Nurse practitioners key in health care environment
The American Medical Association predicts a shortage of between 21,000 and 55,200 primary care physicians nationwide by 2032. One way to solve this problem would be to utilize more nurse practitioners (NPS) — clinicians who blend clinical expertise in diagnosis and treatment with an emphasis on disease prevention and health management. All NPS must complete a master's or doctoral degree program and have advanced clinical training.
As we observe National Nurse Practitioner Week this week, it seems appropriate to recognize the increasingly important role of the nurse practitioner in a changing and challenging health care environment.
What the numbers show
In 2017, more than 22,500 nurse practitioners graduated from primary care programs. Among medical school graduates nationwide, however, only 2,730 medical school graduates entered primary care residencies in 2018.
The College of Nursing at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center is ranked in the top 25 Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) programs by U.S. News & World Report and produces the largest number of DNP graduates in the state. A DNP is a doctorally-prepared nurse practitioner. As the dean of the UTHSC College of Nursing, I can speak to the impact that nurse practitioners can make, especially in areas that are underserved by primary care providers.
Resources given to boost our goal
This summer, our College of Nursing received a $2.8 million grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to improve health care with an emphasis on maternal and obstetrical services for underserved and rural populations in the Delta region.
Access to primary care is strongly linked to overall population health. Multiple studies show that NPS provide care that is patient-centered, effective, affordable and comparable in quality to that of their physician colleagues.
Twenty-two states and the District of Columbia have adopted Full Practice Authority licensure laws for NPS. Tennessee is not among these states. Full Practice Authority authorizes nurse practitioners to evaluate patients, diagnose, order and interpret tests, manage treatments and prescribe medications under the licensing authority of the state board of nursing, rather than under the supervision of a physician. Most states that rate highly in national health rankings are states with Full Practice Authority.
UTHSC was the first College of Nursing in Tennessee to launch a DNP program. We offer seven DNP concentrations and two dual concentrations. In 2021, we plan to launch an eighth DNP concentration and begin educating nurse-midwives.
At the UTHSC College of Nursing, we are fully committed to educating nurse practitioners for the practice of primary care, to improving access to health care for the people of our region, and to advancing the health of members of our community one patient at a time.
Wendy Likes, dean of the UTHSC College of Nursing, holds a Doctor of Nursing Science (DNSC) and a PHD in Nursing from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. Dr. Likes is a certified family nurse practitioner and is the founder and executive director for The Center for HPV and Dysplasia at Regional One Health, where she also has a clinical practice.