Nurse practitioners develop leadership in community problem-solving.

If nurse practitioners are to become agents of change within the community, a shift in focus from the individual/family/caseload to one that includes population/community will be required. The nurse practitioner will need to develop the skills of community coalition building and grantsmanship. Graduate preparation in primary care nursing can provide an opportunity to develop the necessary knowledge and skills for leadership in community problem-solving by incorporating reality-based learning experiences into the curriculum. A model for guiding graduate study is presented.