Advanced Practice Nursing in Canada

The clinical nurse specialist (CNS) and nurse practitioner (NP) are the two types of advanced practice roles recognized in Canada. Leadership is an essential dimension of both roles, but many factors internal and external to the advanced practice nurse impact on leadership role enactment. This chapter summarizes research findings on advanced practice nursing leadership and provides exemplars of CNS and NP leadership. Capabilities outlined from a Canadian health care leadership framework are used to examine CNS and NP leadership and to highlight success factors and provide solutions to optimize the leadership potential of these roles.