NPSchools.com Nursing Features

The nurse practitioner profession is growing at a rapid pace. And with growth comes change. Today’s nurse practitioners are dealing with staff shortages in rural areas, changes in educational standards, and battles for wider practice authority in select states. What will tomorrow’s nurse practitioners be concerned with? Our interview-based features and in-depth resource guides uncover the stories behind the big issues by talking to nurse practitioners who know the subject best.

Ask a Professor: The NP Practice Environment in Indiana

February 20, 2024 – Matt Zbrog

Like many other states, Indiana desperately needs an influx of capable and cost-efficient primary care providers. But medical schools can’t graduate enough physicians to meet the need, and fewer physicians are going into primary care than ever before. NPs could be a significant part of the solution to Indiana’s healthcare shortages.

Ask the Professors: How Texas NPs Can Fight the Rural Health Crisis

February 13, 2024 – Matt Zbrog

Texas is home to the largest rural population of any state. But, according to the Texas Hospital Association, only 27 percent of the state’s hospitals are located in rural areas. This disparity has been compounded in recent years by the closure of more than 20 rural hospitals, largely due to uncompensated care (Texas is the uninsured capital of America). When hospitals close, they take primary care providers and partner clinics along with them.

Choosing an NP Specialization or Sub-specialty: Your Options & The Selection Process

February 8, 2024 – Sophia Khawly, MSN

When choosing an NP specialty or sub-specialty, the NP should consider their past experiences as a nurse, and if they want to continue working in a similar specialty or try something different. They should contemplate if they would like to prioritize pay, work-life balance, or job satisfaction. They should also examine if they are looking for a field to be comfortable in or one that will challenge them.

Pros and Cons of Working in Telemedicine: An NP’s Perspective

February 1, 2024 – Sophia Khawly, MSN

Over the last several years, telemedicine has changed the healthcare landscape. It is estimated that there are at least 158 million telemedicine visits annually. Telemedicine is a popular benefit because it allows patients to communicate with health professionals without visiting the office. The appointments are convenient because the patient can talk to the provider by phone or video from the convenience of their home. It is also affordable for patients without health insurance who need simple treatment.

Best Small and Mid-sized Hospitals for Nurse Practitioners

January 30, 2024 – Kimmy Gustafson

Choosing the right place to work can significantly impact a nurse practitioner's career. While there are significant benefits to working at large hospitals, small and mid-sized hospitals can offer many unique opportunities for nurse practitioners, from a close-knit community feel to specialized patient care. Smaller institutions also allow for greater role flexibility and the opportunity to work on more unique cases.

The Impact of Covid-19 on Pediatric Patients & Teams: An Interview with Dr. Jessica Peck, DNP

January 23, 2024 – Rachel Drummond, MEd

As we begin a slow and steady recovery from the worldwide devastation of Covid-19, parents and caretakers are wondering: “How will our children be affected by this pandemic?” After more than a year of living, working, and schooling at home in isolation, every aspect of family, personal, and professional life has dramatically shifted in ways that no one could have predicted.

Ask a Professor: The Fight for Full Practice Authority in Illinois

January 17, 2024 – Matt Zbrog

The US is headed towards a healthcare crunch, with Baby Boomers retiring faster than medical schools can graduate an adequate number of physicians. The need for qualified healthcare professionals is acute and increasing. Nurse practitioners (NPs) could play a prominent role in meeting that need.

An NP’s Perspective: How Nurse Practitioners Can Decrease Healthcare Costs

January 4, 2024 – Sophia Khawly, MSN

According to the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, nurse practitioners are a proven answer to the evolving movement towards preventative health care and wellness. Evidence has proven that NPs consistently provide cost-effective, high-quality care to patients. This has been exhibited in various healthcare settings, such as primary care, acute care, and long-term care.

Day in the Life of a Pain Management Nurse Practitioner (NP)

December 28, 2023 – Matt Zbrog

The ways in which we understand, treat, and manage pain are continuing to evolve at a rapid pace, applying increasingly nuanced and individual approaches to what was once seen as a uniform symptom. Pain management NPs are at the forefront of that evolution, helping to pioneer the biopsychosocial model of pain management and push the field forward through research into multimodal methods of treating pain.

Day in the Life of a Gastroenterology Nurse Practitioner (NP)

December 12, 2023 – Matt Zbrog

Nurse practitioners (NPs) and other advanced practice providers play an increasingly important role in the American healthcare system. These are expertly trained health professionals capable of providing high-quality, cost-effective care to an aging population with varied needs. NPs deal in far more than just primary care: since the NP role was established in 1965, it’s grown to include a number of specializations, including gastroenterology.