In what setting do Nurse Practitioners most commonly provide care?

Nurse Practitioners (NPs) most commonly provide care in ambulatory care settings, such as clinics and private practices. This is due to the nature of their training and the primary focus of their roles, which involve managing chronic conditions, conducting health assessments, prescribing medications, and providing preventive care in outpatient settings. Ambulatory care allows NPs to establish ongoing relationships with patients, address a wide range of health issues, and promote health maintenance in a community-based context.

These settings also support the flexibility of care delivery that NPs practice, enabling them to serve diverse populations and meet varying health needs. Although Nurse Practitioners can and do work in emergency rooms, long-term care facilities, and hospital inpatient units, these environments typically account for a smaller portion of the overall employment landscape for NPs compared to the considerable volume of care provided in outpatient clinics and practices.