Toward a paradigm shift in advanced practice nursing education: from an individual to a blended population/individual perspective

There is unprecedented agreement on the need to make primary care a greater part of the health care system. Despite steps taken by the Affordable Care Act to support the provision of primary care, the shortage of primary care providers is projected to worsen in the United States in the coming years.1,2 The Institute of Medicine (IOM) report , The Future of Nursing: Leading Change Advancing Health, makes it clear that advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) are key to providing high quality healthcare; poised to help bridge the gap between coverage and access; able to coordinate increasingly complex care for a wide range of patients; and able to fulfill their potential as primary care providers to the full extent of their education and training.3