The advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) is a critical part of today's healthcare delivery system. The need for competent care across all age ranges has created opportunities for APRNs to deliver care in a multitude of practice settings. The collaboration of APRNs with nurses, physicians, physician assistants, social workers, and other healthcare workers is the impetus for this book. We realize that many of our colleagues might not fully understand the basic underpinnings of advanced practice nursing, what the roles of advanced practice nursing are, and what the educational background of the APRN is. To that end, this book describes the basic tenets of advanced practice nursing with a focus specifically on the nurse practitioner. Chapters address the development of advanced practice nursing, the four specific APRN roles, educational requirements, licensure, credentialing, and how APRNs work independently or collaboratively with physicians. The text provides a greater understanding of what APRNs can do and how they can work collaboratively with other health care professionals.