Today the health care industry in the U.S. must address primary care shortages, meet the needs of a rising elderly population, and provide efficient and effective care at a lower cost. That’s where advanced practice nurses come in.
While advanced nursing practice requires a master’s-level education, the job market post-graduation is booming. Employment is projected to grow significantly—26% from 2018 to 2028.
What is Advanced Nursing Practice?
According to the International Council of Nurses, advanced nursing practice is “a field of nursing that extends and expands the boundaries of nursing’s scope of practice, contributes to nursing knowledge, and promotes the advancement of the profession.”
Nurses with advanced practice (APNs) or advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) titles have completed a master’s or doctorate that allows them to pursue higher-level roles in their field. Advanced nursing practice designations allow nurses to become more autonomous and versatile in their work and patient care.
What do Advanced Practice Nurses do?
An advanced nursing practice education prepares nurses to perform a variety of tasks in patient care and the broader health care system. Some examples of duties performed by APRNs include:
- Assess patient symptoms and medical histories
- Develop diagnoses
- Order tests
- Prescribe medication
- Develop and modify treatment plans
- Provide referrals for future care
Advanced practice nurses may perform similar duties to their RN counterparts; however, they are afforded greater independence and may act as leaders to other nurses on staff. They can also work to improve overall patient care and treatment plans in their workplace.
Types of Advanced Practice Providers
Advanced practice providers are highly educated members of a health care team. They include the following roles:
- Physician’s Assistant (PA) PAs are graduate-level educated and work under the supervision of a physician. However, PAs can provide primary care in many circumstances.
- Nurse Practitioner (NP) NPs are afforded higher autonomy than RNs and may choose to focus generally on primary care or specialize in a population or area of medicine.
- Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) A CNS often acts as a consultant and expert educator to nursing staff. They typically specialize either in a specific health care setting, health issue, or population.
- Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNA) CRNAs are qualified to provide anesthesia to patients in a variety of medical settings. They cover anesthesia and other sedation-related care for patients with needs ranging from life-threatening to situational.
- Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM) CNMs assist families in all areas of reproductive health, including prenatal, childbirth, and postpartum care. CNMs can perform in a variety of settings including hopsitals, homes, birth centers, and community or emergency settings.
How to Become an Advanced Practice Nurse
Advanced practice nurses must complete multiple steps to become registered and specialized in one of the above roles. The first step is to become an RN.
Then you must enter a master’s degree program and take courses in your chosen specialty. After graduating, complete your certification by taking an exam. These vary depending on the specific advanced nursing practice area you would like to pursue.
Once passed, you are officially registered and able to practice as an APRN. The demand for advanced practice providers is growing.
Now is a great time to kickstart your nursing education. You can help fill the increasing need for nurses by learning more about the programs offered at the College of Nursing and Advanced Health Professions at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology (CONAHP).
For more information about health care, psychology, career development, and more check out our online, digital magazine {INSIGHT}.