Nurse practitioners: building on our past to meet future challenges.

This article discusses the evolution of the nurse practitioner (NP) role from its inception 30 years ago to its changing status today. The history of educational programs for NPs is discussed, including the current controversy to combine the NP and clinical nurse specialist (CNS) roles at the master's level. Certification, practice opportunities, and salary ranges for NPs are examined in an effort to determine how far the NP role has really evolved.