Nurse Practitioners

The U.S. Department of Labor predicts employment for registered nurses to grow much faster than the average in the coming years, and the job outlook for nurse practitioners is especially good, with 40 percent percent employment growth expected through 2033. One reason for this is that the nurse practitioner is increasingly being recognized as a provider of the high-quality yet cost-effective medical care that the nation's health care system needs. In addition, more and more people are recognizing the importance of preventive health care, which is one of the nurse practitioner's greatest strengths. There should be an especially strong demand for gerontological nurse practitioners as the percentage of the U.S population in the over-65 age group increases.

Some health care professionals report increasing frustration with cutbacks in the health care industry that make it difficult to persuade insurance companies to approve some health care treatments. However, nurse practitioner organizations are working to promote legislation that will increase the degree of autonomy available to nurse practitioners and make it easier for them to receive insurance company reimbursement. This should make the profession an even more attractive advancement route for RNs.