Effect of clinical settings on the utilization of nurse practitioners

In this study, 143 medical and pediatric nurse practitioners in 61 agencies identified problems in role implementation and formulated recommendations for more effective utilization in clinical settings which employ, or plan to employ, nurse practitioners. Physician-intensive settings appeared to utilize nurse practitioners least effectively and more practitioners left such settings, citing inability to implement the role, than did practitioners employed by other types of health agencies. Different kinds of health agencies integrated and implemented the role at different rates.