Growing Your Primary Care Career as an Advanced Practice Provider

Advanced practice providers (APPs), perhaps now more than ever, are in a unique position to cultivate incredible medical careers. Increasingly, nurse practitioners and physician assistants are vital in improving access to patient care, tackling complex cases and, according to recent research, representing the key factor in solving the upcoming physician shortage.

In fact, a quarter of all health visits are now delivered by nurse practitioners (NPs) and physician assistants (PAs), and this growth isn't projected to slow down soon.

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, job growth for NPs is expected to increase by 40% and growth for PAs is expected to increase by 28% between 2023 and 2033. But, much of the growth advanced practice providers will see in the coming years will not happen overnight: clinicians still must put in the necessary work to grow their careers and set themselves apart from their peers in the job market.

Provider Solutions & Development (PS&D) works with physicians and APPs at all stages of their careers to help them find jobs when they're actively searching and to make sure they are in the best position for career advancement and new opportunities when they're not.

(Are you an APP looking for your next Primary Care opportunity? Check out our career site to view our open roles.)

The State of Primary Care for APPs

Understanding the current landscape is crucial for APPs to position themselves for success. Before we dive into tips, let's take a look at what we're seeing in the industry, making proactive career growth all the more important.

1. Increasing physician shortage: The current patient demand exceeds physician availability, and that trend is only expected to continue. By 2032, it's estimated that there will be a shortage of between 21,100 and 55,200 Primary Care physicians, which is leading to a significant shift in how healthcare organizations offer care to their patients. While physicians still play a crucial role in quality care, organizations are leaning more heavily on APPs to fill this gap and ensure patients get the care they need in a timely manner.
2. Salary growth: Over the last several years, salaries and overall compensation for NPs and PAs in Primary Care have grown, matching the trends we're seeing for physicians and in other medical specialties. In 2023, NPs made an average of $128,490 per year, and PAs made an average of $130,020 per year.
3. Changes in care delivery: Prominent health organizations like The American Association of Nurse Practitioners and Medical Economics note some key trends in Primary Care, including an increase in wait times for Primary Care appointments, clinicians screening more often for mental health and a shift toward team-based care.

Starting Off Strong: How to Launch Your APP Career

While completing training is a significant accomplishment, finding that first job in the field is often a looming presence for clinicians. However, APPs can set themselves up for success in that initial job search by clearly defining goals, preparing strong hiring materials and building a professional network.

Define Short- and Long-Term Career Goals

Before seeking that first role out of training, it's important for NPs and PAs to consider their job requirements. What do they want out of this position? What are their goals? Identifying ideal location, company culture, work setting and size is a good place to begin. Answering these questions will come in handy when it's time for the interview process.

The typical Primary Care interview will have multiple touchpoints that are prime opportunities to discover whether the job is the right fit. From the phone screen with a recruiter to negotiation and contract signing, APPs can understand how a role might help them achieve their goals by asking appropriate questions.

Check out our Journal for specific examples of interview questions APPs can ask to help select the right Primary Care position for them.

Prepare a Strong CV and Cover Letter

When applying for an APP job, coming prepared with a strong CV and cover letter can help launch a career. An APP cover letter should closely follow the five-step structure laid out in this easy-to-follow journal on CV and cover letter construction. With a basic outline established, clinicians can focus on the content of your cover letter.

Overall, hiring managers are assessing for retention as well as for fit and qualification. APPs should include a few details that show commitment: why they're interested in a location or specific community, their passion for the work and any impactful volunteer positions. NPs and PAs should remember to be themselves and provide specific examples and reasons why they're applying to set themselves apart.

Build and Leverage a Professional Network

Even at the onset of your career, there are ways to build and leverage a professional network for career growth and job searching in the future. The three main ways are through conferences, networking events and webinars. As no two conferences are the same, APPs should consider attending multiple networking opportunities to find the one that yields the most impactful connections.

Joining professional organizations like the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) or the American Academy of Physician Associates (AAPA) also offers APPs unique benefits that can support career advancement. Clinicians can speak to each other about unique specialties, share documents and support collaboration and discussion. These organizations' annual conferences are a great foundation for those looking to build their network from scratch.

Diversify the Job Search

As APPs jumpstart their career in Primary Care, casting a wide net can yield better results. In other words, diversify your job search. The most common ways APPs find jobs today are through online employment platforms like LinkedIn and Indeed. But there are other ways, too.

PS&D's career site is a great resource for connecting APPs with jobs that match their career goals. Clinicians can also diversify their job search by working with a recruiter, attending career fairs and following medical journals that have job boards, like the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM).

Settling In: How to Foster Growth in Mid-Career

Like with many fields, career growth for APPs is often the most exponential at the mid-career mark. This stage is where APPs are fully settled into their responsibilities and practice. However, settled doesn't mean there is no room for growth. Now is the time for APPs to stay competitive and ensure career movement is easy when the time is right.

Pursue Advanced Specialization

Staying competitive doesn't look the same for every clinician. There are different types of specializations and certifications Primary Care APPs can earn, including certifications in some high-demand areas, like Adult-Gerontology Primary Care, Advanced Cardiac Life Support, Pediatric Anesthesiology, Psychiatric Mental Health and more.

While it may seem counterintuitive to pursue advanced specialization after finally getting comfortable in a role, there is a good reason to continue. Additional training makes clinicians more valuable in the job market, especially if they're looking for a promotion, additional responsibilities or simply a change of pace in day-to-day routine.

Consider Advanced Degrees

Mid-career APPs are in the best position to consider advanced degrees. Going from a practicing NP or PA to DNP, MSN, DMSc, PhD, MD or DHSc, has many benefits. In addition to advanced knowledge and skillset, advanced degrees give clinicians increased value in the job market, the ability to take on additional responsibilities and an easier transition to leadership and teaching roles in the future.

Seek Leadership Roles

Whether within your existing organization or in your professional association, pursuing leadership options is an excellent path for APPs seeking that next step in their career. Consider a position like Medical Director, Healthcare Administrator or Policy Advocate. While leadership positions like Medical Director are sometimes reserved for physicians, more APPs are getting the opportunity to lead lately, opening a whole new career path for NPs and PAs.

One such example is Marina Sarwary, a physician assistant who PS&D helped get promoted to Medical Director for Providence ExpressCare clinics in southern California in 2021. Of her promotion, Marina says, "I want to be a role model for our amazing clinicians, and I want them to know this is possible."

Engage in Continuous Learning

If larger steps like pursuing an advanced degree, specialization or leadership position aren't in the cards, there are many ways APPs can grow their knowledge and skills in the middle of their careers.

Continuous learning doesn't have to be daunting or take a significant time commitment that many clinicians simply might not have. Through conferences, CMEs, workshops, webinars and more, APPs can engage in continued learning when it fits their schedule. A great place to start is professional organizations, like AANP and AAPA.

Continue Building a Professional Network

Continuous learning is also an effective way to connect with others. While we mentioned the importance of networking early on, clinicians can foster connections with colleagues, mentors and other APPs at any time. NPs and PAs can celebrate career milestones, attend conferences together, encourage collaboration when appropriate and show appreciation. Small gestures go a long way in preserving connections.

Having a strong network is a critical part of identifying the right opportunity whenever it comes along. According to a recent PS&D study, nearly 65% of clinicians are not actively job searching but are open to new opportunities. While support from professional connections is vital, there are still a lot of unknowns when it comes to transitioning to a new position.

Taking a Bow: Tips for Pre-Retirement

Career growth is just as important for APPs nearing retirement as it is when they're right out of training. It's never too late for clinicians to make an impact in their careers or their field in general.

Having years of experience in practice can provide value in several different areas, like mentorship and teaching, consulting and research. For real-world inspiration, look no further than PS&D's hire Dr. Tony Knott, who, after switching careers and considering retirement, returned to medicine and continues to do meaningful work.

Mentor Up-and-Coming APPs or Peers

Mentorship is a central part of medicine and how healthcare continues to advance. Later-career APPs can mentor up-and-coming APPs or peers and pay their knowledge forward. This might be one of the keys to moving the needle in the shortage of clinicians. With the support of a mentor leading them through challenges, clinicians might be able to avoid burnout and be less likely to leave the field.

Contribute to Research

The field of medicine benefits enormously from experienced clinicians. While valuable at any stage of an APPs career, contributions to research, including studies and publications, become far more valuable with more lived experience. Current and future scientific advancements in Primary Care rely on practicing clinicians who can help advance the field in meaningful ways, and over the last several years, APPs have been participating in research more frequently.

Consider Teaching or Faculty Roles

Similarly to how lived experiences can be a valuable addition to research, these skills can make a significant difference in teaching new NPs and PAs studying to pursue a career as an APC. Both in teaching roles and faculty positions, APPs can provide value to nursing schools or PA programs to advance the field and maybe help more APP students choose Primary Care as their specialty of choice.

Explore Consulting Opportunities

Healthcare organizations looking to advance their Primary Care services, invest in new technology or make their processes more effective for patient care can't do it alone. As consultants, APPs can use their years of experience to advise hospitals and clinics on practices that would be the most beneficial.

PS&D Is Here to Help APPs Grow, Every Step of the Way

Whether you're looking for that first job out of training or are interested in opportunities that offer fulfillment in new and unique ways, PS&D can help guide the way. As the only recruiting organization founded and owned by a major healthcare system, PS&D offers practical advice and expert insights for clinicians looking to advance their careers in Primary Care.

Ready to find your next Primary Care opportunity? View open positions or reach out to one of our recruiters today.