Managed Care and Changes in the Nursing Profession
This paper gives a brief history of managed care in the US, and discusses how the practice and the profession of nursing has changed with the growth of HMOs, PPOs, and other managed care organizations. Generally, this has meant a greater involvement with insurance liability, increased patient access (for the employed population), and increased nurse involvement in decision making. The paper also discusses differences between nurse and physician "culture" that have been brought to the fore in the managed care environment.