AANP: The NP profession is seeing 'explosive growth'

AUSTIN, Texas — The number of nurse practitioners licensed in the United States has nearly doubled over the past 10 years, rising from approximately 106,000 in 2004 to 205,000 as of Dec. 31, 2014, according to data recently released by the American Association of Nurse Practitioners.



AANP also showed that more than 15,000 men and women graduated from nurse practitioner programs during the 2012-13 academic year.



The news closely follows the U.S. News and World Report ranking of nurse practitioners as the second best overall job of 2015, the 50th year of the nurse practitioner profession. It also follows research findings indicating that 66% of primary care physicians recommend careers as nurse practitioners.



"The explosive growth of the nurse practitioner profession is a public health boon considering our nation's skyrocketing demand for high-quality, accessible care," said AANP president Ken Miller. "The challenge now will be right-sizing state and federal laws such that all patients will have full and direct access to nurse practitioners, and these expert and dedicated clinicians will be able to provide care to the top of their education and clinical training."



Nurse practitioners serve as primary and acute care providers across the country. They assess, order, perform and interpret diagnostic and laboratory tests; make diagnoses; initiate and manage treatment; prescribe medications and non-pharmacologic treatments; and counsel patients, their families and communities. More than 50 years of peer-reviewed, independent research has shown nurse practitioners to be safe and cost-effective clinicians, with patient outcomes similar and sometimes better than those of physicians.



“All across the country, nurse practitioners are serving as a lifeline for patients, many who would otherwise struggle to access care,” said David Hebert, CEO of AANP. “It is our hope that these patients, as well as their families, employers and legislators, will join us in recognizing and honoring the national nurse practitioner community throughout this milestone 50th anniversary year.