The American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) celebrates National Nurse Practitioner Week in November. At this time, the College of Nursing at Michigan State University would like to honor all of our dedicated Nurse Practitioner alumni and faculty.

According to the AANP, nurse practitioners are essential to the delivery of high-quality, cost-effective, and personalized healthcare to people and populations across the country. There are approximately 120,000 nurse practitioners currently practicing in the United States, with around 6,000 more being prepared each year. According to the Michigan Council of Nurse Practitioners, there are more than 3,000 nurse practitioners in Michigan alone.

At Michigan State University, nurse practitioners are prepared through the Master’s of Science in Nursing degree option, which offers a concentration as a nurse practitioner at the graduate level. This concentration is designed to deliver the advanced education and clinical competency necessary to deliver primary healthcare.

The specialization areas available in the College of Nursing for students pursuing this advanced degree are Adult nurse practitioner and Family Health nurse practitioner. The Michigan State University College of Nursing has graduated 630 nurse practitioners, and 101 are currently studying to earn their degrees.

"As a nurse practitioner, you have both autonomy and responsibility for your patients," said Mary Jane Cook, MSN, APRN-BC, Assistant Professor in the Michigan State University College of Nursing. Cook believes that nurse practitioners have a great deal to offer the public. "As a nurse practitioner, I can help my patients optimize their health."

Denise Soltow, MSN, RN, Assistant Professor in the College of Nursing , found that choosing this career path allowed her to continue to utilize the nursing philosophy, but in a new way. "Being a nurse practitioner allows me more independence in my practice of the nursing profession, as well as a higher level of decision making, which can influence the way patients care for themselves," Soltow said.

Nurse practitioners bring a unique perspective to primary care as they address the healthcare needs of patients. They have a holistic approach to the patient," Cook said. "They consider the body, mind and spirit in care they deliver."

Because of their rigorous training and dedication, nurse practitioners have the ability to provide patients with information and skills to maintain their health. As primary care providers, nurse practitioners focus on promoting healthy lifestyles and disease-preventative measures. They are able to fill a variety of roles in primary healthcare settings.

Opportunities for nurse practitioners to utilize and expand their skills are provided through the university. Several family nurse practitioners practice in the Michigan State University Family Health Care Center. This clinic is a collaborative venture between the College of Nursing and the Department of Family Medicine in the College of Human Medicine. The mutual efforts of these two colleges have resulted in an integrated practice that enhances opportunities for interdisciplinary care, research and education within an academic setting.

The College of Nursing also has a contract with the Ingham County Health Department in Michigan to provide primary care services at the Ingham County Jail. In this practice, nurse practitioners on the College faculty provide a full scope of primary care services for inmates.

Patients working with nurse practitioners, whether as primary care providers or consultants, experience healthcare in new ways. Soltow has found that patients "appreciate the way nurse practitioners listen to them and treat them as individuals."

Many nurse practitioners are looking forward to National Nurse Practitioner Week not only to celebrate the work that they and their colleagues have contributed, but share their story among those who do not fully understand their role in the healthcare system.

"Many people are still unsure what a nurse practitioner is or does," Cook noted. "I would like to see more public knowledge and acceptance of nurse practitioners."

Cook and Soltow are aligned in their view that National Nurse Practitioner Week is a great opportunity to inform the public about the importance of this position.

The Michigan State University College of Nursing would like to thank and congratulate our Nurse Practitioner alumni who are serving the state as well as our College of Nursing faculty who serve in this role, for their service and dedication to the community.

National Nurse Practitioner Week takes place November 11 through November 17, 2007. The theme of this year’s celebration is: "Your Partner in Health- The Nurse Practitioner." For more information about National Nurse Practitioner Week, visit: http://www.aanp.org.