Leaders: are you ready for change? The clinical nurse as care coordinator in the new health care system.

Care coordination is an integral piece for the success of health care reform. Nurses are positioned to be able to bring a strong perspective for assisting individual's health needs across the continuum from illness to wellness. Currently, nurses are not consistently being fully prepared to provide care coordination. In order for clinical nurses in acute care, clinics, and across the care continuum to be able to perform this integral and emerging role, nurse leaders will need to restructure, engage with these nursing roles, and plan to provide resources for a new educational curriculum for their continuing professional development.