Predictors of nurse practitioners' autonomy: effects of organizational, ethical, and market characteristics

To identify the predictors of autonomy of nurse practitioners (NPs) affiliated directly and/or indirectly with managed-care systems (e.g., HMOs).

A mailed survey sent to a stratified random sample of 254 NPs certified and licensed to practice in the state of Maryland. The measures consisted of selected organizational characteristics; market factors of HMO penetration and percentage of client population enrolled in managed care; and factors of ethical concern, such as ethical ideology, ethics education, and autonomy. The County Surveyor Database was used to assess market penetration in the state.

Although NPs were ethically concerned about their autonomy in a managed-care environment (70.2%), actual autonomy scores were high. The higher the percentage of HMO penetration, percentage of client population enrolled in managed care, and perceived ethical concern, the lower the perceived autonomy of NPs.

Findings may be used for future research to address the complexity of variables that influence the autonomous practice of NPs.