APRN - Advanced Practice Registered Nurse

An Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) is a registered nurse who completes a graduate-level educational program. Family Nurse Practitioners (FNP) are a type of ARNP who specializes in Family Practice Nursing Care. They're certified to care for patients over their lifetime, from pediatrics to geriatrics.

An Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) is a registered nurse who completes a graduate-level educational program, and a Medical Doctor (MD) has completed medical school and can practice independently. APRNs and MDs are trained through different programs which cover different curricula. Medical school is different from nursing school. Advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) are subject to state restrictions and may require physician oversight to practice.

A licensed Advanced Practice Registered Nurse's (APRNs) job duties include:

• Examine patients and establish diagnoses by patient history, physical examination and other assessments

• Admit, manage and discharge patients to and from healthcare facilities

• Order, collect, perform and interpret diagnostic tests

• Manage health care by identifying, developing, implementing and evaluating a plan of care and treatment for patients

• Prescribe therapies and medical equipment

• Prescribe medications when necessary

• Refer patients to other healthcare providers, services or facilities

There are four different types of Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs):

• Nurse Practitioners (Generalized)

• Certified Nurse-Midwives (CNM)

• Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNS)

• Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNA)

Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) who work in adult-gerontology can earn one of the following certifications:

• ANCC Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Certification (AGPCNP-BC)

• ANCC Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist Certification (AGCNS-BC)

• AANPCB Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner (A-GNP)

• AACN Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nursing Specialist (ACCNS-AG)

• ANCC Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Certification (AGACNP-BC)

• AACN Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (ACNPC-AG)

• AACN Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (ACNPC-Adult)

The AACN offers the Adult Acute/Critical Care Clinical Nurse Specialist (CCNS-Adult) for renewal only.

Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) who treat patients from infancy through to geriatrics can earn one of the following certifications:

• ANCC Family Nurse Practitioner Certification (FNP-BC)

• AANPCB Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP-C)

• PNCB Primary Care Certified Nurse Practitioner (CPNP-PC)

Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) who work in psychiatric-mental health can earn the ANCC Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP-BC).

Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) who work in the emergency department can earn the AANPCB Emergency Nurse Practitioner (ENP-C).

Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) who work in pediatrics can earn one of the following certifications:

• AACN Pediatric Clinical Nurse Specialist (ACCNS-P)

• PNCB Acute Care Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (CPNP-AC)

• PNCB Pediatric Primary Care Mental Health Specialist (PMHS)

The AACN offers the Pediatric Acute/Critical Care Clinical Nurse Specialist (CCNS-Pediatric) for renewal only.

Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) who work with neonates can earn one of the following certifications:

• AACN Neonatal Clinical Nurse Specialist (CCNS-N)

• NCC Neonatal Nurse Practitioner (NNP-BC)

The AACN offers the Neonatal Acute/Critical Care Clinical Nurse Specialist (CCNS-Neonatal) for renewal only.

Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) who work in women's health can earn NCC Women's Health Care Nurse Practitioner (WHNP-BC).