As healthcare leaders across the country were bracing for a “twindemic” and the collision of the COVID-19 pandemic with the flu this winter, it’s likely none of them could foresee just how widespread a third wave of COVID-19 would be. 

<p>
  Nurse practitioners may prove a dauntless force in the effort to quell COVID.
  These providers bring an unmatched lineup of traits that make them
  particularly suited to the task. Healthcare leaders may find that in the face
  of rising COVID cases and warnings that the third wave (which could be the
  worst yet) is upon us, the nurse practitioner is a critical part of the
  solution.
</p>

<p>
  Nurse practitioners are particularly well-positioned to help healthcare
  organizations in the battle against COVID for myriad reasons. Once relatively
  limited, the nurse practitioner scope of practice has vastly expanded and now
  encompasses an array of healthcare settings, clinical skills, and educational
  training (<a
    href="https://www.aanp.org/advocacy/advocacy-resource/position-statements/scope-of-practice-for-nurse-practitioners"
    target="_blank"
    >AANP</a
  >). But that&rsquo;s not all. Here&rsquo;s why nurse practitioners can be the
  secret weapon leaders need to navigate a third surge.
</p>

<h3>Extensive Clinical Skillset</h3>

<p>
  Nurse practitioners&rsquo; ability to provide patient care has expanded over
  the years. Their growing clinical autonomy and extensive skillset
  couldn&rsquo;t be more timely &ndash; as the relentless coronavirus pandemic
  compounded with a growing physician shortage makes NPs invaluable for
  healthcare. NPs can assess and diagnose patients; order, perform, supervise,
  and interpret diagnostic and lab tests; initiate and manage treatment,
  prescribe medication, and counsel and educate patients and families.
</p>

<h3>Delivery of Specialized Care</h3>

<p>
  While nurse practitioners who are generalists are essential in providing
  comprehensive care for patients with and without COVID, those who specialize
  may be exceptionally valuable in battling the pandemic during this time. NPs
  who hold specializations in acute care, cardiac care, pediatrics, gerontology,
  and
  <a
    href="https://www.crosscountryhealthcare.com/blogs/increasing-demand-for-behavioral-health-due-to-covid-19"
    target="_blank"
    >behavioral healthcare</a
  >
  are in high demand and can fortify healthcare facilities in the face of a
  third wave.
</p>

<h3>Telehealth Services</h3>

<p>
  The widespread adoption of telehealth during the pandemic has expanded nurse
  practitioners&rsquo; ability to deliver virtual care, reducing the risk of
  viral transmission while ensuring uninterrupted access to care for many
  Americans.
  <a
    href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7395209/"
    target="_blank"
    >Telehealth</a
  >
  has shown to be particularly effective for patients who are isolated or in
  rural areas, and telehealth may prove to reduce morbidity and mortality during
  the COVID outbreak.
</p>

<h3>Crisis Management and Leadership Capabilities</h3>

<p>
  Nurse practitioners can be instrumental in managing crises and leading staff
  through a third surge. A recent study found nurse practitioners who were
  trained in responding to and preventing emergencies and safety crises reported
  high levels of crisis leadership efficacy (<a
    href="https://www.npjournal.org/article/S1555-4155(15)00665-0/fulltext"
    target="_blank"
    >The Journal for Nurse Practitioners</a
  >). Further research shows ICU advanced practitioners demonstrated improvement
  in leadership, self-confidence, teamwork, and medical crisis management with
  crisis training (<a
    href="https://journals.lww.com/jtrauma/Abstract/2011/08000/Short_Simulation_Training_Improves_Objective.9.aspx"
    target="_blank"
    >The Journal for Trauma and Acute Care Surgery</a
  >).
</p>

<h3>Relaxed Licensure and Expanded Range and Scope of Practice</h3>

<p>
  Regulatory flexibility in response to the coronavirus has expanded nurse
  practitioners&rsquo; ability to care for patients. States have
  <a
    href="https://www.aanp.org/advocacy/state/covid-19-state-emergency-response-temporarily-suspended-and-waived-practice-agreement-requirements"
    target="_blank"
    >waived and suspended</a
  >
  certain practice requirements for nurse practitioners regarding
  <a
    href="https://www.aanp.org/advocacy/state/state-practice-environment"
    target="_blank"
    >collaboration and supervision</a
  >. This grants most NPs autonomy of practice. Further, some governors have
  urged boards to license
  <a
    href="https://www.aanp.org/advocacy/state/emergency-state-licensure-covid-19-response"
    target="_blank"
    >volunteer, inactive, retired, or out-of-state professionals</a
  >, increasing health leaders&rsquo; access to NPs.
</p>

<h3>An Expanding Workforce</h3>

<p>
  There are nearly 300,000 nurse practitioners in the nation, with tens of
  thousands of NPs in the educational pipeline (<a
    href="https://www.aanp.org/about/all-about-nps/np-fact-sheet#:~:text=There%20are%20more%20than%20290%2C000,NPs)%20licensed%20in%20the%20U.S.&amp;text=More%20than%2030%2C000%20new%20NPs,academic%20programs%20in%202018%E2%80%932019."
    target="_blank"
    >AANP</a
  >). The vast majority of these providers prescribe medications, work full
  time, and accept Medicare and Medicaid patients. Nearly half hold hospital
  privileges. The sheer numbers of NPs make them a formidable force in the fight
  against COVID.
</p>

<h3>Rigorous Training and Background</h3>

<p>
  The rigor and extent of nurse practitioners&rsquo; education and training
  cannot be understated. They are licensed, independent practitioners who hold
  master&rsquo;s or doctorate degrees and board certification. Health leaders
  can be assured that nurse practitioner training is designed to equip providers
  to deliver care that is safe, high-quality, patient-centered, and
  cost-effective.
</p>

<h3>Versatility Across Healthcare Settings</h3>

<p>
  Today&rsquo;s healthcare leaders use nurse practitioners at hospitals,
  clinics, private practices, Veterans Affairs, Indian Health Care facilities,
  emergency rooms, urgent care sites, nursing homes, schools, colleges, public
  health departments, homeless clinics, home health, rural health facilities,
  critical access hospitals, and nearly every other healthcare setting.
</p>

<h3>Cost-Effective Care with Comparable Clinical Outcomes</h3>

<p>
  Research over several decades has shown that nurse practitioners are
  cost-effective providers of high-quality care (<a
    href="https://www.aanp.org/advocacy/advocacy-resource/position-statements/position-statements"
    target="_blank"
    >AANP</a
  >). Comparisons of salaries, productivity, and hospital profits show
  favorability. Further, studies show similar clinical outcomes and
  consistencies in treatment practices, prescribing behavior, and health status
  between physicians and nurse practitioners (<a
    href="https://www.healthaffairs.org/do/10.1377/hpb20121025.457840/full/"
    target="_blank"
    >Health Affairs</a
  >).
</p>

<h3>Patient Satisfaction</h3>

<p>
  Studies have shown that patients who saw nurse practitioners reported higher
  levels of satisfaction with their care, especially regarding time spent on
  consultation, screening, assessment, counseling and patient follow-up (<a
    href="https://www.healthaffairs.org/do/10.1377/hpb20121025.457840/full/"
    target="_blank"
    >Health Affairs</a
  >). Researchers attribute this to the patient-centered approach of the NP
  training, often focused on social and cultural sensitivity as well as care
  coordination. These characteristics can be incredibly valuable in the fight
  against COVID.
</p>

<h2>How we can help</h2>

<p>
  In a marketplace that is continually facing both funding and workplace
  shortages, Cross Country Healthcare possesses the experience and resources to
  effectively and efficiently deliver complete and comprehensive workforce
  management solutions. To connect with a member of our team for assistance with
  your workforce solutions strategy through this challenging fall season, we
  have got your back. Connect with a
  <a href="https://www.crosscountryhealthcare.com/staffinghelp" target="_blank"
    >member of our team</a
  >
  today.
</p>


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