APRN Practice: Challenges, Empowerment, and Outcomes

In her 2008 article entitled “Advanced Practice Registered Nurses: The Impact of Patient Safety and Quality,” Eileen O’Grady reported that the advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) workforce “has been growing exponentially with APRNs employed in every health care sector.”1 The Bureau of Labor Statistics agreed, underscoring the demand for APRNs with the ever-increasing need for access to cost-effective, quality health care.2 Today, there are more than 267,000 APRNs across the United States, practicing in communities, hospitals, and many other healthcare settings. APRNs are categorized as certified nurse practitioners (NPs), certified nurse midwives (CNM), certified nurse specialists (CNS), and certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs).3 All groups continue to increase in number and effectiveness as integral members of the healthcare team.