Government policy facilitates the increased deployment and training of Physician assistants (PAs) and Nurse practitioners (NPs) in healthcare organizations, but its effectiveness varies across sectors.
Healthcare is under pressure: demand for care is growing, costs are rising, and staff shortages are becoming more severe. Reallocating tasks from physicians to PAs and NPs is seen as part of the solution. Policy measures, such as expanded scope of practice, reimbursement opportunities, and training subsidies, contribute to the deployment and training of these professionals within healthcare organizations. These policies increase familiarity with and trust in PAs and NPs, motivate organizations to employ them, and help remove perceived barriers.
However, the impact of these policy measures differs by sector. Primary care organizations experience more barriers than those in hospitals and long-term care. This study shows how policy plays out in practice and why sector-specific approaches and a long-term vision are crucial.
Click here for a link to the full dissertation.
On October 30, 2026, at 10:30 a.m., Ellen Dankers-de Mari will defend her dissertation titled “Navigating labor market currents: How Dutch government policies steered healthcare providers’ decisions on Nurse Practitioner and Physician Assistant employment and training.”
Her promotors are Prof. P.P.T. Jeurissen, Prof. R.S. Batenburg, and Prof. J.A.H. van Vught.
The defense can be viewed via this ive stream.