How Nurse Practitioners and PAs Are Using AI to See More Patients

Nurse practitioners and physician assistants make up a large and growing share of the clinicians patients actually see. The American Association of Nurse Practitioners counts more than 461,000 licensed NPs in the US, and the NCCPA reported 201,038 board-certified PAs at the end of 2025.

Many carry full panels, see walk-ins, and cover shifts, with the same documentation load as physicians and often less support staff. When there’s a backlog, it usually ends up on their schedule. So does the charting.

This article looks at how NPs and PAs are using AI documentation to keep up. It draws on three Chartnote users’ own words and on what the research does and doesn’t show about seeing more patients.

The documentation squeeze on NPs and PAs

Burnout data for advanced practice clinicians looks a lot like the physician data, and in some ways it’s worse.

• Medscape’s 2026 report found that “nearly half” of NPs are burned out, with administrative burden still the leading contributor (Medscape NP report).
• For PAs, “bureaucratic tasks like charting and paperwork” were among the top drivers of burnout, and 44% of burned-out PAs said it had lasted more than two years (Medscape PA report).

When charting runs past clinic hours, adding a patient to the schedule feels like adding an hour to your night. That’s why time saved on documentation often comes before seeing more patients.

What “seeing more patients” actually looks like

The research here is more nuanced than most marketing suggests, and it’s worth being honest about it.

In a multicenter study of 263 physicians and advanced practice practitioners published in JAMA Network Open, clinicians using an ambient AI scribe for 30 days reported less burnout and less after-hours documentation. They were also more willing to add an urgent patient to their schedule. But the estimated number of extra patients they could add didn’t change significantly (Olson et al., 2025). The study also had no control group.

Human scribe research tells a similar story. A University of Chicago internist who co-wrote an Annals of Internal Medicine study on scribe programs told the AMA that once documentation gets easier, “most clinicians on their own will add one or two visits without being asked.” She also advised health systems not to demand more visits right away (AMA).

The practical takeaway: AI doesn’t automatically put more patients on your schedule. It removes the charting backlog that makes adding them feel impossible. What you do with that time is up to you.

Three NPs and PAs, in their own words

A cardiology PA: high-quality consult notes

Whitney Johnson is a physician assistant at Clearwater Cardiovascular Consultants and Regional Director of Operations for Premier Cardia in the Tampa Bay area. She describes the problem plainly: “In a high demand field like cardiology, you can get really bogged down with documentation.”

New consults are where she relies on AI most:

“One of the things that I use the most is the AI scribe, especially for new consults. It helps me quickly get all of the information from the patient as well as from the patient’s chart, reviewing hospital records and things like that.”

On the result: “It really creates a high quality note that’s invaluable to reduce the workload and stress.” And on what she does with the time: “It significantly reduces the amount of time that I spend on documentation, which means I get to spend more time interacting with patients, which is what I love to do.”

Read Whitney’s full story: AI Scribe Transforms Patient Care: A Cardiology PA’s Story of Reclaiming Time.

An emergency and urgent care PA: charting time cut by more than half

Elochukwu Osoego works as a PA in the emergency department in Jefferson City, Missouri. In 2022, he and his wife opened Innovative Medical Clinic to take pressure off local emergency departments. Moving between those two settings, he needs documentation that keeps up.

“It’s cut my charting time to more than half, and I was already fast to start with.”

The bigger change, he says, is in the room: “It’s made me a better clinician. I spend more time with my patients going over plans.”

He’s also shared it with his colleagues: “I have actually recommended this to some of my co-workers, and they have experienced similar results.”

Read Elochukwu’s full story: AI Scribe Transforms Patient Care: A Missouri PA’s Journey to Better Documentation.

A family NP: finishing work at work

Dr. Norman Kier is a family nurse practitioner in Sacramento. He remembers spending evenings after dinner catching up on notes. He started out looking for better template management. With AI added to his workflow, he now finishes his notes during office hours.

“The ability to finish my work at work means I’m actually present when I’m home. That’s something you can’t put a price on.”

His summary: “It’s not just about faster documentation. It’s about being a better provider, being more present with patients, and still having energy left for your own life at the end of the day.”

Read Norman’s full story: From Paperwork to Patient Care: How AI is Transforming the Life of a Family Nurse Practitioner.

More NPs and PAs on Chartnote

Two more clinicians are quoted on the Chartnote homepage:

• Kaitlin Engle, NP: “AI Scribe helped me to get my work done more efficiently, timely, and captured my care.”
• Jared, a PA in Nevada, says what he likes is “how easy [it] is to create a note and insert your customized snippets or phrases and also to check out the Chartnote community to see what other providers are using.”

Want to see what this looks like with your own templates? Book a 20-minute demo.

Five ways NPs and PAs are using AI documentation

These patterns come up again and again in the stories above. Each one relies on a feature Chartnote documents publicly.

1. Ambient notes for routine visits

AI Scribe listens to the visit, with the patient’s consent, and drafts a structured note you review. It works in person and, in Telehealth mode, for video visits on platforms like Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Doximity, and Google Meet.

2. Consults with chart context

As Whitney describes, consults often depend on outside records. In Chartnote, you can attach PDFs, add earlier finished notes for the same patient as context, and include details that weren’t said out loud, all before you generate the note (how to use AI Scribe).

3. Templates and snippets that match your style

Custom AI Note Templates let you set your sections and give the AI instructions, such as narrative or bullet style, or how to organize the assessment and plan. Snippets handle the text that repeats, like normal exams, counseling language, and return precautions. You can expand them inside your EHR by typing @ and the abbreviation.

4. Dictation when ambient doesn’t fit

For procedures, quick follow-ups, or visits where recording isn’t appropriate, Voice Chart turns your dictation into a structured note, and you can edit by voice.

5. The small tasks after the visit

Copilot drafts patient messages, referral letters, and after-visit summaries from the note, so you don’t have to write each one from scratch.

Bonus for team-based clinics: intake handoff

If your MA or nurse starts the visit, Chartnote Teams includes one assistant seat with every clinician subscription at no extra cost. The assistant records intake and hands it off to you. Assistants can’t create clinical notes (Assistant Seats).

Getting started without disrupting clinic

1. Start with one visit type, such as follow-ups or urgent care visits, before moving to complex consults.
2. Set up your template in week one. A few minutes of setup saves a lot of editing later.
3. Ask for consent every time. Chartnote’s consent guide includes scripts and a sample form.
4. Review every note before it goes into the chart. You remain responsible for what you sign, and so does your collaborating or supervising physician where that applies.
5. Track your own numbers. Compare your after-hours charting time before and after two weeks.

Frequently asked questions

Can nurse practitioners and PAs use AI scribes?

Yes. AI scribes are documentation tools, and NPs and PAs use them the same way physicians do. You review and approve every note. Check your organization’s policies and any collaborative or supervision agreements that apply to your documentation.

Will an AI scribe let me see more patients?

It can make room for more, but it doesn’t guarantee it. In one multicenter study, clinicians using an ambient AI scribe were more willing to add urgent patients, but the estimated number they could add didn’t change significantly. Most of the early benefit shows up as less after-hours charting and more attention on patients.

Is AI documentation accurate enough for specialty care like cardiology?

AI drafts can be detailed and well organized, but all AI scribes can make mistakes, so every note needs your review. Attaching outside records and using a specialty template helps the draft fit your field.

How much does Chartnote cost for an NP or PA?

There’s a free Basic plan with 15 AI Scribe notes a month. Paid plans start at $39.99/month. See the current pricing.

Spend your time on patients, not paperwork

The NPs and PAs above didn’t change their specialty or their values. They changed how their notes got written. If your charting is following you home, that’s the place to start.

Book a demo to see Chartnote with your visit types, or start free and try it on your next clinic day.

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