Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN)

What is an advanced practice registered nurse?

Advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) are nurses with additional education, training and experience. That means they can practice at a higher level than other nurses, like licensed practical nurses (LPNs) or registered nurses (RNs).

To become an APRN, a registered nurse has to earn at least a master’s degree in nursing. Some nurses go even further with their education and earn a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree. APRNs also have to complete hundreds of hours of additional training. Then, they have to earn a board certification in their specialty field.

APRNs can do any of the following, depending on the area they focus on:

• Provide primary care, like annual check-ups or office sick visits.
• Provide acute care, like in a hospital or clinic setting.
• Provide mental health services.
• Diagnose and treat conditions.
• Assist in surgeries.
• Deliver babies and provide care in other areas of Ob/Gyn.
• Refer you to a specialist.
• Prescribe medications (varies by state) and provide treatments (varies by specialty).
• Deliver anesthesia.
• Hold leadership positions.

What is the role of an advanced practice registered nurse?

APRNs can be nurse practitioners, but that’s not their only career choice. In fact, becoming an APRN can open the door to the following four career paths

• Certified nurse midwife (CNM)
• Certified nurse practitioner (CNP)
• Certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA)
• Clinical nurse specialist (CNS)

What can APRNs specialize in?

APRNs can specialize in many different areas. The main specialties are:

• Adult-gerontology
• Family practice
• Gynecology and obstetrics
• Pediatrics
• Neonatal
• Psychiatric/mental health

Other terms for APRNs

Not all states call APRNs the same thing. Some states call them advanced practice nurses (APNs) or advanced registered nurse practitioners (ARNPs). One state uses “nurse practitioner” to mean APRN, even though they’re not exactly the same. And one state has no term.

The licensing, certification and certain education requirements can also vary from state to state.

Can an advanced practice registered nurse prescribe medication?

Sometimes, but it varies from state to state. Most states let APRNs prescribe independently. Several states only let some APRNs prescribe independently. And a handful of states don’t let APRNs prescribe independently at all.

What are the key differences between an advanced practice registered nurse and a registered nurse?

There are several key differences between an RN and an APRN. Those include:

• Education: Becoming an APRN takes additional education. RNs must have either an associate’s degree or a bachelor’s degree in nursing. APRNs must have a master’s degree or higher.
• License exam: RNs take the NCLEX for registered nurses (NCLEX-RN). APRNs must be board-certified in their specialty.
• Scope of practice: APRNs offer more types of care than RNs can.
• Independence: RNs can’t practice on their own. APRNs can practice on their own in some states. Other states require varying levels of physician collaboration or supervision, depending on state law.
• Prescribing authority: RNs can’t prescribe medicines. APRNs can prescribe, depending on state laws.

Is an APRN like a doctor?

There’s some overlap in what APRNs and doctors do, especially in certain roles and settings. For example, nurse practitioners and certified nurse midwives often provide primary care services, like diagnosing conditions, prescribing medications and managing ongoing care.

Clinical nurse specialists typically work in specialty or hospital-based roles rather than serving as primary care providers. Certified registered nurse anesthetists provide anesthesia care and do many of the same clinical functions as physician anesthesiologists, though their training paths and scopes of practice differ.