The macroeconomic benefits of Tennessee APRNs having full practice authority

•In 12 states, APRNs have restricted practice authority.•FPA stimulates increased direct, indirect, and induced economic output.•FPA is projected to add 69,263 jobs in Tennessee over 8 years.•FPA also is projected to generate $8.63 billion in economic growth over 8 years. 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. The economic impact analysis forecasts the additional job and economic output associated with granting Tennessee APRNs full practice authority. 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. From a 2017 baseline, the cumulative impact of granting Tennessee APRNs full practice authority is a net gain of 25,536 jobs and $3.2 billion in economic impact. Granting Tennessee APRNs full practice authority would confer substantial economic benefits and employment opportunities to the state.