As the health care workforce shifts to treat patients in less expensive primary care settings, the number of nurse practitioners has nearly doubled in the last decade to more 200,000, new data shows.

The American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) says there are 205,000 licensed nurse practitioners compared to 106,000 in 2004. Such advanced degree nurses perform myriad primary care functions, diagnose, prescribe medications and conduct physical exams.

There is unprecedented demand for nurse practitionersto work with primary care doctors to manage populations of patients, keeping them healthy and out of the hospital. The explosive growth of the nurse practitioner profession is a public health boon considering our nations skyrocketing demand for high-quality, accessible care, Ken Miller, AANPs president said.

Insurers are coaxing people toward population health via patient-centered medical homes and accountable care organizations. Under such value-based approaches, providers work to keep patients healthy, taking their medications, exercising and getting care upfront in a doctors office, a health center or retail clinic.

Retailers like CVS Health (CVS) and Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA) have hired thousands of nurse practitioners. Walgreens, which opened about 40 clinics last year, has 1,200 practitioners at more than 420 clinics while CVS 2,700 practitioners across its 960 clinics. In the past five years, weve opened around 500 clinics and have been able to recruit enough practitioners to staff all of these sites with more on the way, Carolyn Castel, a CVS vice president, told Forbes.

Retailers see millions more Americans withhealth coverage under the Affordable Care Act, which has exacerbated a doctor shortage. Seeing a void, practitioners are lobbying to change scope of practice laws to allow them to do more. Nurse practitioners are serving as a lifeline for patients, many who would otherwise struggle to access care, David Hebert, AANPs said.

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Originally posted here:

At 205,000 Strong, The Nurse Practitioner Will See You Now