They diagnose, treat, and prescribe medication but they’re not physicians, they’re nurse practitioners. And in the coming years, they’re poised to help solve the nation’s shortage of primary care physicians.
Nurse practitioners will celebrate National Nurse Practitioner Week Nov. 8-12.
With master’s degrees in nursing and advanced clinical experience, nurse practitioners work in a variety of health care settings. They also keep people healthy through education and health screenings.
In 1992, when the University of Nebraska Medical Center established the state’s first master’s degree for nurse practitioners, there were 47 nurse practitioners practicing in Nebraska. Today, there are 880 nurse practitioners in Nebraska.
Kathy Morris, D.N.P., a nurse practitioner at UNMC, said nurse practitioners are especially important in Nebraska where the shortage of physicians makes it difficult for some people to get care.
“We educate nurse practitioners to be able to provide care in a variety of settings, especially in rural communities where there are greater shortages of health professionals. We’re ready and able to meet the health needs of Nebraskans,” Dr. Morris said.
The Institute of Medicine recently released a report calling on an increased role for nurse practitioners. The report said experts predict that more physicians, nurses and other medical professionals will be needed to care for the 32 million additional Americans who will get coverage beginning in 2014 under the sweeping new health law. By 2015, there will be a shortage of nearly 63,000 physicians across the U.S.
Through world-class research and patient care, UNMC generates breakthroughs that make life better for people throughout Nebraska and beyond. Its education programs train more health professionals than any other institution in the state. Learn more at unmc.edu.