Preparing Nurse Practitioners to Provide Orthopedic Primary Care

Musculoskeletal disorders are among the most costly and debilitating chronic medical conditions, comprising up to 60% of outpatient office visits. Although access to orthopedic care is diminishing, studies reveal that primary care physicians are inadequately prepared to manage musculoskeletal problems. A recently piloted orthopedic fellowship program revealed that nurse practitioners also lack adequate preparation to manage musculoskeletal problems in primary care, but their skills and confidence improve with focused musculoskeletal training. More research is needed to assess knowledge gaps in the wider nurse practitioner population and to develop strategies for increasing musculoskeletal training at the graduate and postgraduate levels.