What are advanced practice nurses?
Advance practiced nurses — also referred to as APNs — are clinical nurse specialists, nurse practitioners and registered nurses who have additional education (either certification or a master’s degree) and expertise in a specialty area or clinical practice. Working both independently and in collaboration with a physician, APNs are able to provide a wide variety of services for people who have sleep disorders.
How are APNs involved in your care?
APNs provide many health services including:
- Health histories, procedures,assessments and exams
- Interpretation of tests
- Prescription of medications, within the guidelines of state laws
- Coordination of outpatient care with home care services
- Screening and referral for other health problems
What services do the APNs in the Cleveland Clinic Sleep Disorders Center provide?
- Patient and family education about sleep-related problems
- Ongoing assessment and management of sleep disorder symptoms
- Counseling on general health maintenance and wellness
- Information about medications and monitoring side effects
- Education in the use of CPAP and BiPAP therapies
- Guidance in determining when change may be needed in the treatment plan
- Administration and monitoring of medications according to treatment protocol
- Coordination of outpatient care with home care services
- Consultation to health team members as well as outside providers
- Speaking at community programs about sleep-related topics
What should you do when a problem arises?
You may reach the doctor’s office between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. After business hours, on weekends or holidays call The Cleveland Clinic operator at 216.444.2200 or toll-free 800.CCF.CARE (800.223.2273) to speak with an experienced professional.
You will be scheduled with an APN for visits including:
- Routine annual visits
- Completion of forms and letters of medical necessity
- Sleep study results
- Initiation of CPAP or BiPAP therapy
- Evaluation of stimulant therapy
- Review of medication and treatment plan
- Prescription refills for controlled substances. (Please allow two weeks when requesting prescription refills by mail.)
