Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Role
Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Role
APRNs play an important role in the health care system. Broadly speaking, the role of an APRN may include coordinating patient care, as well as providing primary or specialty health care, according to the BLS. This can include tasks ranging from recording patients’ medical histories, to ordering diagnostic tests and writing prescriptions.
Clinical nurse specialists (CNSs) additionally perform education and leadership duties by working with medical staff as a consultant to improve patient care Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Role.
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Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Scope of Practice
Depending on their role and the state they work in, an APRN’s scope of practice may vary.
An APRN’s scope of practice may include:
- Evaluating and identifying a patient’s need for care
- Ordering diagnostic tests
- Prescribing medications
- Referring patients for further care
APRNs roles vary depending on specialty, so each APRNs role may differ. CNMs may focus on gynecological care while nurse practitioners may specialize in acute care for children.
APRN Certification
To become licensed as an APRN, nurses are required by most states to pass a national certification exam upon completing their master’s degree. There are multiple organizations that provide certification exams for different areas of specialty.
- The National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists (NBCRNA) offers the National Certification Examination (NCE) for certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs).
- The American Midwifery Certification Board is the “gold standard” for certified nurse-midwives (CNMs)Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Role.
- There are multiple certifications for those who want to become a nurse practitioner to choose from based on what is required of their specific role. Organizations providing NP certifications include:
- American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board (AANPCB)
- American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)
- Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (PNCB)
APRN Salaries
The BLS reports that the average salary for certified nurse anesthetists, certified nurse midwives, and nurse practitioners was $117,670 in May 2020. Wages vary across the types of APRN roles, with certified nurse anesthetists earning the highest median salary Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Role.
