An Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) is a nurse who has at least a master’s degree in nursing, and sometimes a doctorate in nursing. In order to be classified as an APRN, the nurse must pass a national certification exam. There are four types of APRNs: certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA), certified clinical nurse specialist (CNS), certified nurse-midwife (CNM), and certified nurse practitioner (CNP).
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)
According to the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists, CRNAs have been providing anesthesia to members of the military since World War I; however, nurses have been giving anesthesia to servicemen since the Civil War. CRNA became a credentialed profession in 1956. Since then, the profession has become a highly specialized field that requires extensive schooling and on the job training. In fact, in 1986, CRNAs were the first nursing specialty to be recognized for independent and direct reimbursem*nt payments from Medicare. A CRNA is required to have at least 40 hours of continuing education every two years in order to keep their certification.
Certified Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS)
A Certified Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) is an APRN that focuses their practice on a certain segment of the population or on a specific medical specialty. The CNS can opt to practice in a specific medical setting, such as an operating room or the ICU. They can also opt to focus on a specific disease, such as diabetes or cancer.
They may choose to work within a specific age group, such as geriatrics or pediatrics. Regardless of the area of focus, they are required to uphold five duties throughout the course of a workday. These include clinical practice, consulting, management, teaching, and research. A CNS benefits their patients in that they are able to provide more comprehensive care than a standard nurse practitioner.
Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM)
A Certified Nurse Midwife is a medical professional who oversees every facet of a woman’s obstetric care. This includes pre-conception counseling, prenatal care, labor and delivery, and post-partum care. The requirements for becoming a CNM are a nursing license, a midwife license, and a certification from the American College of Nurse Midwives. The certification is valid for eight years. After this period, the CNM must get recertified to continue practicing as a CNM.
Certified Nurse Practitioner (CNP)
Certified Nurse Practitioners are classified according to their specialty. The two most commonly found types of CNPs are: Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (CPNP), which provides care for children, infants, and teens, and Certified Family Nurse Practitioner (CFNP), which can provide care for any family member. These nurses can provide routine care for patients, including dispensing medications; however, in some states, a doctor’s approval of certain prescriptions is required. According to Medline Plus, licensure and certification for this specialty varies from state to state.
Benefits of APRNs
There are numerous benefits associated with having APRNs as part of the medical community. These professionals can provide care for people in rural areas that may not have access to physicians. Additionally, APRNs provide cost effective care, which is beneficial to private-pay patients and insured patients. Because of the high quality of care APRNs provide, they can handle routine care while a physician or specialist focuses on severe or challenging cases.
APRN Association Links:
FAQs
Definition/Introduction
APRNs are registered nurses with master's and/or doctorate degrees with advanced education and training beyond registered nurses.
What does APRN mean after a nurse's name? ›
The nation increasingly will call upon advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) to meet these needs and participate as key members of health care teams. APRNs are nurses who have met advanced educational and clinical practice requirements, and often provide services in community-based settings.
Is a APRN higher than a RN? ›
Looking at APRN vs. RN, it's clear that APRNs are superior to RNs in terms of education, skills needed, and responsibilities. APRNs also have a higher salary figure than RNs. However, the path to becoming an APRN is much longer than that of an RN.
Is an APRN higher than a PA? ›
One of the big differences when making the APRN vs. PA comparison is that APRNs focus on a specialty, while PAs practice more generally. Additionally, PAs must always be supervised by a physician or surgeon, whereas APRNs have full practice authority in certain states, which grants them a certain level of autonomy.
What are the four APRN role types? ›
In this APRN model of regulation there are four roles: certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA), certified nurse-midwife (CNM), clinical nurse specialist (CNS), and certified nurse practitioner (CNP). These four roles are given the title of advanced practice registered nurse (APRN).
Is an APRN as good as an MD? ›
APRNs can diagnose and treat disease just like an MD or a PA for the most part. At minimum, an APRN has a registered nurse license (RN), hands-on clinical experience, and a master's degree in the nursing field. APRNs are also supervised by a licensed MD.
How do you address someone with an APRN? ›
It would be appropriate to address them as Ms. or Mr. unless they or the other staff encourages you to use their first name. Until you ask or are invited to use their first name, I would stick with the more formal Ms. or Mr. Oh, I'm tempted, very tempted to write what I really think of APRNs!
What's the difference between an APRN and a nurse practitioner? ›
Although there is a ton of confusion surrounding these two specialties in nursing, they are not very different. The simple version: an NP is a type of APRN. An APRN is a nurse who has obtained at least a master's degree in nursing, furthering their specialization within one of the APRN categories mentioned above.
Is APRN higher than MSN? ›
What Is an APRN? Simply put, an APRN is an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse. This means that this type of RN has earned a graduate-level degree such as a Master's of Science in Nursing (MSN) or a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), and has been specially trained in one of the four recognized APRN roles.
What is the highest nurse called? ›
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)-Prepared Practitioner
The Doctor of Nursing Practice is a terminal nursing degree, meaning that it is the highest possible practice-based degree in nursing.
Although both registered nurses and nurse practitioners focus on patient observation and care, the largest difference between the two roles is that NPs are permitted to prescribe treatments, order tests, and diagnose patients—duties normally performed by physicians—whereas RNs are not.
Is APRN higher than BSN? ›
An APN is a higher-level nursing degree than a BSN. In fact, APNs can: Prescribe medication. Diagnose patients.
Why choose NP over PA? ›
Meanwhile, nurse practitioners typically train in a specialty area based on patient population (e.g., pediatrics or OB/GYN). As a result, NPs have more practice freedom than PAs in many states but less flexibility when moving between practice areas. PAs do not need additional education to switch specialties.
Which is harder, a nurse practitioner or a physician assistant? ›
Is NP or PA school harder? PA and NP schools are challenging in their own ways. PA school does require more instructional and clinical hours than NP schools, but with the right study tool, you'll be okay no matter what you choose.
Are nurse practitioners respected? ›
She added, “In the United States, nurse practitioners are well-respected and frequently more or less capable of working alone. Although you will be able to make clinical choices for your patients independently, you will still be able to ask your colleagues for advice if necessary.”
What is the difference between an RN and an advanced practice nurse? ›
Advanced practice registered nurses, who are required to earn a postgraduate degree, differ from registered nurses in their clinical responsibilities. They generally operate at a higher level, overseeing patient care less directly than RNs.
What is the difference between an advanced practice nurse and a nurse practitioner? ›
The primary difference for NPs vs. APRNs lie in their specialty focus. APRNs deliver a particular type of care in a role such as CNA, CNM, CNS, or NP.
What is the difference between nursing and advanced practice nursing? ›
Although there is a ton of confusion surrounding these two specialties in nursing, they are not very different. The simple version: an NP is a type of APRN. An APRN is a nurse who has obtained at least a master's degree in nursing, furthering their specialization within one of the APRN categories mentioned above.
Is a DNP an advanced practice nurse? ›
The DNP, on the other hand, is for nursing practice as an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN), nursing leader, nurse educator, nurse executive or nurse director. The doctorate can open many doors to new careers in administration, management, education and advanced nursing practice.
