Nurse practitioners are advanced practice registered nurses with a master's degree or doctorate in nursing. As the healthcare system changes, nurse practitioners will play a leadership role in meeting the growing demand for primary care providers to care for chronic and elderly patients. While nurse practitioners could help meet the projected shortage of 7,400 primary care providers by 2020, barriers currently prevent them from practicing to the full extent of their education and training. Standardizing nurse practitioners' scope of practice across states could help address upcoming healthcare needs.