The chapter delves into the increasing prevalence of nurse practitioners in healthcare, their training, and the impact on patient care. It discusses how nurse practitioners were introduced to address the shortage of doctors and have become a cost-effective and efficient alternative to medical doctors. The consequences of misdiagnosis by a nurse practitioner and a tragic case of a patient's death underscore the importance of proper training and competence in the field.
Americans are more and more likely to get health care not from doctors, but from nurse practitioners. It’s one of the fastest-growing professions in the US — and the number of nurse practitioners in the country is expected to climb 45% by 2032. But training for the booming profession has never been standardized, and some students worry they’re not being set up for success.
On today’s Big Take podcast, host Sarah Holder talks to investigative reporters Caleb Melby and Polly Mosendz about what the rapid rise of nurse practitioners has meant for their education — and their patients.
Read more: The Miseducation of America’s Nurse Practitioners
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