The Practice Boundaries of Advanced Practice Nurses: An Economic and Legal Analysis

26 Pages Posted: 14 Dec 2005

See all articles by Michael Dueker

Michael Dueker

Federal Reserve Banks - Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Stephen J. Spurr

Wayne State University - Department of Economics

David E. Kalist

Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania - Department of Economics

Date Written: November 2005

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to examine the causes and effects of State regulation that determines the extent of professional independence of advanced practice nurses (APNs). We analyze determinants of these regulations in panel data across States. We find that in States where APNs have acquired a substantial amount of professional independence, the earnings of APNs are substantially lower, and those of physicians' assistants are substantially higher, than in other States. These results are striking since physicians' assistants are in direct competition with APNs; the only real operational difference between these groups is that physicians' assistants are salaried employees who must work under the supervision of a physician. The implication is that physicians have responded to an increase in professional independence of APNs by hiring fewer APNs and more physicians' assistants.

Keywords: regulation, professions, nursing panel data, Markov Chain Monte Carlo

JEL Classification: C15, C35, K31

Suggested Citation

Dueker, Michael and Spurr, Stephen J. and Kalist, David E., The Practice Boundaries of Advanced Practice Nurses: An Economic and Legal Analysis (November 2005). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=869451 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.869451

Michael Dueker (Contact Author)

Federal Reserve Banks - Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis ( email )

411 Locust St
Saint Louis, MO 63011
United States

Stephen J. Spurr

Wayne State University - Department of Economics ( email )

656 W. Kirby
2115 FAB
Detroit, MI 48202
United States
(313) 577-3232 (Phone)

David E. Kalist

Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania - Department of Economics ( email )

Shippensburg, PA 17257
United States

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