A nurse practitioner is a registered nurse who has acquired the expert knowledge base, complex decision-making skills, and clinical competencies for expanded practice, the characteristics of which are shaped by the context and/or country in which he or she is credentialed to practice. Advanced practice in nursing is characterized not by job description, job title, or setting, but by knowledge and expertise, clinical judgment, skilled and self-initiated care, and scholarly inquiry. It has been estimated that approximately 70 countries now have established nurse practitioner roles or are exploring the possibility of introducing them. The future for nurse practitioners looks promising. Much will depend on the success of patients, nurses, physicians, payers, policymakers, and other stakeholders in health care in collaboratively shaping its future, and on nurse practitioners being able to practice to the full extent of their training and education