Things to Consider When Hiring an Advanced PractitionerPaul Olzak, MBA, CPRP

With the growing shortage of healthcare providers in the U.S., many organizations are increasingly turning to Advanced Practitioners (APs), including Nurse Practitioners (NPs) and Physician Assistants (PAs), to fill vital roles. Advanced Practitioners are qualified to evaluate, diagnose, and treat patients, providing cost-effective care in various specialties. If you're considering hiring an NP or PA for your practice, here are key factors to consider for a successful recruitment process.

Compensation

Offering a competitive salary is essential to attracting top-tier Advanced Practitioners. According to the latest data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the mean national salary for Nurse Practitioners in 2023 is approximately $124,680/year, while Physician Assistants earn an average of $126,010/year. Compensation can vary significantly depending on geographic location and specialty, so it’s important to conduct research to ensure that your salary offer is competitive in your region.

In addition to base salaries, some organizations offer alternative compensation models such as Relative Value Units (RVUs) or profit-sharing plans. These models are especially common in smaller practices where Advanced Practitioners may have a high level of autonomy and responsibility.

Benefits

Beyond salary, offering a robust benefits package is key to attracting and retaining top Advanced Practitioners. Standard benefits typically include:

• Continuing Medical Education (CME) stipends
• Medical licensure fee reimbursement
• Professional society membership fee reimbursement
• Cellphone reimbursement, especially for APs on-call

Ensuring your benefits package is competitive can be just as important as salary when recruiting qualified NPs and PAs.

Credentials

Ensuring that your Advanced Practitioners have the proper credentials is a crucial part of the hiring process. Most states require NPs and PAs to be licensed and certified before practicing. However, credentialing requirements can vary from state to state, so it’s essential to check the specific regulations in your state. 

To verify national certifications, you can use the following resources:

• American Academy of Nurse Practitioners National Certification Board
• National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA)

Malpractice Insurance

Like physicians, Advanced Practitioners need medical liability insurance to protect themselves and your organization from potential legal claims. Malpractice insurance for NPs and PAs is typically more affordable than for physicians and can usually be obtained through the same insurance providers. Ensuring your APs have adequate malpractice coverage is essential to minimizing legal risks.

Physician Oversight

While many Advanced Practitioners operate with a high degree of autonomy, state regulations often require some level of physician oversight. The degree of oversight varies based on state laws, so it’s important to understand the requirements in your jurisdiction. For example, some states may require physicians to co-sign charts, while others mandate regular meetings between physicians and APs to review patient care.

To find out more information about AP's go to:

• American Association of Physician Assistants
• American Association of Nurse Practitioners

Joining PracticeMatch in 2021, Paul supports Client Sourcing's proactive recruiting model that generates a robust prospect pool, creates an effective and efficient recruiting experience and identifies key metrics to ensure optimal performance for the client. Paul has a commitment to learning, development and passion for building a team of recruiting professionals to leverage their national footprint which benefits its client organizations and their candidates. Prior to joining the PracticeMatch team, Paul served as Medical Staff Development Officer at University Hospitals, Lake Health Region in Cleveland, Ohio.