Nurse Practitioner: A Difficult but Rewarding Profession
The Affordable Care Act has mandated that everyone in the United States obtain health insurance. Unfortunately, with such a large number of people seeking care, the health care system isn’t able to accommodate them all. Advances in technology have caused an increase in the overall population by aiding people to live longer with multiple comorbidities. Numerous patients are of advanced age and are sicker than ever before, creating a strong need for physicians. New hospital reimbursement policies may lead to budget cuts and a decreased availability of bedside nursing jobs. This nursing shortage has the potential to be amplified with many baby boomers reaching retirement age (Anderson, 2014). …show more content…
According to Anderson, “Nursing, the largest segment of the health care workforce, should be ‘full partners’ with other health professionals in the improvement of the health care system” (Anderson, 2014, p. 18). By furthering their knowledge and education, nurses can confidently embrace their autonomy within their chosen profession (Donelan, DesRoches, Dittus, & Buerhaus, 2013). This aligns with the Institute of Medicine’s report, The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, which stated that "advanced practice registered nurses should be able to practice to the full extent of their education and training" (as cited in Donelan et al., 2013, para.8). In many states, NPs are able to practice independently of physicians (Anderson, 2014). Other states may change their policies allowing NPs to practice autonomously in response to the looming physician shortage and patients’ willingness to accept care from NPs (Dill, Pankow, Erikson, & Shipman, 2013). According to a survey by Dill, Pankow, Erikson, & Shipman, “… our findings provide early evidence that health care consumers in the United States are open to the idea of seeing physician assistants and nurse practitioners in the future-and in many cases prefer it” (Dill et al., 2013, para. 29). Patients would rather see an NP than have to wait for extended time frame to see a physician (Dill et al., …show more content…
While this may be a costly endeavor, the government will help cover the majority of the expense if a nurse seeking to become a primary care NP, will agree to work in a rural area for several years after graduation (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services [HHS], 2016). Currently, few physicians practice in rural areas despite the immense need for them (Anderson, 2014). According to Anderson, “The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services [HHS] projects the need for 7,987 primary care physicians in rural areas…” (Anderson, 2014, p. 3). Therefore, HHS is willing to reimburse a large percentage of nurses’ school loans to aid with the NP shortage in these areas (HHS,
The Affordable Care Act has mandated that everyone in the United States obtain health insurance. Unfortunately, with such a large number of people seeking care, the health care system isn’t able to accommodate them all. Advances in technology have caused an increase in the overall population by aiding people to live longer with multiple comorbidities. Numerous patients are of advanced age and are sicker than ever before, creating a strong need for physicians. New hospital reimbursement policies may lead to budget cuts and a decreased availability of bedside nursing jobs. This nursing shortage has the potential to be amplified with many baby boomers reaching retirement age (Anderson, 2014). …show more content…
According to Anderson, “Nursing, the largest segment of the health care workforce, should be ‘full partners’ with other health professionals in the improvement of the health care system” (Anderson, 2014, p. 18). By furthering their knowledge and education, nurses can confidently embrace their autonomy within their chosen profession (Donelan, DesRoches, Dittus, & Buerhaus, 2013). This aligns with the Institute of Medicine’s report, The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, which stated that "advanced practice registered nurses should be able to practice to the full extent of their education and training" (as cited in Donelan et al., 2013, para.8). In many states, NPs are able to practice independently of physicians (Anderson, 2014). Other states may change their policies allowing NPs to practice autonomously in response to the looming physician shortage and patients’ willingness to accept care from NPs (Dill, Pankow, Erikson, & Shipman, 2013). According to a survey by Dill, Pankow, Erikson, & Shipman, “… our findings provide early evidence that health care consumers in the United States are open to the idea of seeing physician assistants and nurse practitioners in the future-and in many cases prefer it” (Dill et al., 2013, para. 29). Patients would rather see an NP than have to wait for extended time frame to see a physician (Dill et al., …show more content…
While this may be a costly endeavor, the government will help cover the majority of the expense if a nurse seeking to become a primary care NP, will agree to work in a rural area for several years after graduation (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services [HHS], 2016). Currently, few physicians practice in rural areas despite the immense need for them (Anderson, 2014). According to Anderson, “The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services [HHS] projects the need for 7,987 primary care physicians in rural areas…” (Anderson, 2014, p. 3). Therefore, HHS is willing to reimburse a large percentage of nurses’ school loans to aid with the NP shortage in these areas (HHS,