There are more nurse practitioners now than ever before, according to the American Association of Nurse Practitioners' 2018 National Nurse Practitioner Sample Survey, PatientEngagementHIT reports.
AANP fielded a survey to 43,000 licensed nurse practitioners across the U.S., and 4,350 responded.
What you should know:
1. As of January 2019, AANP said there are more than 270,000 licensed nurse practitioners in the U.S., up from 248,000 NPs in March 2018 and 120,000 in 2007.
2. AANP believes the increased number of NPs is a result of the primary care physician shortage. By 2030, the U.S. is expected to experience a physician shortage of up to 121,300 physicians.
3. NPs are primed to fill the care gaps, said AANP President Joyce Knestrick, PhD.
4. She said in a statement, "Current provider shortages, especially in primary care, are a growing concern, yet the growth of the NP role is addressing that concern head-on."