The palliative care advanced practice nurse

The emerging role of the advanced practice nurse (APN) as a palliative care provider is gaining increased recognition in the United States. The APN's ability to perform comprehensive physical evaluations, order and interpret diagnostics, and prescribe appropriate medications while receiving reimbursement allow this provider to become a valuable and important discipline in the patient's plan of care. APNs consistently demonstrate an ongoing commitment to the care of the frail, poor, culturally diverse, nursing home, and rural populations-areas in which palliative care is often unavailable. This paper provides an overview of the APN's role and the ability to integrate palliative interventions into traditional health care settings. It highlights reimbursement issues and describes a case example to demonstrate how the APN can provide continuity, coordination, and reimbursement of services for the patient living with and dying from advanced illness.