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Rising Demand for Nurse Practitioners
The healthcare industry, though primarily composed of physicians, also requires some other pillars to lean upon for support. In the absence of these, the core of a healthcare system is bound to collapse. The most significant support pillar in this regard is the nursing sector. As the right hands of the doctors, caregivers of the patients, and administrators of various policies, nurse practitioners make up the spine of a healthcare institution.
However, there has been a sharp increase in the demand for nurse practitioners with the changing healthcare scenarios worldwide. Especially in the pandemic, which led people to value and appreciate their health more, the need for nurse practitioners has even outweighed that of primary care physicians. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, this demand could rise to 45% over the next decade if the situation remains unattended.
Many factors are contributing to this situation. They are not short-lived or temporary and could be brushed away under the carpet. They have long-term implications for the job market for nurse practitioners, which is a matter of great concern for those who wish to pursue this career. So, if you are interested in knowing the causes of this, here are some points for you.
Increasing Proportion of the Elderly Population
According to the American Association of Medical Colleges, 45% of the US population will cross the threshold of old age by 2025. This aging population, also known as the baby boomers, makes up a huge chunk of the total population. With almost half of the population approaching old age, the medical requirements would increase accordingly. To fulfill the aging population’s medical needs, you can upgrade your certification by enrolling in an AGNP Master’s program, while retaining your full-time job.
The need for nurses is no longer limited to hospitals or clinics. People are now getting more and more inclined toward hiring a professional nurse for home care. The preferences have taken a turn, especially after the pandemic. Unlike hospital settings, where a nurse can attend to multiple patients simultaneously, homecare requires a nurse to care for a single patient all day long. With an increasing number of people requiring home care due to aging, the hike in demand for nurses is not at all surprising.
In addition to that, the aging population also includes aging nurse practitioners who are reaching retirement age. The vacuum created can be filled by nursing graduates. However, they have to gain experience as a registered nurse before becoming a nurse practitioner. It creates a bottleneck, and the demand for nurse practitioners has risen dramatically.
Increased Demand for Primary Care
The approach of the public towards their healthcare has drastically changed over the past few years. Instead of seeing the doctor just for discomfort or illness, people now consult medical professionals for a healthy lifestyle and preventive measures. They want to avoid the symptoms beforehand instead of only getting rid of them as they appear. This proactive attitude of the public has increased the demand for nurses.
They educate the patients about their health and support them in making necessary lifestyle changes. Since no specific diagnosis is required, people consult nurse practitioners instead of resorting to online sources. They are a reliable and economical source of medical feedback for the public.
Shortage of Primary Care Physicians
With the increasing popularity of primary healthcare services, there has been a shortage of physicians in this domain. It might be due to fewer medical students opting to go into primary care or the increased demand for more physicians. Moreover, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) has made health insurance available to over twenty million Americans within three years.
As a result, more and more people now avail of primary healthcare benefits. As the ACA swings into full implementation, thousands, if not millions, of new nurse practitioners are required to cover the newly insured citizens and fulfill the shortage of physicians. Therefore, healthcare facilities need to hire more nurses to care for newly insured citizens, which is in line with the recommendations of the ACA.
The nurse practitioners are qualified to provide the same standard of primary care as the doctors. In many states of the USA, nurse practitioners have the authority to diagnose the problem, refer to specialists, and prescribe medications. Nurses are also well-liked and preferred by patients in primary care. In addition, nurses practice an approach that addresses the health and well-being of the patient as a whole instead of just prescribing medicines.
A Key Player in Improved Collaboration and Efficient Teamwork
Patient welfare is directly linked to the extent of collaboration and teamwork between different medical professionals. It takes expertise and knowledge from diverse backgrounds to improve patient outcomes.
Nurse practitioners play a crucial role in this regard, as they have worked as registered nurses for some years before becoming nurse practitioners. They have the knowledge and expertise to understand the psyche of the patient in a better way. Their key role in patients’ welfare necessitates their presence in high numbers in every healthcare institution.
Government Programs Often Impose downward pressure on Wages
The governmental programs designed to ease the shortage of nurses can have unwanted consequences. Scholarships, student loans, and grants for lowering educational costs also decrease the starting wages of nurses. It is because nursing graduates who have received a subsidized education are willing and often required to work at lower wages.
As a consequence, the starting wages of all nursing graduates decline. It also includes graduates who have not availed of any government programs and have not received subsidized education. So, although designed to increase the number of nursing professionals, governmental programs sometimes reduce the incentive for non-participants.
The lower wages, added to the stress of the working environment, often lead the nurses to quit their job or change their line of work before they qualify for the level of practitioner.
Conclusion
Nurse practitioners can adopt many roles when it comes to the welfare of patients. They can fill in many gaps in a hospital setting through versatility in their capabilities and diversity in their roles. From designing the policies to looking after the patients, nurse practitioners are undoubtedly saviors in many situations. It’s hardly surprising that demand for them is rising annually, given the growing recognition of the significance of their role.
