The purpose of this study was to assess current and proposed Oklahoma nurse practice policy in relation to state nurse supply and demand factors. In order to accomplish this goal, the systems model of policy analysis (Dye, 1966, 1976, 1981; Easton, 1953, 1965, 1979) was applied to study findings. Nurse distribution, retention, and student census characteristics were assessed as indicators of the supply of Oklahoma nurses. Health care trends, public demographic influences, employer and nurse supply characteristics were assessed as indicators of the demand for Oklahoma nurses. Indicators of Oklahoma nurse supply and demand, historical influences, and Oklahoma hospital positions on proposed nurse practice legislation were assessed as indicators of environmental and demand inputs into the political system.

The study used three sources of data to provide a profile of Oklahoma nurse supply and demand factors: (1) survey data collected in 1988 by this researcher with a 52% response rate from Oklahoma hospital nurse executives representing 95% of all hospitals in the state; (2) survey data collected in 1986 and 1987 by the National League for Nursing from all existing Oklahoma baccalaureate and associate degree nursing schools; and, (3) recent state and nursing demographic data from public sources. The study applied these data, along with hospital opinions on HB 1487 derived from the 1988 survey data, and, qualitative historical data to assess Oklahoma nurse practice policy.

This research found that Oklahoma's supply of nurses is decreasing while nurse demand increases. It generally confirmed that larger, private, urban hospitals, with more resources to recruit and retain nurses, tended to support nurse practice policy revision more than smaller, public hospitals in rural areas with fewer resources. No matter what level of perceived nursing shortage, most Oklahoma hospitals opposed nurse practice revision. And, like the rest of the nation, shortages were more likely to be reported in urban centers than in rural areas. Additionally, the study underscored reasons for the debate among systems members surrounding nurse supply when considering change in nurse practice legislation.