Improving Support for NPs: How Care Teams Can Make a Difference

National NP Week is a time to celebrate the incredible care nurse practitioners provide, but it also comes at a moment when their roles are more demanding and challenging than ever.

NPs are the backbone of patient care, often serving as the first face a patient sees and filling gaps in an already overstretched system. But even with their essential role, the pressures of day-to-day work can make it challenging for teams to fully recognize their NP counterparts’ efforts.

According to a recent study, more than 60 percent of NPs report feeling burned out, and nearly one-third experience both burnout and depression. These numbers aren’t just a byproduct of demanding work—they’re warning signs that a critical part of our healthcare workforce is struggling to feel fulfilled and supported in the clinic.

And NPs alone can’t fix it; it takes the whole care team working together to make a difference.

The reality of clinic dynamics

NPs deliver critical care around the clock, but in a system where the entire team is working long hours and busy shifts, it’s understandably difficult to deliver recognition often.

But there are a few things that can be done to spark change. When asked about what contributes to their burnout, many NPs reported too many bureaucratic tasks (49 percent), insufficient compensation (43 percent), and a lack of respect from their employees, colleagues, and other staff (43 percent).

NPs can’t rewrite compensation models or overhaul administrative workflows by themselves. But the wider care team, including physicians, nurses, and administrators, can make easy changes in how they show up for and recognize the efforts of their NP counterparts.

Supporting and amplifying NP voices

Physicians and care teams are the biggest stakeholders in shaping how NPs experience their roles. Putting foundational processes in place to truly support them improves the patient experience, team performance, and the healthcare system as a whole.

Here are a few simple but powerful ways physicians and care leaders can help bridge the gap:

• Advocate for them in the exam room: While a lack of recognition in the workplace can be an issue, it also happens inside the exam room. Patients may not recognize the NP’s expertise, often asking to see a “real doctor” regardless of the care they were provided. To help this, introduce NPs as the primary decision-makers to patients at their first appointment. Doing so reinforces their authority and counters the common perception that only physicians lead care.

• Introduce “Shadow days”: Invite other physicians, administrators, or care team members to spend a day shadowing NPs. Experiencing their workflow firsthand, from patient intake to follow-ups, documentation, and complex case management, helps leaders understand the breadth and depth of NP responsibilities.

• Give them a real seat at the table: Often, major decisions are made by physicians or leadership, even though NPs are typically the first to see patients and have a unique perspective on clinic dynamics. Consider reserving time in weekly meetings for them to share trends, challenges from the exam room, and recommendations for improvement. And, when feasible, provide opportunities to lead projects that drive meaningful change, ensuring the added responsibilities don’t overwhelm their existing workload.

• Create quarterly or monthly culture check-ins: Conduct periodic anonymous team surveys to measure satisfaction, especially for NPs, and provide an open forum where they can share frustrations and suggestions more freely. Don’t just read them—share a plan every quarter or twice a year for improving pain points to ensure every team member feels heard and valued.

Celebrating National NP Week

Beyond giving NPs well-deserved recognition, this week is a moment for physicians to take action. It is the perfect time to commit to concrete plans for how the team will support NPs over the next year.

You may not be able to start an NP roundtable today, but taking a moment to personally thank an NP for the incredible care they deliver sets an example for others. Small actions like this can spark a ripple effect of recognition and support across your team and the wider physician community. Remember: this is a marathon, not a sprint, and sustained effort is required before the industry will see real, lasting change.

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