Vascular nurse practitioner: development of an innovative role for the 21st century.

In the current health care environment, innovative roles are emerging for acute care nurse practitioners to provide care to increasingly complex patients. The roles are characterized by the provision of unique care that is comprehensive, cost-effective, efficient, and accessible. In this article, the development of the role of the vascular nurse practitioner in the acute care setting is explored. Practice privileges, practice agreements, and a model for delivering care are discussed.