Over the horizon: the future and the advanced practice nurse

The move to managed care has expanded the role and opportunities for the advanced practice nurse (APN). The focus on building the continuum of care, the movement out of institutional models of service delivery, and the need for well-developed primary health services have created a major role for APNs. The major obligation for APNs today is to ensure their presence in the places where the design and structuring of the future health care system are unfolding.