Crystal ball gazing: back to the future.

This article presents some of the challenges, competencies, and opportunities that advanced practice nurses will face in the near future as the emerging health care system unfolds. Nurses must be knowledgeable about, prepared for, and participate in the creation of a preferred future in health care policy and practice. Advancing educational programs and orienting research and activism in the direction of personal and community health will allow advanced practice nurses to continue to have a significant influence on the transformation of health care and delivery systems.