Happy 2024 National Nurse Practitioner Week, November 10-1, from Marie Tarleton, MAAPC's President

 In 1965, Drs. Loretta Ford and Henry Silver developed the first nurse practitioner (NP) program. Almost sixty years later, more than 385,000 licensed NPs are practicing in the U.S. The NP role is steadily growing, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 46% increase in the number of NPs by 2031.

​

The rise in the number of NPs practicing across specialties could not come at a better time, as nearly 100 million Americans currently live in primary care shortage areas. Fortunately, the growth in the NP role and the passage of legislation to provide patients with full and direct access to NPs’ services — including Full Practice Authority (FPA) — are two solutions to increase patient access to high-quality health care.

​

To honor the health care providers at the heart of our communities all over the U.S., We recognize the critical role of NPs as part of the annual National Nurse Practitioner Week (NP Week) celebration, held November 10-16 this year.

​

NP Week recognizes the positive impact NPs make in the lives of patients through more than 1 billion annual visits. These health care professionals practice in clinics, hospitals, emergency rooms, urgent care centers, nursing homes and private practices across the country — wherever patients are in need.

​

On behalf of the Board of Directors of the  Maryland Academy of Advanced Practice Clinicians, we thank all dedicated Nurse Practitioners for their tireless efforts in providing excellent health care to patients, communities and those in need.  NPs are the Heart of Health Care.

 

Sincerely,

Marie Taylor Tarleton, MS, CRNP, BC-Family

President

Maryland Academy of Advanced Practice Clinicians