34% of NPs Have/Plan to Open Private Practice
In recent years, the healthcare landscape has been shifting to meet growing patient demands, and nurse practitioners are stepping up to play a larger role in providing accessible and high-quality care. Nurse.org’s 2024 Nurse Practitioner Survey found that 34% of nurse practitioners surveyed had either already opened or were planning to open their own private practices.
Popular Online Nurse Practitioner (NP) Programs
Whether you’re taking the first steps toward a nursing degree, seeking to advance as a nurse or want to hone your craft with specialized study, there’s a path for you at Purdue Global’s School of Nursing. Our programs were designed so that you can easily balance your lives at home and work with school – without sacrificing the rigor and cutting-edge curriculum of a quality nursing education.
Accreditation
CCNE
Location
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Prerequisite
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide, but certain programs have state restrictions. Check with Purdue for details.
Earn your nursing degree from one of the largest nursing education providers in the U.S. Walden University’s BSN, MSN, post-master’s APRN certificate, and DNP programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Get enhanced practicum support with our Practicum Pledge.
Accreditation
CCNE
Location
Online
Prerequisite
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide, excluding NY, RI and CT. Certain programs have additional state restrictions. Check with Walden for details.
GCU’s College of Nursing and Health Care Professions has a nearly 35-year tradition of preparing students to fill evolving healthcare roles as highly qualified professionals.
Accreditation
CCNE
Prerequisite
RN Required
Georgetown University is one of the world’s leading academic and research institutions, and the School of Nursing has been delivering graduate nursing programs in a distance-learning environment since 2011. Georgetown’s online programs allow students to learn from wherever they are while they pursue an accredited, mission-driven nursing education that will allow them to deliver high-quality care.
Accreditation
CCNE
Prerequisite
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide, excluding NY and WA.
The survey included responses from 317 nurse practitioners across various specialties and regions. Among the most notable findings was that over one-third of respondents indicated they have either opened a private practice or are actively making plans to do so in the near future.
As many states work to expand NP practice rights and scope, NPs are increasingly empowered to operate independently, offering essential healthcare services directly to patients.
The survey also explored which specialties nurse practitioners believe have the greatest potential for private practice. When asked which areas they thought were best suited to a private setting, NPs cited aesthetics, weight loss, direct primary care, medical wellness, and psychiatry as the top choices.
|
NP specialties with the highest private practice potential (multi-select allowed) |
% Total |
|
Aesthetics |
66% |
|
Weight Loss |
38% |
|
Direct Primary Care |
30% |
|
Medical Wellness |
29% |
|
Psychiatry |
28% |
|
IV Hydration |
27% |
|
Functional Medicine |
19% |
|
Home Health |
8% |
|
Training/Consulting |
8% |
|
Coaching |
7% |
|
Pediatrics |
3% |
|
N/A or none of the above |
3% |
|
Other |
2% |
1. Aesthetics
Aesthetics is by far the most popular specialty for NPs considering private practice, with 66% of respondents highlighting its potential.
The demand for aesthetic services, such as Botox, dermal fillers, skin rejuvenation, and body contouring, has been growing rapidly. Many patients seek these services in private, comfortable settings rather than in traditional medical offices, making aesthetic-focused practices particularly appealing for NPs.
Additionally, aesthetic procedures are often cash-based, reducing the administrative burden of insurance billing and offering a lucrative revenue stream for aesthetic nurse practitioners.
2. Weight Loss
Weight loss management was selected by 38% of respondents as a promising area for private practice.
With obesity rates climbing and patients increasingly looking for personalized, medically guided weight loss solutions, there’s a significant market for NPs specializing in weight management.
Many NPs view weight loss as a specialty that allows for long-term patient relationships and success tracking. By combining nutritional counseling, lifestyle coaching, and medical interventions, NPs in private practices can create comprehensive programs tailored to individual patient needs.
3. Direct Primary Care
Direct primary care (DPC) has gained popularity among NPs interested in private practice, with 30% of respondents seeing it as a viable specialty.
DPC allows patients to pay a monthly or annual membership fee for unlimited access to primary care services, circumventing traditional insurance billing. This model can simplify operations and provide patients with direct, accessible care while fostering ongoing provider-patient relationships.
DPC is particularly attractive to patients who prefer predictable, out-of-pocket expenses for their healthcare needs and can create a sustainable business model for NPs.
4. Medical Wellness
Medical wellness is another rapidly growing area, with 29% of NPs identifying it as ideal for private practice.
This specialty encompasses services like hormonal therapy, anti-aging, lifestyle medicine, and preventive health, which are in high demand among patients seeking a proactive approach to health. A private practice setting allows NPs to offer holistic, individualized services that focus on optimizing health rather than just treating illness.
Like aesthetics, many medical wellness services are also cash-based, making them financially viable for private practices.
5. Psychiatry
Psychiatry, identified by 28% of NPs as having strong potential for private practice, is a critical and underserved area in the current healthcare landscape. Mental health services are in high demand, and there is a shortage of psychiatric providers, particularly in rural and underserved communities.
Psychiatric nurse practitioners can meet a vital need for therapy, medication management, and behavioral health services. Private practices in psychiatry also allow NPs to provide personalized, consistent care to patients, who often benefit from a stable, ongoing therapeutic relationship.
Additionally, with telehealth options, psychiatric NPs can reach patients across various regions, further expanding their reach.
While the survey shows a strong interest among NPs in private practice, there are still obstacles that some face in making this transition:
- Legal and Regulatory Barriers: Despite progress, many states still have reduced or restricted practice environments, limiting the ability of NPs to operate independently.
- Financial Constraints: Starting a private practice requires significant upfront investment, including costs for office space, equipment, insurance, and administrative support. Some NPs may also need to take out loans or find investors to fund their practice.
- Administrative Workload: Managing a private practice comes with administrative tasks that include billing, insurance claims, and regulatory compliance, which can be burdensome for those transitioning from clinical roles.
- Insurance Reimbursements: NPs may face challenges with insurance reimbursements, as some insurers have reimbursement rates for NPs that are lower than those for physicians. This issue can affect the financial viability of an NP-led practice.
As more NPs transition into private practice, the implications for the U.S. healthcare system are significant:
- Increased Access to Care: In areas where healthcare access is limited, NPs who open private practices are often able to serve patients who would otherwise face long wait times or travel long distances for care.
- Reduced Strain on Emergency Services: By providing primary care, preventive services, and chronic disease management, NPs in private practice can help reduce the number of non-emergency visits to hospitals and urgent care centers.
- Patient-Centered, Holistic Care: Many patients report high satisfaction with the quality of care they receive from NPs, who often emphasize a holistic, patient-centered approach. This focus on personalized care can contribute to better health outcomes and improved patient satisfaction.
Popular Online Nurse Practitioner (NP) Programs
Whether you’re taking the first steps toward a nursing degree, seeking to advance as a nurse or want to hone your craft with specialized study, there’s a path for you at Purdue Global’s School of Nursing. Our programs were designed so that you can easily balance your lives at home and work with school – without sacrificing the rigor and cutting-edge curriculum of a quality nursing education.
Accreditation
CCNE
Location
Online
Prerequisite
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide, but certain programs have state restrictions. Check with Purdue for details.
Earn your nursing degree from one of the largest nursing education providers in the U.S. Walden University’s BSN, MSN, post-master’s APRN certificate, and DNP programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Get enhanced practicum support with our Practicum Pledge.
Accreditation
CCNE
Location
Online
Prerequisite
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide, excluding NY, RI and CT. Certain programs have additional state restrictions. Check with Walden for details.
GCU’s College of Nursing and Health Care Professions has a nearly 35-year tradition of preparing students to fill evolving healthcare roles as highly qualified professionals.
Accreditation
CCNE
Prerequisite
RN Required
Georgetown University is one of the world’s leading academic and research institutions, and the School of Nursing has been delivering graduate nursing programs in a distance-learning environment since 2011. Georgetown’s online programs allow students to learn from wherever they are while they pursue an accredited, mission-driven nursing education that will allow them to deliver high-quality care.
Accreditation
CCNE
Prerequisite
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide, excluding NY and WA.
