Key to improving healthcare deserts in Alabama? Family nurse practitioners
The past two years have revealed just how much our communities rely on nurses and nurse practitioners to provide quality care.
Amid a COVID-19 pandemic that has devastated clinics, hospitals, and other facilities, those in the healthcare industry have rushed to the front lines, doing everything they can to ensure that we stay healthy and safe.
But in many areas of our state, called “healthcare deserts,” there are fewer and fewer healthcare providers to answer the call.
These are areas, often rural, that are medically underserved, with little or no access to healthcare via hospitals, clinics, or doctors. In Alabama specifically, the growing number of healthcare deserts has reached a concerning level, with too many residents living miles away from potentially lifesaving health services. According to NurseJournal.org, our state has fewer than 12 nurses per 1,000 people — a jarring statistic that signifies just how dire healthcare access inequality has become.
It is in these areas where family nurse practitioners (FNPs) have emerged as crucial purveyors of care. Family nurse practitioners are similar to regular nurse practitioners (NPs) with the primary difference being in their training. NPs receive training in specific areas and usually work with a designated age group or health condition. FNPs are trained to treat whole families, covering a range of age groups from infancy to elder care, and typically serve as the primary care provider for those family members. The ability to provide care for different groups makes FNPs essential in rural areas and isolated healthcare deserts without equitable access to care or to the kinds of specialists you might find in the more populated areas of Alabama.
FNPs are an increasingly important backbone of the healthcare system in rural areas, which is why we need to invest in resources and programs to promote and empower those seeking FNP licensure. Providing more of these highly trained professionals will increase the quality of care in our state while driving down costs. In Alabama alone, openings for nurse practitioners are expected to grow 24% through the end of 2032, adding about 920 jobs.
The College of Health Professions at online, nonprofit Western Governors University has introduced a new Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) program seeking to provide this necessary education. Our hope is that all those interested in becoming FNPs see this as a viable path to earning an accredited education and, ultimately, making a significant contribution to health and well-being of the community.
By expanding the number of FNPs in the state, we expand access to care. The solution starts with the education pipeline. We must equip students, nurses, and other adults who are interested in becoming an FNP with the accessible, cost-effective education needed to facilitate their degrees. As a result, we can help knock down barriers to care for Alabamians in all corners of the state.
Kimberly K. Estep, Ph.D., is Vice President of the Southeast Region for Western Governors University (WGU).
This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Family nurse practitioners key to improving Alabama healthcare deserts
