Nurse Practitioner (NP) Urgent Care Jobs

What do urgent care nurse practitioners do?

Urgent care nurse practitioners (NPs) typically diagnose and treat various illnesses, either independently or as a team. Because of the setting, urgent care NPs can perform many of the same procedures as physicians. This includes ordering tests, physical exams, and prescribing medications.

How much do urgent care nurse practitioners make?

The average annual salary for urgent care NPs is $127,320 in the U.S., according to the 2021 Becker’s Hospital Review. This goes hand-in-hand with the projected increase of NPs jobs by 38%, as reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

For more details on urgent care NP salaries, check out our salary guide.

Why should I work in urgent care as a nurse practitioner?

Urgent care clinics could be an attractive option for new graduates. They are usually always hiring due to physicians stepping down or a general shortage of healthcare workers. NPs are perfect for filling in the gaps. Urgent care clinics also tend to be a cheaper option for patients, so NPs can provide care for those who are financially challenged and may not find care elsewhere. 

NPs may also like the closer nature of urgent care clinics. Working in a hospital doesn’t leave room for a one-on-one experience with the patient, so new NPs can feel more comfortable when they first start working.

What is the job outlook for urgent care nurse practitioners in 2024?

The job outlook for urgent care NPs is promising. Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the employment of nurse practitioners (NPs) overall will grow by 52.16% from 2020 to 2030.

While this is not specific to urgent care NPs, the overall growth for NPs jobs in the future likely reflects the demand for urgent care ones as well.