Who started the first nurse practitioner program?

The initiation of the first nurse practitioner program is attributed to Loretta Ford, PhD. She was a pioneering figure in nurse practitioners' education and practice, co-founding the first nurse practitioner program at the University of Colorado in 1965. This program represented a significant evolution in nursing, allowing registered nurses to expand their role in providing comprehensive healthcare services, particularly in underserved populations. Ford's efforts have had a lasting impact on the profession, paving the way for the development of nurse practitioner programs across the country and highlighting the importance of advanced practice nursing in the healthcare system.

Alfred Bandura is known for his work in psychology, particularly on social learning theory, which is unrelated to nursing education. While President John F. Kennedy and the federal government played significant roles in supporting healthcare initiatives during the 1960s, they were not responsible for establishing the first nurse practitioner program or its framework.