Nurse Practitioners Make Positive Impacts on Patients’ Lives
More than 385,000 nurse practitioners (NPs) are licensed in the United States. RiverView is fortunate to have 11 nurse practitioners caring for patients at RiverView clinics in Crookston, East Grand Forks, Fertile, Red Lake Falls, and Thief River Falls.
National Nurse Practitioner Week is Nov. 10-16. NP Week recognizes the positive impact NPs make in patients’ lives through more than 1 billion annual visits.
RiverView’s Nurse Practitioner Team consists of the following individuals
Certified Nurse Practitioners
- Rebekah Aakre, Dermatology
- Forrest LaPorte, Family Practice
- Heather Waldal, Dermatology
- Monica Wells, Spine
- Erika Beckett, Family Practice
- Lisa Anderson, Family Practice
- Donnak Brunson, Mental Health
Family Nurse Practitioners-Certified
- Tia Gullickson, Family Practice
- Riley Hermreck, Family Practice
- Natalie Royal, Family Practice
- Nicole Johnson, Family Practice
The nurse practitioner profession began in 1965 in response to the increasing demand for primary care providers in the United States. That year, the University of Colorado launched the first nurse practitioner program. By 2000, nurse practitioners were allowed to legally practice in all 50 states.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 46% increase in the number of NPs by 2031. The rise in NPs practicing across specialties could not come at a better time, as nearly 100 million Americans live in primary care shortage areas.
RiverView’s NPs deliver high-quality health care to our rural community.
Nurse practitioners are highly educated and trained medical professionals. In addition to their fundamental roles as registered nurses, they assess patients, order and interpret tests, make diagnoses, and provide treatment, including prescribing medications. As clinicians who blend clinical expertise with an added emphasis on disease prevention and health management, nurse practitioners are the healthcare providers of choice for many.
Thank you to RiverView’s nurse practitioners for rising to meet challenges, working to eliminate healthcare disparities, and strengthening RiverView’s ability to ensure patients receive exceptional care.