NPs and PAs Are Reported to Have 2 of the Best Jobs in America

Nurse practitioners (NPs) and physician assistants (PAs) can claim 2 of the hottest jobs in today's economy. PAs and nurses have been ranked in the top 10 careers by U.S. News & World Report, Monster.com, and CNN Money. This year, nursing was ranked number 1 on the U.S. News & World Report best jobs list. Monster.com ranked nursing as number 1 and PA as number 6 between May 2010 and April 2011. On its 2011 list of best jobs for working parents, CNN Money ranked PA as number 9.   NPs and PAs have experienced consistent professional growth and employment, even in a climate of economic downturn. Approximately 83,000 PAs (double the number from 10 years ago) and 140,000 NPs comprise the current US NP and PA workforce. Employment remained robust and increased throughout 2011, meeting and even surpassing job predictions, and it appears this will remain constant into 2012. Increased recognition of the benefits NPs and PAs provide, as physician extenders among healthcare organizations, physicians, and the government, is the driving force behind their expanding role. They are in high demand due to the decreased number of physicians in the United States, a trend that is expected to continue for the foreseeable future. The majority of NPs and PAs are healthcare providers in both primary care and specialty settings. The next issue of NP/PA NewsBites will focus on the specific areas of NP and PA expertise in managing patients in primary care and specialty settings, as well as predictions for the future of these healthcare professions. Practicing Clinicians Exchange (PCE) is dedicated to providing continuing education to the growing ranks of NPs and PAs. PCE is the national leader in continuing education created specifically for NPs and PAs. Each year, PCE's innovative, multisupported CME/CE initiative helps educate more than 4500 clinicians at live national symposia and more than 50,000 clinicians as part of home study/Internet-based activities. Sources Graves JA. The best jobs of 2012. US News World Rep. http://money.usnews.com/money/careers/articles/2910/1206/the-50-best-careers-of-2011. Accessed March 12, 2012. Graves JA. Best jobs: healthcare. US News World Rep. http://money.usnews.com/money/careers/articles/2012/02/27/best-jobs-healthcare-jobs. Accessed March 12, 2012. Monster.com. Healthcare job conditions report, 2011. http://media.newjobs.com/a/i/intelligence/pdf/Occupational_Reports/2011_HealthcareJobConditionsExecSummary.pdf. Accessed March 12, 2012. Muse H, Rosato D. Best jobs for working parents. CNN Money. http://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/best-jobs/2011/jobs-working-parents/1.html. Accessed March 12, 2012. American Academy of Physician Assistants. Physician assistant census report: Results from the 2010 AAPA Census.http://www.aapa.org/uploadedFiles/content/Common/Files/2010_Census_Report_Final.pdf. Accessed March 12, 2012. American Academy of Nurse Practitioners. Nurse practitioners in primary care. http://www.aanp.org/NR/rdonlyres/9AF1A29F-5C82-4151-98CB-22D1F20A9BD9/0/NPsInPrimaryCare324.pdf. Accessed March 12, 2012. This news brief is brought to you by Practicing Clinicians Exchange (PCE), the national leader in education exclusively for nurse practitioners and physician assistants. For more information on our national initiatives, visit www.practicingclinicians.com.