A Day in the life of RURAL advanced practice nurses

Advanced practice nurses (APNs) have been a critical component of the rural health care system for many years. This study describes the impact of APNs on primary care in Wyoming, a predominantly rural and frontier state, and illustrates a typical practice day for APNs. Wyoming APNs are experienced nurses, in their late 40s on average, and are quite independent in their practices. The APNs provided a significant amount of health care, with an average of 15 client visits per day. These APNs were heavy prescribers and performed a number of office procedures. Implications for health policy are discussed.