College of Nursing to celebrate National Nurse Practitioner Month

Idaho State University’s College of Nursing will showcase the role of the nurse practitioner  Nov. 10–16, as nurse practitioners across the country celebrate more than 50 years of practice during National Nurse Practitioner Week. In the United States, this distinguished group of health care professionals number approximately 248,000 strong, with an additional 23,000 NP students graduating each year.

A proclamation ceremony at 9 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 11 will acquaint local citizens with the role of nurse practitioners as providers of high-quality, cost-effective, personalized health care and will highlight the value of choosing a nurse practitioner for primary, acute and specialty care. Pocatello Mayor Brian Blad and Chubbuck Mayor Kevin England will give the proclamation in the main lobby of the Beckley Nursing Building on ISU’s Pocatello campus, with a brief reception to follow.

The proclamation ceremony in Pocatello is just one of many events held in communities around the country to recognize the unique combination of nursing and health care service nurse practitioners offer to patients. Focusing not only on diagnosing and managing acute and chronic illnesses, nurse practitioners integrate health promotion, disease prevention, counseling and patient education to help patients understand their complete health picture.

In a population that is aging, with baby boomers becoming seniors in growing numbers over the next 10 years, having choices about health care providers will become even more important. National NP Week brings visibility to the role of the nurse practititoner, helping consumers make wise choices when selecting their health care provider.