November 13, 2007

Nurse practitioners a good fit for many patients, expert says

Julie Novak, professor and head of the School of Nursing and associate dean of the College of Pharmacy, Nursing and Health Sciences, says National Nurse Practitioner's Week, from Nov. 11-17, helps raise awareness of a group of health-care professionals that are often overlooked.

"When we think of medicine, we often think of doctors or nurses, but nurse practitioners are 180,000 strong in this country," said Novak, a registered nurse and pediatric nurse practitioner. "With fewer than 18 percent of medical students pursuing primary care these days, and baby boomers set to retire, that number needs to double."

Novak said seeing a nurse practitioner can be a good fit for many people, including those who:

* Have a chronic disease or other ongoing condition. Nurse practitioners can educate people with diabetes, high blood pressure and other types of illness on how to best manage their problems and stay healthy longer.

"Our goal is always to be proactive and keep these folks out of the emergency rooms or hospitals," she said.

* Feel rushed at doctors' offices or would like extra time to discuss health problems. In busy practices, it's not uncommon for doctors to have 15 minutes or less with patients. Nurse practitioners often schedule 20-45 minute sessions with patients.

"When you develop relationships with patients, there's far more adherence to healthy routines," Novak said.

* Need access to holistic care, including health promotion related to stress management, smoking prevention or cessation, nutritionally sound weight loss, exercise, parent coaching, mentoring for disconnected youth, integration of mental health services into primary care, acute illness care, and management of stable chronic conditions.

"Nurse practitioners partner closely with other agencies in their communities to ensure that patients are both physically healthy and well-prepared emotionally and mentally for the daily demands of life," Novak said.

* Live in rural settings. Novak said nurse practitioners are filling a vital role in the medical community, particularly in underserved, rural areas nationwide.

At Purdue, more than 78 percent of the school's graduates remain in Indiana upon graduation, and nearly one-half of those work in rural settings around the state. Purdue's School of Nursing also currently operates five nurse-managed clinics in Tippecanoe, Carroll and White counties that serve more than 10,000 people annually.

"Nurse practitioners should be celebrated for their willingness to work with vulnerable populations, where the need is greatest," Novak said.

Writer: Tanya Brown, (765) 494-2079, tanyabrown@purdue.edu

Source: Julie Novak, (765) 494-6644, novakj@purdue.edu

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu

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