Indiana has a great need for primary healthcare providers. The state currently has just 77.8 primary care docs per 100,000 residents, a ratio that's well below the national median of 91.0 primary care docs per 100,000 residents. At present, only two percent of Indiana's counties meet the recommended national benchmark for the number of primary care providers per capita.
Part of the problem is that Indiana's population has grown in recent years. Between 1980 and 2005, the population of Indiana increased by 14 percent. While healthcare providers struggle to meet the demand for care, they're also bracing for the next big challenge: an onslaught of elderly residents with a high need for healthcare. State officials estimate that the number of Indiana residents over the age of 65 will double between the years 2000 and 2030. Additional primary care providers, especially those who specialize in geriatrics, are desperately needed in Indiana.
Indiana nurse practitioners work in collaboration with their physician counterparts. A collaborative agreement with a state physician is required to diagnose and treat illness, and to prescribe medication. Indiana's more than 1500 nurse practitioners typically earn between $83,000 and $88,000 per year, as reported by Salary.com.
Indiana nurses who wish to become nurse practitioners can choose a distance learning program, such as the NP programs offered through Georgetown University, or they can study at an in-state institution, such as:
- Indiana State University. Located in Terre Haute, Indiana State offers a master's-level family nurse practitioner program. Students can earn their degree for under $25,000.
- Purdue University. Purdue has master's-level NP programs, which include: adult nurse practitioner and pediatric nurse practitioner. Nurses who have a bachelor's degree may also earn their master's degree and NP certification on their way to a Doctorate of Nursing Practice.
- University of Southern Indiana. The University of Southern Indiana, located in Evansville, offers master's-level NP programs such as: family nurse practitioner, adult nurse practitioner and psychiatric/mental health nurse practitioner. Students may also study perioperative nursing, oncology nursing and rehabilitation nursing.
Accredited schools with NP programs in Indiana:
