The Evolving Role of Nursing
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Advanced Practice Nurses
Nursing at MeritCare has significantly evolved and advanced from what it once was, but caring for patients is still at the heart of nursing. When the hospital first opened 100 years ago, nurses did not have the option to pursue further education in their field. But times have changed and today, MeritCare has over 125 advanced practice nurses who have received a master's degree in the field of nursing, have passed a certifying exam and are licensed in the state to practice as a Nurse Practitioner, Clinical Nurse Specialist, Nurse Anesthetist or Nurse Midwife.
Advanced practice nurses have an independent scope of practice and need a collaborating physician only when they want or need privileges to prescribe medications. These nurses work in a variety of care areas, including ambulatory care, inpatient units, operating rooms and soon the Emergency Center.
Some of MeritCare's advanced practice nurses work in MeritCare's FastTrack clinic. One such nurse practitioner is Lori Schmidt. She says, "It's fun to be autonomous." Schmidt also adds that some of her patients are amazed that she does everything at the clinic on her own.
Then, there are other nurse practitioners who work closely with doctors and share patients or have their own group of patients they care for. Advanced practice nurses play an instrumental role in providing quality care and improving access to the patients of MeritCare.
MeritCare is immensely proud of these men and women who are experts in the field of nursing. View a list of MeritCare's advanced practice nurses 
. Visit the American Nurses Association Web site to learn more about advanced practice nurses.