This book updates current trends in practice and reviews the origins, standards, and competencies of the advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) in the United States. It discusses APRN roles within a nursing context, identifies organizational roles for APRNs, and examines ethics in guiding APRN clinical decision making. The book is organized into three parts comprising 16 chapters. It examines and addresses all four APRN roles. The book reviews useful tools in advanced clinical decision making, practice issues (regulation, certification prescriptive authority, credentialing, and liability), and the exploration of employment opportunities and strategies. It explores the role of the APRN in the team’s formation and leadership. The chapter discusses the composition of interprofessional teams that will include a variety of healthcare providers. It challenges APRNs to assume more prominent leadership roles in healthcare delivery systems. The book emphasizes the importance of leadership competencies necessary for the delivery of quality care, evidence-based practice, and patient safety. Different leadership development models and curricula related to leadership in master’s and doctor of nursing practice (DNP) programs are considered. The book describes the multifaceted roles of APRNs internationally. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) has placed APRNs on the front lines of healthcare reform. The book reviews the critical events that have sculpted the APRN policy role in influencing and creating legislation and discusses how to become an engaged citizen in directing change. It discusses health information technology competencies for nurses and APRNs, as well as common information management resources that APRNs are using or likely to encounter in the near future. The book explores the multiple modalities that are incorporated into the scholarship of practice, such as sharing tricks of the trade, completing quality improvement projects, collaborating with nursing researchers, and being an active member in professional organizations.