WHAT: The Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC) School of Nursing will host a luncheon to recognize area nurse practitioners during Nurse Practitioner Week (Nov. 13-19).

WHEN: 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday (Nov. 16)

WHERE: International Cultural Center, 601 Indiana Ave.

EVENT: Nurse practitioners in the Lubbock area are invited to attend a luncheon in celebration of Nurse Practitioner Week. Jo Ellen Wynn, a family nurse practitioner and associate director of education for the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP), will be the keynote speaker.

The U.S. is facing a primary care provider shortage, according to the AANP. A solution for the need of health care professionals is the nurse practitioner. A nurse practitioner is a registered nurse who has advanced education and clinical training in a health care specialty. Currently there are more than 140,000 nurse practitioners across the country.

The TTUHSC School of Nursing graduated 104 nurse practitioners this year. An estimated 115 students will graduate from the program in 2012.

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