Why now? Empowering Nurse Practitioners to lead in Primary Care
By Shannon Cole, DNP, APRN-BC
Co-Founder & Chief Clinical Officer, Villagers Health
The healthcare landscape is undergoing a profound transformation, and Nurse Practitioners (NPs) are at the heart of it. Throughout my 30 years in practice, I’ve seen how healthcare challenges run deep, especially in areas where resources are limited, and access is fragmented. Many communities that make up the fabric of our nation are often the ones left with the fewest options for healthcare. Addressing this gap has become both a professional and personal commitment, and it’s why I co-founded Villagers Health: a mission-driven organization dedicated to empowering NPs to establish their own independent practices in communities that need us most.
The rise of the Nurse Practitioner: disrupting healthcare norms
For decades, the shortage of primary care providers has only intensified, creating cascading challenges across our healthcare system. This shortage affects real lives—leading to delayed care, a higher prevalence of chronic disease, and preventable complications. NPs have stepped up to fill these critical gaps, offering quality, patient-centered care in ways that meet the demands of today’s value-based care model.
Value-based care is a shift from volume to outcomes. It’s about looking beyond the immediate visit and focusing on preventative care, wellness, and managing chronic diseases. This is where NPs excel—we’re trained to listen, assess, and partner with patients to make long-term health goals achievable. Over the years, I’ve observed NPs embodying this shift by providing care that truly reflects community needs, making a tangible impact on population health outcomes. It’s a disruptive change that speaks to our strengths as patient-centered, holistic practitioners.
Autonomy and the entrepreneurial NP
What’s particularly exciting today is that NPs are stepping into dual roles: as both providers and entrepreneurs. Experienced practitioners and new graduates alike are driving this movement, redefining what it means to provide care. Many NPs, particularly those earning their Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), are also pursuing MBAs to expand their skills. We are outpacing primary care MDs in numbers, with a lighter debt load, giving us greater flexibility to establish practices that are both responsive to community needs and economically sustainable.
At Villagers, we see this entrepreneurial drive as a dual force, one that can improve healthcare access and bolster local economies. And we’re encouraged by the growing number of states granting NPs full practice authority, recognizing our ability to deliver primary care independently. But to fully realize this potential, policy leaders need to continue dismantling the barriers that limit NPs’ practice autonomy, especially where our patients need us most.
Why now? Why Villagers?
Joining Villagers was a natural step for me because this mission aligns deeply with everything I believe in. As a Nurse Practitioner, educator, and advocate, I’ve been working toward this mission my entire career. Villagers goes beyond recognizing NP potential; we’re actively equipping NPs to realize it, providing mentorship, resources, and guidance for those ready to lead in their communities.
Our goal is to build a healthcare network that’s accessible, resilient, and adaptable, and to empower Nurse Practitioners to do it independently, sustainably, and effectively. By encouraging NP-led practices, we’re advancing a healthcare model that is community-centered and designed to evolve with the challenges we face.
This is why now is the time for NPs to lead the way. And it’s why Villagers Health exists—to be the engine driving this change.
Villagers envision a world where healthcare equity is a reality, and NPs play a central role.
As a co-founder, I’m proud to stand with my fellow NPs to ensure every community has access to quality care led by those who know them best.
Ready to take a first step?
Schedule your free practice consultation today. Connect with our Clinical Operations expert to share your vision and goals. Together, we’ll craft a personalized plan to turn your practice into reality.
