Nurse Practitioners as Primary Care ProvidersEvery individual in the world deserves to enjoy health and well-being. Maintaining or achieving adequate health needs allows individuals to be productive at work and during their leisure time. Traditionally, many people have struggled to obtain adequate health care due to economic constraints or personal inconvenience. Despite impressive technological advances in medicine, the challenge of providing quality health care to Americans continues to be debated among the nation's political and health care leaders. The aging of baby boomers and the growing number of uninsured people add to the equation of population growth which results in limited access to primary health care for the entire population. On the other hand, this has given rise to the need for experienced registered nurses to unlock the full potential of the profession. Nurse practitioners have been called upon to reach out to the public to meet the demand for safe and convenient health care. These academically and clinically well-prepared nurse practitioners demonstrate their knowledge, skills, and leadership in communities (Hansen-Turton, Miller, Nash, Ryan, & Counts, n.d.). Due to growing concerns about increased access to health care, ANA has supported the continued work of nurse practitioners in retail health clinics to reflect positive movement toward accurate, quality medical care for all citizens. Since the year 2000, nurse practitioners have been employed by community health clinics or retail clinics such as Minute Clinic and Take Care Health Systems. Whether independent or as commercial chains, retail clinics employ a family nurse practitioner or physician assistant who offers convenient location and evening hours...... middle of paper ... ...a registered nurse must have a clear understanding of the predominant need for advanced practice nurses in our communities. Then, all nurses must realize the need to unite with one voice in order to participate in the transformation process affecting the nursing profession. In fact, the influential voice of nurses representing the largest healthcare workforce can have a tremendous impact on policies and reforms that affect our communities. Equally important, nurses should prepare to improve their clinical and communication skills in preparation for accepting more responsibilities in promoting and managing the complexities of today's health care. Nurse practitioners in retail care clinics, demonstrating their skills and artistry as primary care providers, symbolize the positive transformation the nursing profession is engaged in to meet the urgent needs of communities..