The role of the advanced practice registered nurse as a clinical ethicist/consultant is both important and necessary in todays health care environment. The established role of the advanced practice registered nurse as a skilled clinician, consultant, educator, leader, and researcher more than qualifies one for such. This issue of Perioperative Nursing Clinics focuses on topics such as the nurse-physician relationship, ethical care during disasters, Jehovah Witness and blood products during surgery, technology and ethics, and end-of-life issues.