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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.