History and Evolution of Advanced Practice Registered Nursing Roles in the United States

Posted: April 4th, 2019

History and Evolution of Advanced Practice Registered Nursing Roles in the United States
The role of advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) has significantly evolved over the past century to meet the growing demands of the healthcare system. The foundations of APRN roles can be traced back to the late 19th century with the introduction of specialist nurses in the United States. Specialist nurses gained popularity in the 1930s and 1940s as the clinical expertise of nurses began to expand beyond the hospital bedside.
A major catalyst for the development of specialist nursing roles was Mrs. Bedford Fenwick and her colleagues who advocated for advanced nursing education programs in the early 20th century. Their efforts helped establish nursing as a respected profession with specialized knowledge and skills. In the 1960s, the clinical nurse specialist role formally emerged within the nursing profession. This role allowed nurses to focus their practice on specific patient populations or disease processes.
A seminal moment in the history of APRN roles came in 1965 when Loretta Ford and Helen Silver proposed the concept of the nurse practitioner. Their work was prompted by social issues like a shortage of pediatricians, which highlighted the need for expanded nursing roles. The nurse practitioner model blended nursing skills with limited medical diagnostic and prescriptive functions. This new role altered the relationship dynamics between nurses and physicians.
Regulation and standardization of APRN education began taking shape in the 1990s. National organizations developed accrediting bodies and certification processes to ensure consistency and quality across nurse practitioner and clinical nurse specialist programs (Stanley, Werner, & Apple, 2009). Formal regulations at the state level also helped define the scope and standards of APRN practice.
There have been both challenges and successes associated with advancing nursing roles over the past several decades. On the positive side, APRNs have helped improve access to healthcare through specialized services. For example, midwifery care provided by certified nurse-midwives has been shown to reduce maternal and infant mortality rates (Greenberg, 2010). However, shortages of nurses entering the workforce and retiring from practice have exacerbated healthcare staffing issues faced by APRNs. Misconceptions about their autonomous functions have also posed obstacles over time.
Today, there are four recognized APRN roles: nurse practitioners, certified nurse-midwives, certified registered nurse anesthetists, and clinical nurse specialists. Each role provides either primary, acute, or specialty care services across settings like ambulatory clinics, hospitals, and home care. APRNs are responsible for treatment planning, monitoring patient progress and outcomes, counseling, and maintaining accurate medical records. They also play a vital role in disease management, health promotion, and preventive care.
Continued evolution of APRN roles will be necessary to support expanded access to cost-effective, high-quality healthcare. With further standardization and autonomy, APRNs are well-positioned to help meet the complex needs of patients into the future. Overcoming challenges like role misperceptions and nursing workforce shortages will remain important for optimizing the full potential of advanced practice registered nursing.
References
Greenberg, S. M. (Ed.). (2010). Nurse practitioners: The evolution and future of advanced practice. Springer Publishing Company.
Stanley, J. M., Werner, K. E., & Apple, K. (2009). Positioning advanced practice registered nurses for health care reform: Consensus on APRN regulation. Journal of Professional Nursing, 25(6), 340-348.
Hinchliff, S., & Rogers, R. (Eds.). (2008). Competencies for advanced nursing practice. CRC Press.