Caring for the community: development of the advanced practice nurse role

In a collaborative effort with a large metropolitan hospital in Boston, a community assessment was conducted to determine ways in which an advanced practice nurse (APN) could enhance delivery to a nearby small urban community. The authors attended healthcare delivery meetings, interviewed community leaders, visited various community sites, and became familiar with the community and its residents. The assessment included evaluation with proposed intervention strategies, development of a model for enhancing delivery of care based on Orem's Self-Care Theory, and a role description for an APN that incorporated collaboration between the APN and the community health nurse. A community assessment enabled the APN to become a vital healthcare leader.