Reimagining Nurse Practitioner Education to Meet Societal Needs: The Development of an Endocrinology Training Program

Purpose: There is a significant provider shortage for patients with diabetes and general endocrine conditions and it is expected to worsen over the next 10 years. Nurse practitioners (NPs) have the potential to substantially increase access to specialty care, particularly in rural and community settings. This presentation will highlight the development and implementation of an innovative endocrinology training program for nurse practitioners. This program has the potential to bridge gaps by increasing access to care for patients with diabetes and general endocrine conditions.

Methods: In response to the need for endocrinology providers and the paucity of dedicated training opportunities, one private school of nursing launched an endocrinology training program for NPs in 2016. By leveraging resources including a partnership between the school of nursing and academic health center, the subspecialty training in endocrinology for NP students was developed. This training is integrated within a graduate nursing program, and designed to provide theoretical and clinical management skills for NPs to deliver care to adult patients with complex diabetes and general endocrine conditions. The first of its kind in the country, this program offers NP students advanced training in adult endocrinology and incorporates interprofessional collaboration. The program is a hybrid model which includes distance-based didactic content coupled with interactive, hands-on training in diabetes technology and clinical care. The program consists of two didactic courses and one clinical course and enrolls current NP students as well as practicing NPs. This training program was funded by a 3-year grant from the Health Resource & Services Administration.

Results: In the three years of the specialty training program, 36 NP students have graduated. An additional 30 students have taken the didactic courses as electives. The student evaluations of the didactic courses have remained high throughout the duration with the courses averaging 3.92/4.0. Of the students who have graduated, close to half are practicing in an endocrinology settings and the others are practicing in internal medicine, women’s health, or primary care settings. 56% of the students who have graduated from the program are living and practicing in rural or underserved communities, as defined by the Health Resource Services Administration (HRSA).

Conclusion: In summary, this innovative training program for NPs was developed in response to the increased demand for providers trained in endocrinology and address the gap in access for patients with diabetes and other endocrine conditions. Schools of nursing should consider innovative approaches to meeting societal demands for healthcare in specialty shortage areas.