This year, National Nurse Practitioner Week will be Nov. 13-19. The first nurse practitioner program was established in 1965, at the University of Colorado by Dr. Loretta Ford and Dr. Henry Silver, according to Delaware Online. This national week celebrates how far the profession has come and what an integral role nurse practitioner jobs play in modern healthcare.
“This week acts as a reminder to lawmakers that barriers need to be removed.”
Why National Nurse Practitioner Week is important
According to the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, while this week is used each year to celebrate what the 222,000 nurse practitioners across the country bring to the table in the hospitals and clinics they work in, there is also an important political reason behind it. Though NPs are an integral part of the modern healthcare system and involved in each area of patient care, there are still many outdated laws that keep them from being able to fully practice to the extent that they’re capable of.
National Nurse Practitioner Week acts as a reminder to lawmakers that these barriers need to be removed. For example, according to the AANP, only 21 states allow NPs to practice independently, and they’re legally allowed to only assist in surgeries. While nurse practitioners are able to write prescriptions, it’s a recent development that all states permitted them to prescribe controlled substances, despite most having master’s degrees and many of them even having doctorates and other forms of advanced education and training. In fact, 96.2 percent have graduate degrees, and 83.4 are certified in areas of primary care. NPs typically specialize in performing and interpreting tests and diagnostics and managing patient care.
Celebrate National Nurse Practitioner Week
National Nurse Practitioner Week is all about visibility for those in nurse practitioner jobs. Whether you’re a nurse practitioner yourself or simply support them in all that they do for the healthcare industry, make your voice heard on social media. People underestimate the impact of their activity on Facebook, Twitter and even LinkedIn. By posting about National Nurse Practitioner Week, you’ll not only be drawing attention to the fact that this week of recognition exists for people who don’t work in the industry, but you’ll also spread information about the integral role that NPs play in the clinic and hospital environment. If you’re a nurse practitioner yourself, consider telling a personal story about what this profession means to you and how you came to enter the field.
If you’re ready to be an ambassador for National Nurse Practitioner Week outside of your social media presence, the AANP suggests a variety of activities that can spread awareness of the role of NPs. For example, if you work in a hospital or clinic, talk to your managers about having elected officials visit the location so you can show them firsthand how NPs contribute to the healthcare industry. You could also contact your local newspaper or news station to suggest a PSA or a personal letter to the editor about NPs and the laws that prevent them from fully being able to practice in your state.
For something a little more lighthearted, spread the word about National Nurse Practitioner Week around your workplace. If you’re not a nurse practitioner, look into organizing a little appreciation gift for the NPs in your workplace, including anyone working as a locum tenens nurse practitioner. A luncheon, personalized cards or even complimentary lattes for all of the nurse practitioners in the office can go a long way.
Nurse practitioners play an integral role in modern healthcare.The role of nurse practitioners in modern healthcare
Each year, the baby boomers – the country’s largest generation – get older and require medical care. With more people seeking medical care, more people need to practice medicine. Luckily, the nurse practitioner field is growing annually, allowing more people to have easy access to healthcare and health-related services. Once other states states grant full-practice authority to NPs, their reach will be able to extend even further. 2 out of 3 patients are in favor of legislation that leads to more access to NP services, according to the AANP.
The AANP also stated that patients who see nurse practitioners for primary care actually have fewer emergency room visits and shorter hospital stays. This could be because it’s easier to get an appointment at a clinic with a nurse practitioner on staff or the fact that NPs are known for helping patients make wise decisions regarding their healthcare and lifestyle. Regardless of the reasoning, this results in fewer out-of-pocket costs for patients and lower bills. Approximately 3 out of 4 American NPs are accepting new Medicare patients, and almost 78 percent are accepting new Medicaid patients, allowing a wider range of people access to medical care. Additionally, 77 percent accept uninsured patients.
“The AANP has helped get over 30 state laws enacted.”
About the American Association of Nurse Practitioners
The American Association of Nurse Practitioners has played a huge role in the nurse practitioner profession since its inception in 2013. Previously, this association was separated into the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, which was founded in 1985, and the American College of Nurse Practitioners, which was founded in 1995. This organization is made up of over 70,000 nurse practitioners who regularly advocate for the NP’s role in the American healthcare system. The AANP states that since the establishment of the association, over 30 state laws have been enacted, expanding the reach and abilities in nurse practitioner jobs, like allowing these professionals to write prescriptions for controlled substances and expanding admittance privileges. One law set to go into effect the first day of 2017 will even allow advanced practice nurse practitioners and physician’s assistants to obtain Drug Enforcement Agency licenses and write prescriptions for DEA-regulated medications in the state of Florida, according to the Florida Association of Nurse Practitioners.