Expert Clinical Panel Member for a Research Study: A Role for the Advanced Practice Registered Nurse.

The role of advanced practice nurses (APRNs) continues to evolve, meeting the complex needs of today's healthcare systems while shaping the future of the nursing. APRNs provide holistic, patient-centered care that improves access to quality services. Beyond clinical practice, they serve as educators, mentors, and collaborators on interprofessional teams to enhance outcomes. This manuscript highlights a less-recognized role for APRNs: involvement on clinical expert panels of research studies. It describes the multifaceted contributions of APRNs on an interdisciplinary clinical expert panel of NIH funded studies in guiding the development of a bariatric mannequin simulation system and associated educational curriculum.