It’s National Nurse Practitioner Week! NPs are often the frontline healthcare provider for 13 million Americans living in primary healthcare deserts. Currently there are 355,000 licensed nurse practitioners in the United States. A nurse practitioner is an advanced practice registered nurse whose training and degree allows them to provide diagnostic and advanced care for a variety of conditions without the direct supervision of an M.D., but a projected shortfall of 450,000 nurses by 2025, means an alarming 20% fewer nurses than workforce requires. Steven Ferrara, President of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, discusses how the nurse practitioner profession expands access to primary care, especially for those Americans living in primary health care deserts.