Definition and Description Advanced practice nurses (APNs) possess unique competencies that guide them to meet the health needs of their clients. The practice of APNs follows specific laws and legal frameworks. The presented health policy revolves around one of the recommendations presented by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) report regarding the future of nursing (Barbarito, 2016). The report suggests that “nurses should be empowered to practice to the extent of their training or education” (Barbarito, 2016, p. 2). This suggestion can be used to reverse the current situation whereby APNs must be supervised by physicians. Background For very many years, APNs have been required to operate in collaboration with doctors or physicians. The American Medical Association (AMA) has always indicated that APNs are not qualified to practice independently (Mattila et al., 2014). This is because they do not receive adequate training in their nursing schools. Fortunately, current evidence indicates that APNs deliver better and quality healthcare to more patients in comparison with physicians. Stakeholders Different stakeholders have the potential to influence the future of nursing practice. These include clinicians, physicians, community members, doctors, APNs, nurse aids, the IOM, the AMA, policymakers, and nursing organizations (Palatnik, 2016). These stakeholders can come up with new laws to ensure APNs to practice without supervision. Issue Statement The American healthcare sector has always grappled with the issue of staff shortage. APNs are equipped with adequate skills that can be tapped to transform the sector. Problems such as lack of funds and limited insurance coverage will be addressed by this policy (Bruce, Rietze, & Lim, 2014). More nurses will be empowered to deliver exemplary and evidence-based healthcare services. Addressing the Issue Several strategies can be used to deal with the limited practice of APNs. Since these professionals receive quality education and training, the proposed law will make it easier for them to become leaders in healthcare delivery. The training process can also be improved in such a way that it equips APNs with advanced competencies. Such dexterities can make it easier for them to diagnose, manage, and treat different illnesses (Bruce et al., 2014). They will also prescribe medicines effectively and address the gaps in the nation’s healthcare sector. Goals and Options Two goals are anticipated after the successful implementation of this policy. These goals include promoting the effectiveness of APNs and maximizing patients’ outcomes (Palatnik, 2016). The best option for change is encouraging policymakers in the health sector to support the new law. Educational processes will be improved to meet these new demands for APNs. Risks and Benefits of the Changes Several risks might arise after implementing the change. The first one is that the role of physicians might become obsolete. Some APNs might break the promise by delivering inadequate medical care (Bruce et al., 2014). The benefits are overwhelming because more patients will receive quality acre and eventually transform the sector. The current challenges arising from staff short