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 Anesthesia 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 anesthesia programs will award a Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia 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.
The examples and perspective in this article may not represent a worldwide view of the subject. (February 2023) |
This article needs additional citations for verification. (February 2022) |
An advanced practice nurse (APN) is a nurse with post-graduate education and training in nursing. Nurses practicing at this level may work in either a specialist or generalist capacity. APNs are prepared with advanced didactic and clinical education, knowledge, skills, and scope of practice in nursing.
In the United States, the National Council of State Boards of Nursing along with other nursing authorities and organizations recommend the use of the term and acronym advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) as described in the Consensus Model for APRN Regulation, Licensure, Accreditation, Certification and Education.
