Kentucky has a dire need for primary healthcare providers - and nurse practitioners are stepping up to the plate. Between 1998 and 2009, the number of nurse practitioners in Kentucky increased by 180 percent. Meanwhile, the number of family practice docs in the state continued to decline. At present, Kentucky only has 77.8 primary care doctors per 100,000 residents. The state's rural residents particularly lack easy access to quality primary care.
Involving nurse practitioners in the care of the state's residents has been shown to improve health outcomes. One research study found that using advanced practice nurses, such as nurse practitioners, to provide prenatal care decreased the incidence of preterm birth and infant mortality. Another study found that nurse practitioners are adept at coordinating care for high-risk heart patients. When NPs coordinated the care of high-risk patients with heart failure, there were fewer readmissions post-discharge.
Kentucky's approximately 2600 nurse practitioners do not need a collaborative agreement with a physician to practice legally. A collaborative agreement is only required if the nurse practitioner wishes to prescribe medication as part of her practice. Due to the physician shortage, it can be hard at times for Kentucky NPs to find Kentucky physicians who are willing to collaborate.
Per Salary.com, the average annual salary for a nurse practitioner in Kentucky is $83,000 to $85,000.
NP programs for Kentucky nurses include:
- Eastern Kentucky University. Eastern Kentucky offers master's-level NP programs focused on preparing healthcare providers to meet the needs of Kentucky's rural residents. Students can choose a rural health family nurse practitioner program or the rural psychiatric/mental health nurse practitioner program.
- University of Kentucky. Located in Lexington, the University of Kentucky offers master's-level nurse practitioner tracks: a primary care and an acute care track. Primary care NPs can choose to sub-specialize in family health, adult health or geriatrics.
- Spalding University. Spalding U has different master's-level NP tracks including: adult, family and pediatrics. Spalding boasts a 96 percent certification rate for its' NP grads. More than half of Spalding's newly-minted nurse practitioners have jobs lined up before graduation.
Kentucky nurses can also choose an online NP program, such as the one offered by Georgetown University.
Accredited schools with NP programs in Kentucky:
