medical conditions. Typically, they practice in neonatal intensive care units and other similar settings.
• Pediatric nurse practitioners (PNP): PNPs specialize in providing healthcare to newborns, toddlers, infants, adolescents and young adults. It is also possible for these professionals to tailor their practice to primary or acute care.
• Psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners (PMHNP): These professionals provide advanced care to patients with mental disorders. They are usually part of a collaborative agreement with primary care professionals and other specialty providers.
• Women’s health nurse practitioners (WHNP): As the name suggests, these professionals train to offer extensive healthcare to women of all ages.

Obtain licensing

The final step to becoming a nurse practitioner involves obtaining a practice license from a national board. This certification tests a professional’s knowledge as an NP and is a requirement to become a licensed and practicing nurse practitioner.

These tests examine a professional’s general advanced practice knowledge and specialty competencies. Professionals looking to take this examination are only allowed to take exams consistent with their advanced degree.