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Assessing the need for family nurse practitioners--the Florida experience
Journal of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners
|April 1, 1989
Summary
Florida healthcare agencies anticipate a growing need for primary care providers within five years. Many current nurse practitioners lack Master
Area of Science:
- Nursing
- Healthcare Administration
- Public Health
Background:
- The United States faces a healthcare access crisis, exacerbated in Florida by unique population and economic factors leading to system inequities.
- Primary care access is a significant concern, particularly in states like Florida with diverse demographics and economic influences.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the demand for Family Nurse Practitioners (FNPs) in Florida.
- To examine the current landscape of nurse practitioner employment and educational preparation in Florida's primary care agencies.
- To gauge the interest of existing nurses in pursuing FNP education.
Main Methods:
- A descriptive study design was employed.
- A ten-item questionnaire was mailed to nursing service administrators at 330 primary care agencies in Florida.
- Data were collected from 97 returned questionnaires.
Main Results:
- Surveyed agencies project a need for more primary care providers in the next five years.
- A significant portion of currently employed nurse practitioners in surveyed agencies do not hold Master's level preparation.
- There is potential interest among agency nurses to enroll in FNP programs if available.
Conclusions:
- Florida's healthcare system requires increased numbers of advanced practice nurses, specifically Family Nurse Practitioners.
- There is a clear need for enhanced educational pathways to support nurses in achieving advanced practice qualifications.
- This study provides a model for assessing FNP needs in other states to inform educational program development and policy decisions affecting healthcare access.