Improved Follow‐Up Care of Hypertensive Patients By a Nurse Practitioner in a Rural Clinic *

The usefulness of nurse practitioners in the care of hypertension has been demonstrated in a variety of settings. In a randomized prospective comparison between physicians and nurse practitioner care, observations are extended to rural ambulatory hypertensives. Data indicate that for patients who remain actively in follow‐up, blood pressure control was the same when treated by either physicians or the nurse practitioner. However, patients treated by the nurse practitioner had a significantly better follow‐up adherence rate than did those treated by physicians. The data presented support the use of nurse practitioners in the care of hypertension, particularly in rural populations where a need for intermediate level practitioners is likely to persist despite an expanding supply of physicians.