Nurse Practitioners Play Growing Role in Primary, Rural Care

Posonya Currie, BSN, grew up in Haywood County and hopes to work there as a primary care provider when she graduates from UT Health Science Center College of Nursing as a nurse practitioner. She chose the job as a way to have a significant impact.

This week is National Nurse Practitioner Week, recognizing the job that U.S. News & World Report has ranked as the No. 1 job in America for the past two years. The ranking is based on factors including job market health, growth potential, salary, employment rates, and job satisfaction. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a 40% increase in employment for nurse practitioners between 2024 and 2034

The UT Health Science Center College of Nursing is the largest producer of doctorally-prepared nurse practitioners in Tennessee. The college offers financial incentives and unique learning opportunities through a variety of grants that support educating nurse practitioners who commit to practicing in underserved areas.

In Fiscal Year 2025, 286 students were enrolled in the college's Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program, which offers nine areas of concentration. Eighty-four students graduated with their DNP that year.

"To fill the gaps, I've seen during my nursing career and give patients more thorough, easily accessible treatment, particularly in areas with poor access to health care, I decided to pursue a career as a family nurse practitioner," said Currie, who will graduate in 2027. "I was drawn to the Family Nurse Practitioner specialty because it enables me to provide treatment for people of all ages, with a focus on prevention, continuity, and health education.

Currie is a DNP Rural Scholar. Students who participate in this program have an opportunity to participate in rural and underserved health care. They also complete a Quality Improvement project with a rural clinical partner. These students receive a stipend of 50% of their tuition, plus $2,500 to pay for conference travel and to distribute the project results.

"Being from a relatively rural area, I became passionate about rural health care after seeing firsthand the inequalities that still exist in small towns, such as lack of primary care physicians, transportation obstacles, and inadequate resources for health education," Currie said.

UT Health Science Center is dedicated to improving health outcomes in rural areas through a variety of efforts, including the UTHSC Nursing Mobile Health units and the new Tennessee Rural Health Care Center of Excellence, a statewide effort funded through a $12 million grant from the Tennessee Department of Health.

Haywood County is a health provider shortage area, according to the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). The ratio of primary care providers to residents in the county is one to 2,558, and the county has no obstetric care providers.

"My dedication to rural health is further strengthened by my involvement in the DNP Rural Scholars Program," Currie said. "It has had a significant influence on my leadership and community involvement abilities while teaching me how to carry out evidence-based programs that accurately reflect the reality of rural practice."

One of the reasons for the anticipated growth of employment for nurse practitioners is the aging population and growing prevalence of chronic disease, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) will increasingly be used in team-based models of care, particularly in hospitals, offices of physicians, clinics, and other ambulatory care settings, where they will be needed to provide preventive, primary, and acute care.

Matthew Keathley, DNP, FNP-C, earned both his Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and his DNP at UT Health Science Center. He decided to become a nurse practitioner after working several years in the operating room of a Memphis hospital. "I just wanted to further my career and make decisions and wanted to take over patient care," he said.

During his final year in the DNP program, he returned to his hometown of Union City in Obion County. Because he was working in a rural area, 100% of his tuition was covered by a (HRSA) grant that has the goal of increasing the number of nurse practitioners in underserved areas. After graduation, he went to work at the Stern Cardiovascular office in Union City. His wife, who is an occupational therapist, is from nearby Martin.

Practicing in a small town has many good points, Dr. Keathley said. "Overall, you get to know the patients and their families. It's nice to see them around the community in different settings, which adds a personal aspect to the relationship."

Currie sees being a nurse practitioner as a way to serve the community. "I've discovered that in rural settings, health care professionals become respected members of the community. This special bond promotes autonomy, trust, health literacy, community connections, and eventually improves patient outcomes, which is why I find it particularly gratifying."