Nurses make up the largest segment of the U.S. health care workforce, with over 4 million registered nurses across hospitals, clinics, schools, long-term care facilities and home health settings. They provide direct patient care, communicate with doctors, monitor treatment plans and often serve as the first line of contact in clinics, hospitals and home settings. Their work is essential to keeping the health care system running.
A nurse practitioner (NP) is an even more specialized nurse who brings advanced clinical training and the authority to diagnose, treat and prescribe medication. They manage chronic conditions, guide patients through complex decisions and help ease the pressure on crowded health systems, all while building strong, ongoing relationships with the people they serve.
At Signify Health, we see the difference nurse practitioners make every day. Our nationwide network of clinicians includes hundreds of NPs interacting with people directly in the home. They help reduce unnecessary hospital visits, improve outcomes and make health care more personal and accessible.
Thinking of becoming a nurse practitioner? This article looks at what the role involves, why it’s in high demand and how nurse practitioners are shaping the future of care, both in clinical settings and in the home.
What is the Role of a Nurse Practitioner?
Nurse practitioners work at the intersection of advanced clinical care and personalized support, diagnosing conditions, prescribing medications and creating prevention plans tailored to each patient’s needs. Unlike registered nurses, NPs hold graduate-level degrees and operate with a high level of independence in many states.
Their scope of practice covers a wide range of services, including:
- Diagnosing acute and chronic illnesses
- Prescribing medications and managing treatment plans
- Providing preventive care like screenings, vaccines and wellness counseling
- Supporting long-term condition management, often with a strong focus on education and patient involvement
NPs also help make health care more accessible, especially through in-home and virtual visits that bring care directly to patients, no matter where they are. Flexibility like this can be especially valuable for people managing chronic conditions, recovering after hospital stays or facing barriers to getting to a clinic.
Meeting patients in their own space often leads to better follow-through with treatment, fewer delays in care and stronger provider-patient relationships. It’s a more personal approach that helps close gaps in access while making care feel less overwhelming.
Why Become a Nurse Practitioner?
Nursing is a rewarding career that offers purpose, stability and a direct connection to the people you serve. For many nurses, becoming a nurse practitioner is the next step toward greater clinical responsibility and more autonomy in care.
If you’re looking for a career where you can make a real impact in people’s lives, earn a competitive income, and have the flexibility to choose where and how you practice, becoming a nurse practitioner offers all of that, and more. It’s a role that combines clinical knowledge with day-to-day patient connection, making it both professionally rewarding and personally meaningful.
Why Would Someone Become a Nurse Practitioner Instead of a Doctor?
For many people, the choice of becoming a nurse practitioner instead of a doctor comes down to time, cost and lifestyle. Becoming a nurse practitioner requires less schooling and significantly lower tuition costs than becoming a physician, which means you can start practicing sooner and with less debt.
NPs can diagnose, treat and prescribe in most states, often with a high degree of autonomy. They provide much of the same care that primary care physicians do, especially in family medicine, women’s health and geriatrics. But the path to that responsibility is more accessible, with programs often designed for working nurses who want to advance their careers without stepping away from patient care.
Many nurse practitioners also choose the role for its work-life balance. The ability to work in a variety of settings—including in-home and virtual care—makes it easier to build a schedule that fits your life. And because NPs are in high demand across the country, there’s flexibility to choose a location, specialty or employer that aligns with your goals.
Key Nurse Practitioner Benefits
The benefits of being a nurse practitioner extend far beyond the ability to diagnose and prescribe. NPs are trusted providers who often lead care in clinics, homes and community settings. With advanced training and clinical independence, they can guide treatment decisions and focus on both prevention and response.
Here are some of its main advantages:
- Strong job outlook: Demand for nurse practitioners continues to grow, with millions of people needing consistent, long-term care. NPs are especially vital in areas facing physician shortages.
- Competitive earning potential: Nurse practitioners earn significantly more than registered nurses, with median salaries often exceeding six figures. Income varies by location and specialty, but compensation reflects the advanced skill set.
- Clinical autonomy: In most states, NPs can assess, diagnose, treat and prescribe independently or with minimal physician oversight. This allows for more meaningful input in patient care decisions.
- Flexibility in practice settings: NPs work in hospitals, primary care clinics, schools, specialty offices and home-based care. Telehealth is also a growing option, making it easier to adapt your role to your lifestyle.
- Stronger clinician-patient relationships: With more time per visit and a focus on whole-person care, NPs often develop deeper connections with the people they treat.
- Work-life balance: Many nurse practitioners are able to choose part-time, full-time or non-traditional schedules.
- Room to specialize and grow: NPs can focus on areas like women’s health, mental health or family medicine. Over time, many also move into leadership, policy or education roles.
At Signify Health, nurse practitioners play a central role in our mission to build trusted relationships to make people healthier. They visit health plan members at home, provide personalized support, help assess chronic conditions and reduce unnecessary hospital visits, making it easier for people to stay healthier where they live.
The Work of a Nurse Practitioner
The day of a nurse practitioner can look different depending on where they practice, but generally speaking, the role almost always centers on patient care, clinical decision-making and ongoing support. From conducting physical exams to managing chronic conditions, NPs bring both skill and empathy into every interaction.
In-Home Care
Nurse practitioners providing care in the home check vitals, review medications, assess chronic conditions and update care plans based on what they see and hear firsthand. These visits often reveal factors that don’t come up in a clinic, such as mobility challenges, home safety issues or lack of access to healthy food. For NPs, visiting a patient’s home is a chance to understand their daily reality and adjust care in ways that are both realistic and effective.
Clinic-Based Care
In clinical settings, NPs manage routine checkups, screenings and treatment for acute or chronic issues. They also help patients navigate broader concerns like stress, family caregiving demands or barriers to medication adherence. For many people, their NP becomes a consistent touchpoint and someone who not only treats the illness but also asks the right questions about what’s going on at home, work or within their support system.
Telehealth
Through video or phone visits, nurse practitioners answer questions, adjust medications and help patients manage symptoms without needing to travel. These talks often open the door to more meaningful conversations about sleep, diet, emotional health or financial strain that might not come up in a rushed clinic visit. The format gives patients space to speak honestly and helps NPs offer care that fits real life.
Nurse Practitioner Advantages in Health Care Delivery
Nurse practitioners strengthen health care delivery by improving accessibility, clinical expertise and patient-centered care. Their presence helps close care gaps, reduce delays and bring high-quality support to more people, especially in areas with provider shortages.
Here are a few ways NPs make care more efficient, more accessible and more effective across the board:
- Helps address physician shortages: NPs provide essential care in communities with limited physician access, particularly in rural and underserved areas. This helps reduce long wait times and improves continuity.
- Closes care gaps for health plans: Missed screenings, overdue follow-ups and unmanaged conditions are easier to spot when NPs are involved. Their proactive care helps health plans meet quality benchmarks while supporting better outcomes.
- Reduces strain on emergency departments: Patients can get treatment for non-emergent issues through an NP instead of going to the ER. This improves the patient experience and lowers overall system burden.
- Improves chronic condition management: Ongoing support, medication adjustments and clear guidance help patients manage long-term conditions more effectively. NPs often catch issues early and help prevent complications.
- Expands care through in-home and virtual visits: When patients can’t easily leave home or prefer to receive their care from home, NPs offer a safe and personal option. This is especially valuable for older adults and those managing multiple conditions.
- Makes prevention easier to access: Wellness exams, screenings and vaccinations are often handled directly by NPs, which creates more access points for patients to stay on top of their health before problems escalate.
- Strengthens care coordination: NPs often act as the central contact in a patient’s care journey, connecting the dots between specialists, caregivers and services. This helps patients feel more supported and less overwhelmed.
- Brings flexibility to the system: Nurse practitioners work across clinics, homes and virtual care settings. That adaptability allows health systems to reach more patients without requiring major infrastructure changes.
These contributions make nurse practitioners a vital part of a more responsive and patient-centered health care system.
How Signify Health Empowers Nurse Practitioners
At Signify Health, we empower nurse practitioners to do what they do best: spend time with health plan members and help educate people while also maintaining their work-life balance. Our nationwide network supports flexible, high-impact work that brings personalized health evaluations directly into people’s homes.
In-Home Health Evaluations give our NPs the time and space to fully understand each health plan member’s needs by performing medication reviews, discussing daily routines and examining safety risks or social factors that might affect health.
We also use technology to make coordination easier. Our systems connect NPs with care teams, health plans and support services to close gaps in care and reconnect people with the resources they need. That means our clinicians can stay focused on delivering an impactful visit while we handle the background work.
For nurse practitioners who want flexibility, connection and the opportunity to make a meaningful impact, we offer a model that brings all of that together without the rush or limitations of traditional settings.
Is Becoming a Nurse Practitioner Right for You?
Now we ask you—why do you want to be a nurse practitioner? Maybe it’s the chance to build lasting relationships with patients. Maybe it’s the flexibility to shape your schedule. Or perhaps it’s the opportunity to provide care that truly makes a difference, especially for people who don’t always get the support they need.
Nurse practitioners play a vital role in care delivery, not just as providers but as trusted guides through complex health decisions. It’s a rewarding path that combines medical expertise with empathy, autonomy with collaboration and impact with real-world practicality.
With Signify Health, nurse practitioners enjoy an unhurried visit, taking time to focus on a person's overall health and potential barriers to care. Our clinicians make a meaningful impact by identifying chronic conditions, helping to close gaps in care and addressing social determinants of health, making it possible for people to get connected to the right care for their unique needs.
If you are looking for a career where you can drive health literacy and make meaningful connections, we’d love to work with you. Explore nurse practitioner opportunities with Signify Health today.