Biomaterial Database

Level of autonomy of primary care nurse practitioners. 2009

Alex Bahadori, and Joyce J Fitzpatrick

Professional Dermatology Services, Gulf Coast Dermatology, Hudson, Florida, USA. alex.bahadori@case.edu

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this descriptive study was to determine the level of autonomy of nurse practitioners (NPs) providing care to patients in a primary care setting. METHODS Data were collected from 48 primary care NPs (PCNPs) who attended a state clinical conference. The Dempster Practice Behavior Scale (DPBS) was used to measure the autonomy of the NPs. CONCLUSIONS The total mean score for the DPBS in this study was 127 (SD = 10.25), indicating a very high level of autonomy of the NPs. The Empowerment subscale had the lowest overall mean score, and the Valuation subscale had the highest. There was no statistically significant relationship between level of autonomy and age, years worked as an RN, and years worked as an NP. CONCLUSIONS This study provided evidence that PCNPs are highly autonomous professionals and continue to struggle with empowerment. NPs educationally prepared with a better knowledge of legal and political issues will be better suited to influence healthcare reform. NPs, as autonomous professionals, will be more likely to impact and shape future healthcare policy.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D008875	Middle Aged	An adult aged 45 - 64 years.	Middle Age
D009722	Nurse Practitioners	Nurses who are specially trained to assume an expanded role in providing medical care under the supervision of a physician.	Nurse Practitioner,Practitioner, Nurse,Practitioners, Nurse
D011209	Power, Psychological	The exertion of a strong influence or control over others in a variety of settings--administrative, social, academic, etc.	Power (Psychology),Power, Personal,Power, Professional,Power, Social,Power,Personal Power,Powers, Psychological,Professional Power,Psychological Power,Psychological Powers,Social Power
D011320	Primary Health Care	Care which provides integrated, accessible health care services by clinicians who are accountable for addressing a large majority of personal health care needs, developing a sustained partnership with patients, and practicing in the context of family and community. (JAMA 1995;273(3):192)	Primary Care,Primary Healthcare,Care, Primary,Care, Primary Health,Health Care, Primary,Healthcare, Primary
D011795	Surveys and Questionnaires	Collections of data obtained from voluntary subjects. The information usually takes the form of answers to questions, or suggestions.	Community Survey,Nonrespondent,Questionnaire,Questionnaires,Respondent,Survey,Survey Method,Survey Methods,Surveys,Baseline Survey,Community Surveys,Methodology, Survey,Nonrespondents,Questionnaire Design,Randomized Response Technique,Repeated Rounds of Survey,Respondents,Survey Methodology,Baseline Surveys,Design, Questionnaire,Designs, Questionnaire,Methods, Survey,Questionnaire Designs,Questionnaires and Surveys,Randomized Response Techniques,Response Technique, Randomized,Response Techniques, Randomized,Survey, Baseline,Survey, Community,Surveys, Baseline,Surveys, Community,Techniques, Randomized Response
D005260	Female		Females
D005431	Florida	State bounded on east by the Atlantic Ocean, on the south by the Gulf of Mexico, on the west by Alabama and on the north by Alabama and Georgia.
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000328	Adult	A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available.	Adults