Nurse practitioners, certified nurse midwives, and physician assistants in physician offices

The expansion of health insurance coverage through health care reform, along with the aging of the population, are expected to strain the capacity for providing health care. Projections of the future physician workforce predict declines in the supply of physicians and decreasing physician work hours for primary care. An expansion of care delivered by nurse practitioners (NPs), certified nurse midwives (CNMs), and physician assistants (PAs) is often cited as a solution to the predicted surge in demand for health care services and calls for an examination of current reliance on these providers. Using a nationally based physician survey, we have described the employment of NPs, CNMs, and PAs among office-based physicians by selected physician and practice characteristics.

The essence of nursing in the shifting reality of Israel today

Israel's healthcare system is undergoing constant transformation; nurses' roles and education are changing accordingly. Israel's severe shortage of physicians has led to an increase in nurses' authority and responsibilities. The nursing profession is addressing many questions particularly in light of its expanded responsibilities and the current lack of legislation related to the practice of nursing. Additionally Israel is coping with an increasing shortage of nurses and the rapid development of innovative technologies. This article describes Israel's shifting reality and the nation's responses to these changing conditions. Responses include increasing financial support, enhancing educational opportunities, expanding the nursing role, and using new technologies.

Canada's First Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic: A Case Study in Healthcare Innovation

Canada's first nurse practitioner-led clinic opened in 2007 after a period of intense lobbying. The development of this clinic has received a great deal of attention in the nursing world and among the general public, but the factors that enabled it have not been examined. The antecedents outlined in healthcare innovation concept analysis - including leadership, financial considerations, idea generation, teamwork, culture and demand - provide a framework for examination of the campaign for the nurse practitioner-led clinic. This review demonstrates the complex interplay of factors that drive healthcare innovation and expands understanding of the leadership and change competencies of the advanced practice nurse.