In the United States, we’re facing a shortage of healthcare providers, especially for general health needs. As of 2021, more than 14,000 primary care physicians were needed, and the problem is only going to get worse as the population ages. Fortunately, more and more nurse practitioners are being trained to diagnose and treat patients, allowing for better access to healthcare.
Nurse practitioners (NPs) are highly trained healthcare professionals who are qualified to attend to a wide range of health needs for patients. NPs often specialize in certain patient populations and are helping take some of the care burden off of physicians so patients can enjoy an improved experience.
Here are 8 popular types of nurse practitioner specialties patients might encounter in a healthcare setting.
Family Nurse Practitioners (FNPs)
With the shortage of primary care physicians growing, family nurse practitioners are stepping in to ensure that people of all ages receive quality healthcare services. Depending on the state, nurse practitioners can become independent practitioners or work under the supervision of a physician, providing a wide range of services.
People can see family nurse practitioners for general healthcare needs. These practitioners can diagnose and treat health problems or refer their patients to specialists for further care. Many people see a family nurse practitioner for their annual wellness exams and preventative care needs.
A FNP can help ensure that patients get the preventative care and treatments they need before any potential health problems get worse. They can provide a more personalized experience for patients that helps to promote better outcomes. Everyone wins when we have more licensed FNPs seeing patients.
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners
Mental health has been getting a lot of attention lately and for good reason. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, more people have developed mental health concerns such as anxiety and depression. Simultaneously, the stigma surrounding mental illness has started to go away, meaning that more people than ever are seeking diagnosis and treatment.
With the strong demand for mental health professionals, psychiatric nurse practitioners are helping to ensure that people can address their mental health needs without waiting for a spot to open up. Some NPs can also prescribe medications to help people manage their mental health conditions. Psychiatric nurse practitioners can work in a wide range of settings, as people in all walks of life need mental health support.
Neonatal Nurse Practitioners
Babies born prematurely, or those born with complex health issues need constant monitoring until they can be released to go home with their parents. A neonatal nurse practitioner works with families who have sick or premature newborns to ensure that their babies are strong enough before they are discharged. Most neonatal nurse practitioners work in hospital and emergency settings.
Pediatric Nurse Practitioners
Nurse practitioners specializing in the care of children are pediatric nurse practitioners. Caring for children in a medical setting can be even more difficult than caring for adults.
Pediatric NPs must be able to understand the specialized physical and emotional healthcare needs of children so that they can effectively diagnose and provide treatment for patients who are often too young to express themselves. When working with children, Pediatric NPs must also be able to work effectively with their parents or guardians.
Acute Care Nurse Practitioners
While FNPs work with patients on a range of care needs, including preventative care, acute care nurse practitioners are tasked with helping patients who are experiencing illnesses and injuries that come on suddenly.
Acute care NPs work in emergency rooms, intensive care units, urgent care centers, and other facilities catering to people with acute care needs. These NPs can help people recover from illnesses and injuries and reduce wait times for urgent care.
Women’s Health Nurse Practitioners
Women have specialized care needs, and nurse practitioners who have experience in this type of medicine can provide a range of important services for women of all ages.
In addition to conducting screenings for breast cancer, cervical cancer, and other serious health problems, women’s health nurse practitioners can also provide care for pregnant women and women going through the process of menopause. They can help with contraception and fertility assessments as well.
Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioners
One of the reasons the United States is facing a shortage of primary healthcare providers is that the average age of the population is rising. Gerontology nurse practitioners are trained to work with older adults, who often have chronic conditions and complex health needs. Adult-gerontology nurse practitioner demand will only grow as the shortage of physicians gets worse.
Oncology Nurse Practitioners
Cancer is one of the most devastating, complex, and challenging diseases on the planet. Oncology nurse practitioners are trained to work with cancer patients and help them get the treatment, support, and services they need.
Oncology patients often need more than physical treatments. Because cancer can turn patients’ lives upside down and is often terminal, many oncology nurse practitioners help their patients with mental healthcare as well.
Advanced Nursing is the Future of Healthcare
These are just a few of the many options for specialization in the field of advanced nursing. Other nurses advance their education to contribute to the field of nursing education or nursing informatics. Regardless of the specialty, however, we need more nurses with advanced training to ensure that everyone can access high-quality healthcare.
Nurse practitioners will make up a major part of the future of healthcare. With their specialized knowledge, NPs can help patients take care of their unique health needs and live better, healthier lives.
