Abstract
Many state boards of nursing are currently examining advanced nursing practice and determining a process to recognize and regulate it appropriately. In 1999, Minnesota state law was altered to define and provide title protection for advanced practice registered nurses. After passage of the new law, the Minnesota Board of Nursing convened 4 task forces, representing each of 4 advanced practice nursing groups, to develop recommendations regarding issues of certification, criteria for determining acceptable certifying organizations, procedures in the event of examination failure, and a process for communicating this information to the nursing community. This article provides an overview of the legislation and describes the process used to obtain and operationalize the new law. The process undertaken in the clinical nurse specialist task force is also described, including the key issues that emerged and lessons that were learned.