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Honoring the Impact of Nurse Practitioners for National NP Week
All of us at All Star Healthcare Solutions wish nurse practitioners (NPs) caring for patients across the country a very happy National Nurse Practitioner Week, November 10-16. We appreciate the indelible impact these advanced practice providers have on patients, fellow healthcare professionals, and communities, including as locum tenens professionals. In fact, we examine some of the many ways locum tenens amplifies the benefits of adding NPs to your facility’s staffing strategies.
Primary and Specialized Resource
Although 88 percent of NPs are certified to practice within primary care, according to the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP), some studies suggest these ranks are shrinking as more nurse practitioners choose to work in specialty roles. All Star Healthcare Solutions can help hospitals, clinics, and private practice groups fill primary care NP positions as well as NP specialists. Indeed, enlisting locum tenens NPs offers an efficient alternative to bring specialists to your facility and community if demand varies or you’re experiencing personnel gaps while searching for new staff members.
Patient Education and Satisfaction
Many rural facilities face a complicated staffing situation: the challenge of personnel shortages while also incurring increased demand for healthcare services related to an aging population. A Joint Economic Committee report earlier this year stated that rural regions are home to more residents aged 65 and older than urban areas. Other data indicates one-quarter of all Medicare recipients live in rural areas. Nor do researchers expect these factors to even out in the coming years. Projections suggest the senior citizen demographic will grow by more than 40 percent nationwide within the next 10 years and will further exacerbate the conundrum for many rural hospitals and clinics.
NPs assist facilities in caring for older patients, addressing clinical needs and advising individuals, family members, and caregivers. Research indicates more comprehensive patient education correlates with increased compliance and greater satisfaction scores. Locum tenens NPs can focus even more time on patient interactions because they tend to have fewer administrative responsibilities competing for their attention.
Continuity of Care
Transitional care is another aspect of healthcare where NPs can make a big impact, including when practicing locum tenens. Follow-up care after a hospital discharge, for instance, can be particularly crucial to help prevent readmission through early intervention if necessary. NPs have full practice authority in 29 U.S. states and Washington, D.C., which equips them to effectively function in this space as well as other clinical roles.
Full-Service Staffing
As we highlighted here, incorporating nurse practitioners into your clinician roster offers many benefits, whether on a temporary basis or as direct-hire staff. In fact, there may be times when your organization would benefit from both types of staffing, and All Star Healthcare Solutions is ready to assist. As part of our “Red Carpet” Service, our Locums and Direct Hire Divisions combine efforts to deliver full-service staffing solutions based on your facility’s unique needs.
Make All Star Healthcare Solutions your staffing partner today! Call us at 800-928-0229, or contact us online.
