Nurse Practitioners Gather in Washington, D.C., to Advocate for Patients and Future of Health Care

AANP Announces New NP Count: More Than 431,000 NPs Delivering Care Across the U.S.

, /PRNewswire/ -- On the eve of its annual Health Policy Conference, the American Association of Nurse Practitioners^® (AANP), the largest professional organization for nurse practitioners (NPs) in the country, released new data demonstrating the continued growth in the NP profession. The number of licensed NPs has increased by nearly 12% over the previous count — with 431,410 NPs in 2024 compared to 385,358 in 2023.

"The number of nurse practitioners continues to grow because patients depend on us for trusted and high-quality health care," said AANP President Stephen A. Ferrara, DNP. "With more than 431,000 licensed NPs, we are meeting the demand for care in every community — improving health outcomes and offering patients more choices in how and where they receive care."

On the heels of this good news, AANP will host its annual Health Policy Conference from March 2-4 in Washington, D.C. The sold-out event will bring together 340 NPs to hear directly from health policy leaders about the priorities of the 119th Congress and the new Administration — and what they mean for NPs and their patients.

The conference will conclude with NPs traveling to Capitol Hill to meet with federal lawmakers and advocate for policies that strengthen patient access to high-quality health care. Their priorities include advocating for policies that will make the Medicare and Medicaid system more efficient by retiring barriers to practice and eliminating redundancies in the delivery of health care.

"As our numbers grow, so does our responsibility to lead transformative policy change. We urge Congress to act on these critical issues that directly impact patient health. Outdated barriers must be removed to ensure a health care system that is both effective and efficient. As new legislation is crafted, policies should reflect the realities of those providing care and prioritize patient needs," said Ferrara.

The American Association of Nurse Practitioners^® (AANP) is the largest professional membership organization for nurse practitioners (NPs) of all specialties. It represents the interests of the more than 431,000 licensed NPs in the U.S. AANP provides legislative leadership at the local, state and national levels, advancing health policy; promoting excellence in practice, education and research; and establishing standards that best serve NPs' patients and other health care consumers. As The Voice of the Nurse Practitioner^®, AANP represents the interests of NPs as providers of high-quality, cost-effective, comprehensive, patient-centered health care. To locate an NP in your community, visit npfinder.com. For more information about NPs, visit aanp.org.

SOURCE American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP)