To Comment:

Hamric's definition of advanced nursing practice includes many elements that are crucial for a successful advanced nursing professional to attain.

The three elements that are most important are education, leadership, research and evidence-based practice. Graduate education is an important central competency which enhances advanced nursing knowledge and skill (Hamric et al., 2014).

The advanced nursing education allows the nurses to expand their knowledge and expertise, and provide high quality care at a level that is different from the basic nursing (Ruel & Motyka, 2007). This forms a foundation for the nurses'professional growth and promotes autonomy.

The increasing complex health care demands require that nurse practitioners be able to manage change in the uncertain environment, which can be achieved by research (Ruel & Matyoka, 2007).

The nurse practitioners need to keep up to date knowledge with the latest evidence-based practices so that treatment and patient care can be given following the latest research studies.This will save costs and improve patient outcomes (Branham et al., 2014).

In addition, having leadership skills is essential because nurse practitioners have greater responsibilities, and need to be role models and be able to delegate tasks to other health professionals such as nurses (Hamric, 2014).

Furthermore, leadership is a quality that advanced nurse practitioners require when caring for patients because they need to be able to form a strong foundation for those patients by providing health promotion. Health promotion will help patients make informed decision and make lifestyle changes which will improve their health.