This article is based on the experience of doing an internship, along with a nurse practitioner, in the area of oncology at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York. The main objective of this article is to present a review of the literature that highlights some areas or specialties where the roles and competencies of nurses with the Advanced Practice qualification are in force. In addition, the main obstacles that have delayed the development of this new alternative for Advanced Practice Nursing in Panama are presented.

We describe the expanded and the leading role of the nurse in managing patients in her charge, of which she is responsible for the patients’ evolution and treatment. What we experienced leads us to reflect, 15 years later, on the reasons why we do not have nursing professionals who have these roles in Panama. We conclude that there are initiatives, on the part of the nursing authorities, to promote changes that make the most of the knowledge, skills, and valuable experiences that nurses gain from their advanced academic preparation and experiences in the area.