The advanced nurse practitioner: common attributes

Nurses practice at different levels of expertise regardless of education, specialty area and primary, secondary, or tertiary care setting; therefore, education, specialization and location of practice must not be the sole determinants of advanced nurse practitioners. Rather, it is the appropriate knowledge base combined with specific characteristics and behaviors which clearly set them apart from other practitioners in nursing. Through a review of relevant literature this article defines advanced practice, describes different roles assumed by the advanced nurse practitioner and identifies and discusses some of the attributes and behaviors which are evident in all advanced practitioners.