6 Reasons Nurse Advancement is Important in Healthcare

Nurses play an essential role in patient care and healthcare quality. After all, nurse advancement is becoming increasingly important in the healthcare system. The BLS predicts that the job market for nurse practitioners will explode in over the next decade, with a rise that outpaces many others.

As the number of patients grows, nurses are becoming better equipped to handle the demand and improve healthcare from within. Through this understanding, they can help formulate and implement solutions targeting individuals and communities by closely working with healthcare professionals.

The Future of Nurse Advancement in Healthcare

The nurse practitioner is projected to be the #1 fastest-growing occupation in the next ten years. This rapid employment growth results from many contributing factors, including the aging population and increasing chronic conditions.

To make substantial progress in healthcare services, the healthcare industry must consider what impacts healthcare quality. Healthcare centers must invest in building nurse advancement opportunities to fill in the gaps created by the shortage of specialists.

The nursing schools also need to emphasize the required skills for nurse practitioner, in addition to education and training, keeping their new and expanded roles in focus.

Advancing your nursing education is important in the healthcare industry for several reasons. Let's take a look at some of them:

The Growing Emphasis on Preventive Care

Healthcare systems need to focus more on providing high-quality care. T demands an increase in primary care providers and practitioners. It helps reduce healthcare costs caused by delaying preventive care, thereby improving quality of life.

To cater to this increasing demand, advanced practice nurses can play a significant part by taking on challenging roles previously played by physicians only. Since the training of nurse practitioners focus more on holistic patient care, they can bring a significant change.

When nurses develop solid relationships with patients based on trust, they're more likely to convince them to adopt healthier lifestyles and avoid chronic diseases.

Advanced Nurse Practitioners Can Help With the Physician Shortage

One of the biggest challenges that patients and states face is the availability of healthcare providers, especially in primary care.

According to a report published by the Association of American Medical Colleges in June 2020, this fact is confirmed by the projected metrics showing a shortage of 139,000 physicians in primary and specialty care by 2033. This shortage is real and growing, and to bridge the gap, advanced practice nurses can undoubtedly help.

The demand is constantly increasing, leading to bright prospects for nurse advancement opportunities to mitigate the shortage of primary care specialists. If advanced nurse practitioners are integrated effectively into healthcare systems, they can help alleviate this projected shortage.

Aging Population and Life Expectancy

The baby boomer generation is aging, thereby increasing the population of older people. With the rapid increase in this number, it's getting harder to keep up with the demand for critical care services. Advanced practice nurses have an intimate understanding of the needs of older people, which puts them in a perfect position to meet the demands of this growing demographic.

The AANP recognizes the vital role nurse practitioners play in providing primary, acute, and specialty healthcare services. They provide more than just the average screening tests. They educate patients about their future and current conditions. With this knowledge, patients can avoid any health issues and stay on track with treatment plans by visiting the office regularly for check-ups.

APNs Can Provide Cost-Effective Healthcare Services

Healthcare providers' wages account for around 50% of the total healthcare expenditure around the globe. Without compromising patient care, healthcare centers focus on strategies to lower costs. Therefore, efforts are being made to enhance the productivity of the existing workforce by increasing their competence and capacity.

The effective utilization of nurse practitioners' potential can lead to high-quality and cost-effective healthcare services. A recent research article in PubMed demonstrates that primary care led by nurse practitioners costs lower than the care provided by primary care physicians.

Need to Improve Patient Outcomes

The complexity of patient care continues to increase, urging the need for nurse practitioners. Research also indicates that nurse practitioners in clinical settings lead to reduced inpatient stays and higher patient satisfaction.

APNs' training and education provide them with valuable talents beyond technical and theoretical knowledge, which is another compelling argument. By excelling in “soft skills” such as communication and critical thinking during their clinical training, healthcare providers will be better equipped to handle complex cases once they enter the workforce.

APNs have a deeper understanding of their patient's health and issues. With a greater understanding of the more detailed information, nurses can see how their actions and alterations to patient care create a large impact.

Advanced Practice Nurses Can Help Improve Health Equity

To help improve health equity, where everyone gets fair and equal access to quality healthcare, advanced practice nurses can play a significant role.

By collaborating with others and expanding their role in the healthcare industry, nurse practitioners can change how healthcare is delivered.

To reduce health inequalities, nurses should work with society to ensure that individuals and communities have fair and just access to health and wellness.

Final Thoughts on Nurse Advancement

Experiential learning is key for nurse advancement. By giving nurses opportunities to learn in community settings, they can develop the skills necessary not only to improve patient's well-being but also whole communities.

In healthcare systems, the role of advanced practice nurses has changed in scope and practice. With this change, they can take on the physician's role and yield better patient and clinical outcomes.

Can you name any nurse advancement opportunities?