As the title implies, the Advanced Practice Nurse (APRN) is the highest and most advanced nursing degree currently available in the U.S. Additionally, this profession is entrusted with the widest range of responsibilities.
APNs are often considered, like physicians, as primary health care practitioners, and as such are legally allowed to prescribe drugs and medication in the majority of states. Advanced practice nurses have proven extremely useful as a substitute for general practitioners in geographic areas where traditional medical services are rare, and in administering medical care to populations that are sometimes underserved by medical practice.
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The educational pathway that leads to a degree in advanced practice nursing begins by obtaining an RN (Registered Nurse) degree. To qualify as an APN, the registered nurse must also possess an advanced degree (master's or doctorate), and will often be subject to additional testing, examinations and licensing, as well as continuing education requirements and regular follow-on examinations to retain an APN credential. For details of the requirements necessary to obtain an RN degree, see the registered nursing career profile, rn to bsn degrees, and rn to msn degree programs.
There are four specific specialties in advanced practice nursing: clinical nurse specialist, nurse anesthetist, nurse midwife, and nurse practitioner. There are currently 329 programs in the U.S. which offer master's and doctoral degrees in the nurse practitioner specialization; 218 master's and post-master's programs for obtaining the clinical nurse specialist degree; 92 programs for the nurse anesthetist specialty; and 45 that lead to an APN degree as a nurse midwife.
To see all the available certificates and degrees that can lead to an advanced practice nurse degree, see the Nursing Degrees page.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, employment of all nursing levels and professions is expected to grow "much faster than average for all occupations" during the upcoming decade. Job opportunities for advanced practice nurses in all four fields of specialization will be excellent.
Department of Labor figures indicate that the median annual salary of registered nurses in 2004 was $52,330, with a range running from less than $37,300 to a high of more than $74,760. Wages and salaries for advanced practice nurses in all four specializations can be significantly higher, as these practices require more schooling and training, and because their range of responsibilities is wider than that of an registered nurse.
The four specializations in Advanced Practice Nursing are:
Clinical Nurse Specialist
The clinical nurse specialist has advanced expertise in providing patient care. This APN specialization might also focus on family planning, teaching, or in consulting with physicians or other nurses.
Nurse Anesthetist
A nurse anesthetist administers anesthesia before and during surgery, monitors the patient's vital signs while the patient is in surgery, and provides care during the post-surgical recovery period.
Nurse Midwife
Nurse-midwives are advanced practice nurses who choose to specialize in the field of obstetrics, gynecology, and women's health issues, including all stages of pregnancy, delivery and postpartum care of both the newborn infant and its mother.
Nurse Practitioner
A Nurse Practitioner (NP) is a registered nurse who has completed an advanced nursing education and training. Nurse Practitioners provide a broad range of health care services and work in a variety of environement including independent offices, family practice offices, urgent care centers, and rural health clinics. In some states, NP's admit and follow their patients in hospitals. Many NP's are opening their own clinics and offices to meet the needs of growing populations.
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