November is here, and with its arrival, we’re in full swing for the holidays. Halloween costumes and decorations are being packed up and put away; the Halloween candy has either already been eaten or thrown out on the sly by parents everywhere who are worried—and rightfully so—about cavities. In Halloween’s stead, many are lighting their cinnamon apple candles, adding pumpkin creamer to their coffees in the mornings, and generally gearing up for holiday gatherings with family and friends as the weather cools.
November also notably brings National Nurse Practitioner Week to our attention, and this year’s theme is “Recognizing Heroes in Healthcare.” How many of you see a nurse practitioner (NP) for your primary care needs? How many of you have an NP in the family or know someone who is one? Do you work with a nurse practitioner? The second week of November—the 12th through the 18th—is their time to shine, so take a moment to thank the NP in your life for their hard work and commitment to accessible healthcare for all.
What Is a Nurse Practitioner?
Nurse practitioners are registered nurses (RNs) who have continued their formal education and clinical training through master’s or doctoral degrees in nursing. In order to practice, graduated NPs must pursue a national certification with rigorous standards to attain and maintain the certification.
About Nurse Practitioners
There are 355,000 licensed NPs in the US today, with more in the pipeline as thousands of registered nurses nationwide are in nurse practitioner programs. With an explosive projected growth rate of 38 percent through to the year 2032, this clinical profession is poised to make big waves in the healthcare industry.
According to the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP), NPs provide healthcare services to around 40 percent of Medicare beneficiaries. Furthermore, 83.2 percent of nurse practitioners attend Medicare patients, and 81.9 percent treat Medicaid patients.
Nurse practitioners must choose a certification specialty, and an overwhelming majority of them choose an area of primary care. Of all NPs, 70.3 percent are certified for Family Primary Care, 8.9 percent are certified for Adult-Gerontology Primary Care, and 2.4 percent are certified for Pediatrics Primary Care.
New Nurse Practitioner Legislation
Nurse practitioners are a topic for current legislation: The ICAN Act (Improving Care and Access to Nurses) was introduced to the US House of Representatives in April and to the US Senate in July 2023 with bipartisan support. The legislation seeks to expand patient access to NP care, specifically patients on Medicare and Medicaid.
NP practice authority has been a focal point of advocacy and legislation over the years and continues to be so. There are currently three levels of practice authority for NPs: full practice, reduced practice, and restricted practice. If you want to learn more, we’ve covered this topic in the article “What Is Nurse Practitioner Authority?”
National NP Week Topics and Events
The AANP uses National NP Week for advocacy and to generate discussion about the profession and its vital contributions to healthcare. Look at the conversations and NP events near you when you check #NPWeek on your social media.
On Tuesday morning (November 14 at 5:45 a.m.), NPs and NP students and supporters in the New York City area don their white coats and show up at Times Square and Rockefeller Plaza to stand outside the Today Show and Good Morning America to show their NP spirit. You can sign up for the gathering here.
Check with your local NP network, council, or association to find nearby events.
