Education, Accreditation, and Certification - APNs or APRNs demonstrate effective integration of theory, practice, and experiences. - Post-graduate education teaches APRNs to use multiple approaches to decision-making. - APRNs manage the care of individuals and groups. - They engage in collaborative practices with patients or clients to achieve the best outcomes. - APRNs provide a supportive environment for colleagues.

Areas of Specialization - Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) - Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) - Certified Nurse-Midwife (CNM) - Certified Nurse Practitioner (CNP) - Each specialty can have concentrations in a specific field or patient population.

Degree Requirements - As of 2023, an APRN in the United States may hold a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), or Doctor of Nurse Anaesthesia Practice (DNAP) degree. - In 2004, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) recommended advancing the entry-level degree to the doctorate level by 2015. - All APN training programs are recommended to convert their master's degree to a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree by 2015. - The majority of programs will grant a DNP degree. - Nurse anaesthesia programs will award a Doctor of Nurse Anaesthesia Practice (DNAP).

Regulation - Advanced practice nursing in the United States is regulated at the state level. - The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) drafts consensus models of proposed legislation. - The NCSBN's APRN consensus model identifies four roles: certified registered nurse anesthetist, certified nurse-midwife, clinical nurse specialist, and certified nurse practitioner.

Patient Outcomes - A study in 2020 found that CNPs prescribe opioids at a rate 28 times higher than physician counterparts in states where they practice autonomously.

Post-nominal initials - The specific titles, credentials, and post-nominal initials used by advanced practice nurses vary by country, state, and educational level.