Nurse practitioners are a great boon for both patient outcomes and administrative progress. They can relieve a physician's workload and providepatients more extensive care in terms of both time and information.

Interested in incorporating a nurse practitioner into your office? Consider the following research to understand the advantages further:

Nurse practitioners can excel at specific care challenges.

A study by Toronto Western Hospital found that an astonishing 96 percent of patients with back problems were most satisfied with their care when it was provided by a nurse practitioner with specialized training in spinal conditions.

If your practice treats a high number of patients with a specific condition, hiring a nurse practitioner who has the skill to treat them can alleviate your workload and improve patient satisfaction. In addition, the nurse practitioner can conduct more detailed and extensive follow-up with those patients than would be customary at a primary care practice.

Nurse practitioners cut hospital readmission rates.

A University of Texas study found that elderly diabetic patients who use a nurse practitioner as part of their primary care were less likely to go back to the hospital for preventable complications.

The researchers think this is because nurse practitioners have more time to dedicate to patient information at appointments, as well as more time to do constructive follow-up — again, a uniquely valuable element for any primary care practice.

Nurse practitioners go where they're needed.

Researchers from the University of Michigan report that nurse practitioners are very willing to work in areas of high need, such as rural communities with low income brackets and lower life expectancy. If you practice in one of these areas, a nurse practitioner can step in to provide your patient overflow with the focused care they need.

Nurse practitioners are the perfect on-site consultant.

A study from the University of Missouri found that health outcomes for patients spike when advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) were sanctioned to provide a full range of primary care duties.

Hiring a highly skilled APRN as a colleague means you have an experienced colleague with you at all times for accurate consultation when they’re needed with no delays in communication.

Nurse practitioners can form strong bonds with your patients.

Since a nurse practitioner often has more time to spend on individual care, they can get to know patients well, and that will foster great give and take in terms of information and trust.

When your patients feel comfortable with the person caring for them, they'll follow care instructions more thoroughly, and do better — which as a physician is your ultimate goal.