Assessing the need for family nurse practitioners--the Florida experience.

This article presents results of a descriptive study designed to assess the need for Family Nurse Practitioners (FNPs) in Florida. The need for FNPs was examined within the context of the current crisis in access to health care in the United States and in Florida, where unique features of the state's population and economy combined to create inequities in the health care system. Data were also collected related to the number of primary care agencies already employing nurse practitioners, the educational preparation of these nurses, and the likelihood of agency nurses enrolling in an FNP program if such a program were available. A ten-item questionnaire was mailed to nursing service administrators at 330 health care agencies involved in the delivery of primary care. Ninety-seven questionnaires were returned. Results from the study indicated that the agencies will require increased numbers of primary care providers in the next 5 years. Further, a minority of nurse practitioners are prepared at the Master's level in the surveyed agencies, suggesting a need for increased educational opportunities for nurses if they are to enter advanced practice. The study represents one approach to establishing needs for FNPs that might be used in other states both to develop educational programs and to influence legislators regarding health and nurse practitioner issues affecting access to care.