653,983
Nurse Practitioners
100%
Accepting patients
29%
Most common: NP
FindClarity lists 653,983 nurse practitioners nationwide. 100% are currently accepting new patients. The most common credential is NP (29%). 50% accept Medicare.
Nurse practitioners (NPs) are advanced practice registered nurses who diagnose conditions, order tests, prescribe medications, and manage ongoing treatment. They hold a master's or doctoral degree in nursing (MSN or DNP) on top of their registered nursing (RN) license, plus national board certification in a specialty area like family practice, pediatrics, psychiatry, or acute care.
NPs practice independently in about half of U.S. states, meaning they can open their own clinics, prescribe medications including controlled substances, and manage patients without physician oversight. In the other states, they work under a collaborative agreement with a physician.
Many patients see an NP as their primary care provider. NPs provide the same services as primary care physicians for most routine and chronic conditions: annual physicals, sick visits, medication management, referrals, and preventive screenings. NPs tend to spend more time per visit than physicians and emphasize patient education and disease prevention.
You might see a nurse practitioner for any of the same reasons you would see a primary care doctor: annual wellness exams, acute illness (cold, flu, infections), chronic disease management (diabetes, hypertension, asthma), mental health concerns, women's health, pediatric care, or geriatric care. NPs are especially common in urgent care clinics, retail clinics, community health centers, and rural areas where physician access is limited. Psychiatric NPs (PMHNPs) prescribe and manage psychiatric medications.
A visit with an NP is similar to a physician visit. They will take a health history, perform a physical examination, order labs or imaging if needed, diagnose conditions, and prescribe treatment. NPs can refer you to specialists. Appointments are typically 20 to 40 minutes. NPs often spend extra time on patient education, lifestyle counseling, and answering questions. For new patients, expect a comprehensive health history review.
Office visit copay: $20-50 · Annual physical: $0 (covered preventive) · Urgent care NP visit: $30-75 copay · Telehealth visit: $0-50 copay
Yes. Nurse practitioners can prescribe medications in all 50 states, including controlled substances. In states with full practice authority (about half), NPs prescribe independently. In other states, they prescribe under a collaborative agreement with a physician. In practice, an NP can manage the same medications as a primary care physician for most conditions.
NPs and physicians have different training paths. Physicians complete medical school (4 years) plus residency (3-7 years). NPs complete a nursing degree, gain clinical experience as an RN, then earn a master's or doctoral nursing degree (2-4 years of graduate study). Research shows equivalent outcomes for primary care conditions managed by NPs versus physicians. NPs refer to specialists when a condition falls outside their scope.
Yes. All major insurance types (commercial, Medicare, Medicaid, Tricare) cover NP visits. Medicare reimburses NPs at 85% of the physician rate, but most commercial plans reimburse at the same rate. Your copay for an NP visit is typically the same as for a physician visit.
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All insurance plans cover nurse practitioner visits. Copays and cost-sharing are typically the same as physician visits. Medicare reimburses NPs at 85% of the physician fee schedule, but this does not affect your copay. NPs are listed in insurance directories alongside physicians. If you are looking for a primary care provider accepting new patients, NPs often have shorter wait times for new patient appointments.