Advance practice nursing in heart transplantation.

This article describes the role of the advanced practice nurse in the field of cardiac transplantation. A brief review of the history of cardiac transplantation is presented. The role of advanced practice nursing is evolving and changing to meet patients' needs in an increasingly complex health care environment. The advanced practice nurse is uniquely qualified to meet those needs in a variety of roles and settings. The advanced practice nurse maybe a clinical nurse specialist, nurse practitioner, nurse mid-wife, or nurse anesthetist. Each role must include the element of clinical practice in order to be considered advanced practice nurse described in this article. The advanced practice nurse was a clinical nurse specialist in the role of cardiac transplant coordinator. This role comprises the sub-roles of educator, clinician, consultant, researcher, and administrator. The responsibilities and challenges of each sub-role are discussed. Suggestions for the direction of future practice are also presented.