title: Autonomy and empowerment in advanced practice registered nurses: lessons from New Mexico.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to determine the association between autonomy and empowerment of advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) and predictor variables of physician oversight, geographical location, and practice setting. As the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) is implemented, these characteristics are vital to understanding how APRNs practice and the relationship of APRNs to other healthcare team members, including physicians.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a descriptive, correlational survey of APRNs in New Mexico exploring autonomy and empowerment in relation to variables of physician oversight, geographical location, and practice setting.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  New Mexico's APRN Nurse Practice Act supports independent practice and prescriptive authority. Results indicated that APRNs are highly empowered and autonomous. However, nearly 40% of respondents identified practicing with physician oversight. Further investigation of subscales of empowerment also provided insight of relationships among healthcare team members, particularly physicians.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This research provides additional knowledge for policy changes that support APRNs assuming more responsibility for primary care. However, understanding the APRN role within the healthcare team is necessary for effective implementation of primary care in New Mexico.
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing, Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana.
authors.forename: Polly A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Petersen
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, New Mexico.
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Keller
authors.affiliation: Department of Sociology, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, New Mexico.
authors.forename: Sandra M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Way
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, University of San Francisco, San Francisco, California.
authors.forename: Wanda J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Borges
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016294:Models, Nursing; D009516:New Mexico; D009726:Nurses; D011209:Power, Psychological; D057184:Practice Patterns, Nurses' / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Advanced practice nurse (APN); autonomy; collaboration; empowerment