As a starting point, it would be useful to conduct a substantial longitudinal study assessing the career choices nurses make. This could help inform policy options to make the role of the nurse practitioner a more attractive career path for suitably qualified nurses. Australia should also monitor the experience of countries like the United States, which is advanced in the use of nurse practitioners, for other innovations in the tasks appropriately trained nurse practitioners could take on feasibly and safely. They practise medicine in health care teams with physicians and other providers. Their tasks include taking a patient’s medical history, conducting physical exams, diagnosing and treating illness, ordering and interpreting tests, developing treatment plans, counselling on preventive care, assisting in surgery, writing prescriptions, and making rounds in hospitals and nursing homes (American Academy of Physician Assistants). This is not in the best interests of patient safety.