Nurse practitioners (NPs) are revolutionizing health care delivery in America. As of April 2022, 26 states, the District of Columbia and two U.S. territories grant patients full and direct access to NPs. This gives patients health care choice and strengthens their access to primary care.
Each year, patients turn to NPs more than 1 billion times for primary, acute, specialty and long-term care across every health care setting. NPs bring a comprehensive perspective to health care, which results in excellent outcomes for patients. Today, 82% of adults report they’ve been treated or know someone who has been treated by an NP.1
NPs are the fastest-growing primary care provider group, delivering comprehensive, patient-centered care to millions of patients of all ages and backgrounds in communities of all sizes. NPs practice in nearly every health care setting, including clinics, hospitals, Veterans Health Administration, Indian Health Services facilities, emergency rooms, urgent care sites, private practices (including those managed and owned by NPs), skilled nursing facilities, nursing homes, schools, colleges, universities, retail clinics, public health departments, nurse-managed clinics, homeless clinics and home health.
The model of regulation chosen by more than half the nation is known as Full Practice Authority (FPA), and states that have adopted it are ranked among those achieving the best health system performance, access to care and patient health outcomes in the nation. In the remainder of states, outdated licensure laws reduce or restrict patient access to NPs.
America’s NPs represent a vital solution to the primary care access challenge threatening the health of our nation. A vast majority of health consumers — 9 out of 10 patients — support policies and legislation that remove barriers to NP practice and strengthen patient choice in the selection of a health care provider.2
NPs are leading the charge, working to provide the quality health care patients want and America deserves. Learn more about NPs and discover the opportunities they bring to make patient-centered, accessible health care available to all.
When patients choose, patients win.
1. The Mellman Group. National Omnibus Survey, March 2, 2020. 2. The Mellman Group. National Omnibus Survey, March 2, 2020.
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