The macroeconomic benefits of Tennessee APRNs having full practice authority.

Background: To-date, advocacy efforts to advance full practice authority for APRNs have primarily stressed arguments based on evidence on the cost effectiveness and quality of APRN-provided care, as well as the improved care access and patient satisfaction these providers offer.

Purpose: The economic impact analysis forecasts the additional job and economic output associated with granting Tennessee APRNs full practice authority.

Methods: The IMPLAN software and a variety of data inputs were used to estimate the direct, indirect, and induced economic impact on jobs, labor income, value-added benefits, total output, and tax revenues.

Choosing a medical specialty: the difference between what students want and what society needs.

The choice of a specialty by medical students is a complex one that has significant implications for the future supply of physician manpower. The study by Weissman et al. portrays this choice as reflecting the degree of congruence between a student's needs and values and his or her perception of the characteristics of the various specialties.