Experts

Both current and aspiring advanced practice nurses can benefit from the advice of seasoned professionals. Through interviews and expert-written content from professors, nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, and other APRNs, discover what to expect from various career paths, including information about job challenges and state practice authority laws.

Five Steps to Creating NP Work-Life Balance

July 17, 2023 – Sophia Khawly, MSN

The first step would be for the NP to decompress and spend time outside of work to be physically active or engage in their hobbies. The next steps would be enforcing time management and setting boundaries at home and work. Finally, practicing in a healthcare setting with a positive work culture is essential in counteracting burnout.

A Guide to Finding an NP Preceptor

June 26, 2023 – Sophia Khawly, MSN

Fortunately, some schools match their students with a local preceptor. If the future NPs school does not offer this benefit, the student may find their preceptor through work, networking, or cold calling. Nowadays, several companies even match NP students with a preceptor for a small fee.

Expert Analysis: A Guide to NP Insurance Reimbursements

June 19, 2023 – Kimmy Gustafson

Nurse practitioners are educated and trained to perform many of the same job duties as physicians, including physical examinations, ordering and interpreting tests, prescribing medications, managing a patient's overall health, and acting as primary care providers. However, despite the quality of care and level of expertise being equal, nurse practitioners are not reimbursed by insurance at the same rate as physicians.

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.

Creating and Maintaining a CAQH Profile

April 28, 2023 – Sophia Khawly, MSN

Registering for a CAQH profile allows providers to self-report education, work history, malpractice history, and other demographics. This information creates an online credentialing profile so insurance companies can easily access and verify the details.

How to Make Your Nurse Practitioner (NP) Resume Stand Out

April 24, 2023 – Sophia Khawly, MSN

Creating a unique resume as a nurse practitioner is lucrative to stand out from a sea of applicants. A resume communicates the brand of the NP and their qualifications. The job of a resume is to get you to the interview and then facilitate the relationship between you and the possible new employer.

NAPNAP President Shares Proposals for Healthcare Reform

April 14, 2023 – Matt Zbrog

Healthcare reform doesn’t have to be radical, either. Small, logical steps can build a meaningful path to a safer, more equitable healthcare system. Sometimes the change comes quickly: the Covid-19 pandemic forced providers and patients to adapt to new and brutal conditions but simultaneously accelerated telehealth adoption. Other times, battles for reform are hard-fought.

Ask an NP: What to Know About Working in Rural Healthcare

April 10, 2023 – Sophia Khawly, MSN

Working in rural health can be both challenging and rewarding. This population has a lot of health disparities and limited access to care. The amount of nurse practitioners joining rural healthcare increases each year.

Ask a Professor: The Practice Environment in Arkansas

March 30, 2023 – Matt Zbrog

Demographic distortions driven largely by the Baby Boomer generation create a steep disparity between healthcare supply and demand. Nationwide, medical schools aren’t graduating enough primary care physicians to meet the complex needs of an aging patient population. Some states such as Arkansas are already feeling the effects.