Advanced Practice Registered Nurse supply in a small state: trends to inform policy.

This study is a contribution to the small existing pool of state level research on Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) workforce supply. Data from four biennial surveys of Vermont APRNs from 2003, 2005, 2007, and 2009 (n = 1,538) were analyzed to produce descriptive statistics of one small state's APRN demographic, educational, employment, job satisfaction, intention to leave, and practice-setting characteristics. Survey results were then used to identify patterns or trends that existed in the data. There was a marked shift in the employment settings and a decrease time worked as an APRN, despite an aging APRN workforce. There was an increase in the aggregate education level of APRNs; however, the percentage educated at the doctoral level remained flat at 2%. Overall, APRNs were a satisfied segment of the health workforce; however, those intending to leave for dissatisfaction voiced more concern about job stress and less concern about salary and benefits over time. Implications for workforce planning and public policy are discussed.