Restrictive practice environment and nurse practitioners' prescriptive authority.
This study analyzes the impacts of several variables, including a restrictive practice environment, on a nurse practitioner's level of autonomy with respect to prescribing selected categories of medicines. A general linear model is applied to data from the 1992 national sample of nurse practitioners. Results show that among the significant independent variables, a restrictive environment of imposed state laws and regulations reduces nurse practitioners' level of autonomy in prescribing medications and acts as a barrier to their practicing to full potential. Results and policy implications are discussed.
Pan
S
S
Rural Health Research Center, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks 58202-9037, USA.
Straub
L A
LA
Geller
J M
JM
D011307:Drug Prescriptions; D006801:Humans; D009722:Nurse Practitioners / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D017009:Professional Autonomy; D011364:Professional Practice; D011640:Public Policy; D014481:United States