In the past 50 years, NPs have proven themselves to be the health provider of choice for millions of Americans. Over 900 million visits are made to NPs each year, and that number has continued to increase. Trends are showing that NPs may even be in greater demand than most physicians. Why do so many patients prefer NPs? Below are only 5 of the many reasons that NPs are in such great demand.
- NPs treat the whole patient, not just the disease. NPs view their patients on physical, emotional, and mental levels. This holistic and comprehensive approach helps patients to feel better cared for and tends to put their anxieties at ease.
- NPs can help lower the cost of health care for patients. As a result of their high-quality care and counseling, NPs can help patients have fewer emergency room visits, shorter hospital stays and lower medication costs.
- Nurse Practitioners typically give longer consultations than most doctors. By taking the extra time to talk to their patients, they learn a great deal that helps them make a difference in their patients’ lives.
- Nurse Practitioners offer more advice on self-care than most physicians. Many patients (as well as the patients’ families) want to discuss the details of their health, and they want to know how they can manage their illnesses or prevent future health problems. NPs generally spend more time answering all of the patients’ questions and giving detailed advice on how they can care for themselves on a daily basis.
- The variety of NP specialties are increasing. NP specialties are expanding far beyond family practice. A few of these specialties include gerontology, neonatology, oncology, pediatrics, psychiatric-mental health, women’s health and acute care. Many patients are now turning to NPs to care for their specific needs outside of a primary care setting.
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