The department of health is keen to explore the potential of the nurse practitioner to substitute some areas of health care for the more expensive medical practitioner. The RCN has developed a specialist course for nurse practitioners. But as yet there is no clear definition of the role or educational status of the nurse practitioner. This professional briefing examines the issues, and suggests that attempts to define a specific nurse practitioner discipline and role limits its potential, and the potential for the development of current community nursing practitioners.