A national profile of nursing centers. Arenas for advanced practice.

Escalating costs of health care and decreasing accessibility to care are growing dilemmas in America. Primary care is being delivered in nurse-managed clinics, or nursing centers, by nurses qualified for advanced nursing practice. The purpose of this study was to build a profile of the structure and function of nursing centers, noting major differences between those that are academic-based and those that are not. Questionnaires were developed and mailed to 234 subjects/agencies in every major region of the United States. Responses were tabulated and percentages were calculated to make comparisons and build a profile of nursing centers, based on the following factors identified in the literature and by nurse experts: (a) funding and fees, (b) organizational structure, (c) time elements, (d) demographics, (e) services, (f) qualifications and categories of staff, (g) functions of staff (h) research endeavors, (i) major barriers, and (j) major sources of support.