NP education: observations from a national perspective.

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Public Health Policy

Background:

• The period 1976-1986 marked a significant growth phase for nurse practitioner (NP) programs.
• Federal funding for these educational initiatives also reached its zenith during this decade.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the evolution of nurse practitioner education between 1976 and 1986.
• To identify key changes in program structure and curriculum focus.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of program data and federal funding records from 1976-1986.
• Comparative review of curriculum orientations over the specified period.

Main Results:

• The number of nurse practitioner programs and their federal funding peaked during the 1976-1986 decade.
• A majority of programs transitioned to offering master's degrees instead of certificates.
• Curriculum focus shifted from disease treatment towards health promotion.

Conclusions:

• Nurse practitioner education underwent substantial growth and transformation in the decade leading up to 1986.
• The shift towards master's level education and health promotion indicates a maturing and broadening scope of practice for nurse practitioners.