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A new analysis in Health Affairs estimates that the U.S. clinician workforce will continue to shift through 2030 with nurse practitioners (NPs) representing the fastest-growing segment. The number of full-time physicians is expected to increase by only about 1% annually, compared with 5.6% growth for physician assistants/associates (PAs) and 11% growth for NPs. By 2030, the combined number of NPs and PAs is projected to grow to 912,265 workers—almost the size of the physician workforce (1 million workers). All this growth is attributed to a 97% increase in NP graduates from 2014 to 2023 as well as a 69% increase for PAs. Overall, between 2016 and 2023, the healthcare industry added approximately 61,000 new physicians, 79,000 PAs, and 151,000 NPs, according to federal data.
Welcome aboard: The authors conclude that healthcare organizations should prepare for the new NP recruits by refining their onboarding, training, and clinical models. For urgent care operators facing staffing challenges, the analysis suggests that NPs will continue to be the primary recruitment targets. Here’s the best resource for both hiring managers in urgent care and candidates looking for meaningful work in the urgent care specialty—complete with visual maps and center-level connections: UCA’s & JUCM’s Urgent Care Compass
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