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.

Cardiovascular Professionals Week Resources & Advocacy Guide (2023)

January 30, 2023 – Matt Zbrog

Cardiovascular Professionals Week takes place from February 12-18, 2023. Hosted by the Association of Cardiovascular Professionals (ACVP), it marks an opportunity to recognize the dedication, professionalism, and impact of those who deliver emergent and routine cardiovascular care to some of the most vulnerable and intensive populations in the healthcare system.

How to Become a Clinical Nurse Specialist

January 4, 2023 – Kimmy Gustafson

A clinical nurse specialist (CNS) is an advanced practice registered nurse who provides expert nursing care to patients with complex medical needs. CNSs play a vital role in the healthcare system, providing critical care and guidance to patients and their families. They also work closely with other healthcare team members, including doctors and nurses, to ensure that patients receive the best possible care.

National CRNA Week Resources & Advocacy Guide

January 3, 2023 – Matt Zbrog

CRNA care is safe, cost-effective, and a critical resource for rural and veteran communities. But barriers remain to unlocking the profession’s full potential, and CRNAs are banding together to make their voices heard on these issues.

Travel Nurse Practitioner (NP) Jobs: What to Look for Before Going Remote

December 14, 2022 – Sophia Khawly, MSN

Before going remote, a travel NP should contemplate their priorities in choosing an assignment. Are they concerned about taxes or practice autonomy? Or are they just looking for a place to work that seems welcoming and with a fair patient-to-provider ratio?

NPs & HIV/AIDS Awareness Month Advocacy Guide

December 8, 2022 – Kimmy Gustafson

HIV/AIDS is a critical public health issue that demands attention. In 2019, the most recent statistics available, the CDC reported that there were 36,801 new HIV infections in the US. While this number is a 9 percent decrease since 2015, it is still alarmingly high.

Day in the Life of an HIV Nurse Practitioner (NP)

December 7, 2022 – Matt Zbrog

December is HIV/AIDS Awareness Month. It’s an opportunity to spread awareness about how far medical science has come with HIV and AIDS, and also a chance to celebrate the crucial work with communities at risk for, and living with, HIV and AIDS.

Nurse Practitioner (NP) vs. Physician Associate or Assistant (PA)

November 9, 2022 – Rachel Drummond, MEd

Why consider a career as a nurse practitioner or a physician associate (formerly known as a physician assistant)? Both positions are primary care providers who provide general or specialized healthcare in clinical or hospital settings.

Ask a Professor: The NP Practice Environment in Utah

October 10, 2022 – Matt Zbrog

Nurse practitioners (NPs) are a critical part of the solution. Expertly trained to provide top-quality care across a range of specialties to a diverse set of patients, NPs take a holistic and patient-centered approach that can help alleviate their states’ top health concerns. In Utah, recent legislation has empowered NPs to practice to the full extent of their training, and many are setting their sights on how to address the top health issues in their state.

NP vs Physician / Medical Doctor (MD)

October 7, 2022 – Matt Zbrog

While NPs and MDs may perform many of the same roles in some geographies and specialties, they will perform drastically different roles in others. But the NP role continues to evolve rapidly, and the differences aren’t as drastic as they were 20 years ago.

Ask a Professor: The Practice Environment in Connecticut

September 15, 2022 – Matt Zbrog

To practice in Connecticut as a nurse practitioner (NP) requires an understanding of coexisting extremes. The third smallest state in the nation, Connecticut is also the fourth most densely populated, and income inequality is one of its top health challenges. But in this relatively tiny area, an enviable amount of good exists: public health funding is up 47 percent year-over-year, and the state is ranked third best in the US for overall health outcomes, according to the United Health Foundation (UHF).