Physician Assistant: Advanced Preparation for the Registered Nurse.

摘要

The possibility of using registered nurses (RN's) as physician's assistants (PA's) in order to more efficiently deliver health care in Montana is studied. Five objectives are established: to determine physician and nurse acceptance or rejection of the PA concept: to determine physician and nurse opinion on the use of PA's in relieving the crisis in health care delivery; to determine physician and nurse opinion on the delimitation of the tasks, functions, or responsibilities of the PA; to determine physician and nurse opinion on the development of a program qualifying RN's with additional preparation to provide selected medical services; and to determine physician and nurse opinion on personal interest in such a program. Two questionnaires were used to gather data from all active general practitioners and specialists in the State, a random sample of the licensed RN's, and the RN's recommended for PA preparation by physicians. The data reveal that almost 80 percent of the physicians and 86 percent of the nurses favor the concept. More than half of the physicians noted an interest in employing a PA and would contribute facilities and time for such a program. On the question of nurses' interest in preparing for such a role, 68 percent responded positively, and 63 percent of the physicians and 67 percent of the nurses feel their communities would accept a PA. Tabular data and figures are provided.