Baseline data on the delivery of clinical preventive services provided by nurse practitioners

The National Alliance of Nurse Practitioners (NANP) was one of five primary care provider groups that participated in a national government-sponsored survey on clinical preventive services (CPSs). The survey was based on 17 of the Healthy People 2000 national health objectives related to CPSs. This survey was sent to 2000 randomly selected nurse practitioners (NPs) to obtain information concerning the percentage of their patients who "routinely" receive the specified assessment and intervention services. Data from 892 completed and returned survey instruments indicated that NPs already exceed the Healthy People 2000 objective targets in some important clinical preventive assessment and intervention areas. They are close to the targets in a number of other CPS areas. In some areas, however, NP provision of preventive services was reported to be below the Healthy People 2000 targets. This data has far-reaching implications for NP practice, basic and continuing education, and curriculum reform.