Advanced Practice Nurse is an option for nurses who wish to grow their career and make the most of their skills. According to the International Council of Nurses (ICN), advanced nursing practice refers to a nursing field that expands or extends the scope of regular nursing practice.
APNs and RNs who wish to be advanced nurses or registered nurses will need to complete additional education beyond the standard programs. These individuals can be more independent in the workplace and have the possibility of a more flexible career.
Candidates interested in this advanced career path will need to have a nursing degree. They should also be ready to attend additional schooling, but they will be able do more in their daily life as nurses. This is the type of advanced nursing career you can expect.
Description of a job in Advanced Practice Nurse
An Advanced Practice Nurse can do almost everything depending on the setting. This is one of the most unique aspects of this profession. APNs can do more than traditional nurses without the approval from a doctor. Some of the duties that APNs and APRNs perform include:
- Lab tests ordering and reading
- Standard immunizations
- Diagnosing different medical conditions
- Perform physical examinations
- Managing patient records
- Educating patients about their current conditions
- Patients can be referred to for further care
- Develop treatment plans for patients
- Patients are given medication
- Counselling patients and their families about certain conditions
- Referring patients to the appropriate specialists
Advanced Practice Nurse can work in hospitals or private practices. APNs may work in their own practices or independently in some states. These nurses must work together with a supervising doctor in other states.
APNs can be classified into four main categories. These categories can include:
Nurse Practitioner (NP). A nurse practitioner (NP) is a person who provides primary or acute care to patients. This person may be involved in specific patient populations such as pediatrics, women’s healthcare, or family medicine.
CNS – Clinical Nurse Specialist. This job is similar to that of a nurse practitioner. Advanced nurse specialists are able to diagnose and treat patients in their respective specialties. They work less with patients one-on-one and focus more on mentoring and supporting other nurses.
Certified Nurse Midwife. A Certified Nurse-Midwife (CNM) is a person who provides primary and basic gynecological care to women. While they can provide care for women all their lives, they may only see them during pregnancy or childbirth.
CRNA (certified registered nurse anesthetist). These nurses are skilled in providing anesthesia and pain relief during medical and surgical procedures. These nurses are usually found in hospitals, outpatient surgery centers, and dental offices.
Salaries for advanced practice nurses
It is difficult to determine the actual salary of an APN because there are many career options within this field. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has provided the following information: Here are some of the expected salaries for APN positions, according to the U.S.
- Clinical Nurse Specialist: $82,231 per year
- Nurse Practitioner: $81,134 per year
- Midwife: $94,242 per year
- Advanced Practice Registered Nurse: $101,049 per year
- Family Nurse Practitioner: $123,552 per year
The best part is that these jobs have a positive outlook and are expected to grow quickly in the coming decade.
Take this example:
The best part about advanced practice nursing jobs is the stable salary. There are many hospitals across the country looking for qualified nurses in this area. These are just a few of many healthcare facilities looking for advanced practice nursing nurses to join their ranks.
- HCA Houston Healthcare Southeast is seeking midwives (CNMs), to join their expanding network of offices.
- The University of Maryland Hospitals are always looking for Nurse Practitioners, especially in the Urgent Care section.
- Connecticut’s Middlesex Health often hires advanced-practice nurse jobs. Full-time APRN jobs to flexible per-diem positions are all available
Requirements and Training
To be an advanced practice nurse, or APN, you need to have completed a lot of schooling. This is a broad title that can be used to cover many different types of nurses, as we’ve already discussed. Keep in mind that different programs might have slightly different requirements.
Before becoming a APN, a person must have a master’s or doctorate in nursing. A bachelor’s degree is required for entry to most APN programs.
Visit the American Association of Colleges of Nursing to search for a program accredited and to see if you can earn certification in the APN program of choice.
