A Profile of San Francisco Bay Area Nurse Practitioners and Their Needs

A collaborative research project conducted by nurse practitioners (NPs) was undertaken to establish a profile of NPs practicing in the San Francisco Bay area. The profile consisted of information regarding educational preparation, certification, employment status, salary, and practice characteristics. A mail survey of all Bay area NPs was implemented to obtain the information used in program planning and membership recruitment for the Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Interest Group of Region 12 of the California Nurses’ Association. The results revealed the types of programs desired and common barriers to participation. Based on these findings, changes were made in the program format and offerings to make the organization more responsive to the needs of NPs.