Nurse Practitioner Workforce Hits Record High of 290K

The nurse practitioner (NP) workforce hit a record high of more than 290,000 licensed NPs, according to a new estimate from the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP).

The estimate was published in the latest National NP Sample Survey from AANP. According to AANP, the survey has been conducted periodically since 2007 to capture information regarding compensation and benefits for NPs. This year, the survey contained insights from a total of 5,770 NPs.

NPs are advanced practice registered nurses who have additional patient care responsibilities compared to registered nurses, including diagnosing and treating acute illnesses and prescribing medications. The position has been increasingly used in healthcare organizations across the country, with nearly half of states giving NPs full practice authority.

The latest survey conducted by AANP confirmed that healthcare organizations have become increasingly interested in hiring NPs. This year’s survey revealed that the nurse practitioner workforce continues to grow, increasing from an estimated 270,000 licensed NPs in January 2019.

“Millions of patients — of all ages — choose an NP as their health care provider each year. As the number of seniors increases and the demand for health care access grows, NPs are meeting that need in rural and urban areas across the nation,” Sophia Thomas, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, PPCNP-BC, FNAP, FAANP, president of AANP, stated in the survey’s announcement. “An estimated 1.06 billion patient visits were made to NPs in 2018, improving the health of our nation and increasing the growing number of patients who say, ‘We Choose NPs.’”

And as the workforce increased, so did compensation rates for the advanced practice providers.

NP compensation varied widely based on certification type, additional administrative duties, years of experience, education level, and other factors. However, this year’s survey showed that the median base salary for a full-time MP was $110,00 and the median total income, which included bonuses, was $115,000.

Full-time NPs who were certified in psychiatric mental health had the highest median base salary ($125,000), while emergency NPs earned the most on an hourly basis ($70), the survey report highlighted.

Meanwhile, NPs with an administrative role on top on their clinical position reported a higher median base salary of $120,000. In contrast, NPs who only practiced in a clinical capacity made a median base salary of $108,000.

The administrative roles undertaken by NPs included professional-level positions (e.g., director, manager, or supervisor). About one in seven held an executive-level position, such as CEO, CNO, or owner, AANP added.