Celebrating the Providers at the Heart of Health Care
Join the National Nurse Practitioner Week celebration by learning about the latest and greatest in nurse practitioner care.
Earlier this year, thousands of nurse practitioners (NPs) were surprised and delighted when Loretta C. Ford, EdD, RN, PNP, NP-C, CRNP, FAAN, FAANP, co-founder of the NP profession and a trailblazer in health care, opened the general session of the 2024 AANP National Conference in Nashville, Tennessee. Ford said to the nearly 5,000 NPs in attendance, “It fills my heart with immense pride to see how far the nurse practitioners have come. As you gather here today, remember that each one of you has the power to make a profound impact on the lives of your patients. Embrace this opportunity to learn, to grow and to inspire one another. Never forget that the essence of our work is rooted in compassion, knowledge and unwavering dedication to providing the highest quality of care. Together, we are the heartbeat of health care.”
Inspired by Dr. Ford, the American Association of Nurse Practitioners® (AANP) joins a grateful nation in recognizing the more than 385,000 NPs At the Heart of Health Care
as the theme of this year’s National NP Week celebration. Taking place Nov. 10–16, NP Week is an opportunity to celebrate these exceptional health care providers — and remind lawmakers of the importance of removing outdated barriers to allow NPs to practice to the full extent of their experience and education. Read on to learn how NPs have been addressing the nation’s health care needs and how you can participate in the NP Week celebration!
Meet the Providers at the Heart of Health Care
So, who are these providers at the heart of health care? NPs have come a long way since Ford and Dr. Henry Silver developed the first NP program at the University of Colorado back in 1965. In the nearly 60 years since the founding of the role, now more than 385,000 NPs are currently licensed to practice in the United States — offering primary, acute and specialty health care to millions of patients across the lifespan. Across the country, NPs evaluate patients, order and interpret tests, make diagnoses, write prescriptions and bring a comprehensive perspective to health care across nearly one billion patient visits each year.
As the role has grown, so has recognition for these dedicated providers renowned for their patient-centered care. Named the #1 Best Job and Best Health Care Job by U.S. News & World Report, NPs bring a comprehensive perspective to health care and continually rise to meet our nation’s health care challenges. Reflecting on the growth of the role, Jan Towers, PhD, NP-C, CRNP, FAAN, FAANP, an accomplished and much-admired leader of the NP movement, stated: “A number of years ago, I said that the goal was to make it so that NPs would be the recognized primary care providers in the U.S. By coming together as one unified voice, I think we’ve actually reached that goal.”
Pillars of the Community
Across the country, NPs can be found in clinics, hospitals, emergency rooms, urgent care centers, nursing homes and private practices. As The Voice of the Nurse Practitioner®, AANP is dedicated to sharing NP stories from all parts of the country. No matter where NPs are based, their commitment to quality care remains the same — as they provide for patients who might otherwise go without. As Susanne Fogger, DNP, CRNP, PMHNP-BC, CARN-AP, FAANP, FAAN, explained in a recent article on recovery, “For some patients, an NP may be the only provider they’ll see. In small communities, NPs are pillars of the community that know the culture and norms of the area. They may treat patients across generations — that trust is vital.”
More likely to settle in rural areas and regularly going the extra mile, NPs are adept at filling gaps in care. Micki Lyons, CEO, DNP-C, describes just one of the extraordinary situations rural providers find themselves in: “We’re in northeast Wyoming, so it’s very rural. We have three outlying clinics; we have a small 16-bed hospital with an ER; we’re critical access with a 32-bed nursing home. Right now, I’m sitting over in our Hulett clinic, which is in a town of 300 people, because one of our providers had an emergency and somebody needed to cover — so that’s what I’m doing.”
When vulnerable communities find themselves in need, NPs are there to step up and fill in the gaps in care. For Diane McGinnis, DNP, APRN, FNP-C, that day came while caring for Indigenous patients in a rural Alaskan village. “The fiber cable that provides communications to several of the villages runs underneath the ocean. One day, the cable got cut and our village suddenly had no internet and no landlines for 10 days. Almost everyone lost their cell service, except for me,” she explained. “In order to ensure the safety of folks in the village, I had the 911 operator call me on my cell phone, and then I would get on the radio and tell the police and firefighters where they needed to go. I became a substitute 911 operator for 10 days, all while seeing patients.”
Most recently, one NP in Saluda, North Carolina, set up a temporary medical station and provided free health care for the community in the wake of Hurricane Helene. Working out of her clinic’s waiting room with no power, no phone service and no internet, Lisa Reece, FNP, dug out an old prescription pad and got to work caring for patients in Saluda. Leveraging her NP experience, Reece explained, “I was able to treat simple things like cuts, sprains and allergic reactions, but I also treated more complex issues like new onset A-FIB, anxiety, depression and insomnia along with acute shock. I was able to do what I love to do most: sit and be present with my patients, listen to them, hug them and cry with them. I had the opportunity to witness the incredible strength in people, as well as hear of tragic loss, and to see that dramatic contrast was incredibly inspiring to me.”
Show Your Spirit This NP Week
Show AANP how you celebrate NP Week! Gear up to celebrate NP Spirit Day on Nov. 14 with exclusive NP Week merch from AANP! Whether you're wearing your NP Week attire, decorating your practice with NP Week posters or just celebrating with your fellow NPs, show your NP spirit and submit your photos for the chance to be featured on AANP's social media on NP Spirit Day and throughout NP Week!