25 Interesting Facts About Nurse Practitioners
A lot goes into being a nurse practitioner, and NPs put a lot of themselves into their work. So what makes NPs tick? We’ve assembled 25+ interesting facts about nurse practitioners, ranging from NP salaries to mental health and job satisfaction.
General Nurse Practitioner Facts
These nurse practitioners facts cover general information about the NP population and practice.
- The majority of full-time NPs (57%) see at least 3 patients per hour.
- The average NP has been in practice for 9 years.
- The average age of an NP is 46 years.
NP Scope of Practice Facts
What can a nurse practitioner do and where can they do it? These facts cover nurse practitioner scope of practice information in the US.
- 42 states currently recognize NPs as primary care providers.
- Nurse practitioners have full practice authority in 27 states + DC, meaning they have full authority to evaluate and diagnose patients, order and interpret diagnostic tests, initiate and manage treatments, and prescribe medications without the approval of a physician.
- Utah, Kansas, and New York are the 3 most recent states to grant full practice authority to NPs, with new legislation enacted in 2022 and 2023.
- Nurse practitioners can legally certify disabled person placard forms or handicap plates in 47 states. The only states in which an NP can’t sign disabled parking permits are South Dakota, South Carolina, and Georgia.
- Nurse practitioners can sign death certificates in 40 of the 50 states. In Arkansas, only hospice-employed NPs can sign death certificates.
- 96.2% of NPs prescribe medications, and those in full-time practice write an average of 21 prescriptions per day
Nurse Practitioner Salary Facts
How much do nurse practitioners make? Which NP specialties make the most money? Explore these NP salary facts.
- The average annual nurse practitioner salary is $121,610, according to the United States Bureau of Labor, when they last updated the figure in 2022.
- Less than half (48%) of nurse practitioners feel fairly compensated for their work.
- Over the last year, locum NPs across specialties made an average of $93 per hour. At 40 hours per week, the average locum salary comes out to $193,000.
- Washington, Oregon, Nevada, California, New York, New Jersey, and Massachusetts are the highest paying states for nurse practitioners, with each state paying an average of at least $136,000 per year.
- NPs working in surgery specialties make the most, earning an average make an average range of $90 to $150 per hour
Nurse Practitioner Mental Health Facts
How do nurse practitioners feel about their jobs ,and how does being an NP impact their mental health?
- 72% of nurse practitioners report being burnt out and/or depressed.
- Locum NPs were 32% less likely to report either burnout or depression.
- Half of NPs say the number one cause of burnout is too many bureaucratic tasks, like charting or paperwork
- 43% of NPs say insufficient salary was a major factor for burnout
- Half of NPS say increased compensation would be the best way to reduce burnout
Locum Nurse Practitioner Facts
Why do nurse practitioners choose locum work and what do they think about the locum life?
- The number one way NPs find out about locum tenens work is through a friend or co-worker (32%)
- 37% of locum nurse practitioners say they chose locum tenens work for more flexibility.
- Higher earning potential and the ability to travel are the two other most common reasons NPs pick locum work.
- 33% of travel nurse practitioners reported stress levels 10 times lower than when they worked perm RN jobs.
Nurse Practitioner Education Facts
What does it take to become a nurse practitioner? The NP schooling facts cover the long road NPs take in order to practice as a nurse practitioner.
- The majority of NPs spent several years working as registered nurses before entering their NP programs.
- An estimated 20,000 new NPs completed academic programs last year alone!
- Becoming a certified NP requires completing 500 didactic hours and 500 to 700 clinical hours.
- 20% of NPs have a Doctoral degree. 80% have a Master’s degree.
Looking for more educational nurse practitioner content? Check out our hub for nurse practitioner resources, or check out our popular guides on nurse practitioner licensing, NP scope of practice, independent practice, and nurse practitioner specialties. And be sure to explore our nurse practitioner salary guide.
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