Nurses care for patients in more ways than giving exams and providing treatment. As a continuing resource for patients, nurses can serve as educators and advocates. Nurses coordinate with physicians and other care providers to plan treatment.

Following the COVID-19 pandemic, health systems are seeking ways to lessen stress on nurses. One strategy is to prioritize permanent nurses. Another strategy is to implement virtual nursing programs. Virtual nursing frees bedside nurses from continual patient monitoring, allowing them to spend more time caring for individual patients’ needs.

Supervised Advanced Practice Providers are non-billable providers who build out care teams. Physician Assistants perform a variety of tasks depending on the specialty. Certified Anesthesiologist Assistants care for patients during the entirety of a surgical procedure. The number of both providers are expected to increase dramatically in the next 5 years.

Technologists serve a supporting role in patient care. They fulfill many different roles depending on the specialty. Technologists (like phlebotomy, surgical, and radiological technologists) serve patients in a variety of care sites. Their roles support patient diagnosis and treatment.

Physical therapists serve a supportive role as part of a care team. While not physicians, they provide ongoing care for patients in a preventative and rehabilitative capacity. Physical therapists help patients to manage/lessen symptoms of an injury. Growth is expected within the next 10 years, likely to anticipate the needs of the aging population.