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.

Analysis: Nurse Practitioners With Doctorates Sue to Gain the Title “Doctor” in California

October 17, 2023 – Douglas Mark

Can a nurse practitioner with a doctoral degree call themselves “Doctor?” Arguing that they have civil rights under the U.S. Constitution to do just that, three California nurse practitioners with doctorates filed a June 2023 lawsuit against the state’s attorney general. Defendants also included officials from the Medical Board of California and the California Board of Registered Nursing.

Top Blogs for Nurse Practitioners & Students (2024)

October 11, 2023 – Matt Zbrog

The journey to becoming a nurse practitioner can sometimes seem overwhelming, but the best nurse practitioner blogs make you feel less alone and more equipped to take the first steps.

What is the APRN Compact for Multistate Licensure? Challenges & Opportunities

October 4, 2023 – Kimmy Gustafson

The key benefits listed for the APRN compact include easier access to care, the ability to provide telehealth services, ease in providing disaster and pandemic relief, flexibility for military families, simpler online nursing education, and a lower cost since APRNs need to maintain only one license.

Prescribing Controlled Substances – What to Know

September 22, 2023 – Sophia Khawly, MSN

In their practice, NPs should create a controlled substance agreement and implement it with their patients receiving these medications. They should also utilize the PDMP of their state before each prescription, and order urine drug screens routinely. Lastly, NPs ought to e-prescribe controlled medications to prevent fraud.

Moral Distress in Nursing Practice – Expert Interview

September 6, 2023 – Kimmy Gustafson

One of the most difficult things ER nurse practitioners can face is moral distress. The American Nurses Association defines moral distress as “when one knows the ethically correct action to take but feels powerless to take that action.”

Using AI in Healthcare: An NP’s Perspective

September 4, 2023 – Sophia Khawly, MSN

The emergence of AI in healthcare has been revolutionary. It has reshaped the way patients are diagnosed, treated, and monitored. This technology even improves healthcare research and outcomes by yielding more accurate diagnoses which leads to more personalized treatments.

The Growing Demand for PMHNPs in Mental Health

August 24, 2023 – Nina Chamlou

As of 2021, more than one in five American adults have some kind of mental illness. The good news is that people are seeking help from mental health professionals in greater numbers than in years past, with more than half (56 percent) of Americans seeking or wanting to seek mental health services for themselves or a loved one.

An NP’s Perspective on the Benefits of Acupuncture

August 17, 2023 – Sophia Khawly, MSN

Since acupuncture embraces optimal wellness, it prevents people from having to take medication or undergo invasive medical procedures. It can support better immune and nervous system function. As a result, the body is more inclined to heal naturally when illness or injury occurs.

Increasing Diversity in the Nurse Practitioner Workforce

June 14, 2023 – Matt Zbrog

Despite fostering an inclusive approach to care, the nursing workforce still needs to work on its own homogeneity. According to the 2020 National Nursing Workforce Survey, over 80 percent of nurses identified as white, and over 90 percent identified as female. While the survey found an increase in minority representation from 2017, the figures are still some of the most slanted of any profession.

Strides Toward NP Full Practice Authority in 2023: What States Are Left?

May 30, 2023 – Kimmy Gustafson

Nurse practitioners provide a wide range of preventive and therapeutic health services, including conducting physical exams, diagnosing and treating illnesses, ordering medical tests, prescribing medications, and providing patient education and counseling. They offer a high level of care that is both cost-effective and accessible.