Policy implications for optimizing advanced practice registered nurse use nationally

This article examines the potential benefits of enhanced use of advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) given health care workforce projections that predict an inadequate supply of certain types of providers. The conclusions of a systematic review comparing the effectiveness of care provided by APRNs with that of physicians alone or teams without APRNs indicate the viability of this approach. Allowing APRNs to assume roles that take full advantage of their educational preparation could mitigate the shortage of primary care physicians and improve care processes. The development of health care policy should be guided by patient-centric evidence rather than how care has been delivered in the past.