Nurse Practitioner
Denver, CO
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The nurse practitioner role was created in 1965 at the University of Colorado by nursing professor Loretta Ford and physician Henry Silver, developed specifically to expand access to pediatric primary care in underserved communities by training registered nurses to take on advanced diagnostic and treatment responsibilities. Nurse practitioners complete graduate-level training, typically a Master of Science in Nursing or Doctor of Nursing Practice, and the scope of independent practice authority nurse practitioners hold varies significantly by state, with some states granting full independent practice and others requiring physician collaboration agreements. The role has expanded dramatically since its 1965 origins, becoming one of the fastest-growing healthcare professions in the country as healthcare systems increasingly rely on nurse practitioners to help address primary care physician shortages, particularly in rural and underserved areas. The nurse practitioner career's combination of its origin addressing pediatric care access gaps and its dramatic subsequent growth into a primary care workforce cornerstone has made it one of the fastest-growing careers in American healthcare.
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