Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) is a type of a RN who has earned a graduate-level degree such as a Master’s of Science in Nursing (MSN) or a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) and has been trained in one of the four recognized APRN roles. APRN can hold four major roles, including certified nurse-midwife (CNM), certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA), clinical nurse specialist (CNS), and nurse practitioner (NP). The population foci that APRNs can specialize in such as family/individual across lifespan, adult-gerontology, neonatal, pediatrics, women’s health/gender-related, and psychiatric-mental health. The most popular APRN role is the pediatric nurse practitioner which allows NPs to practice within the pediatric population.
Certified nurse-midwife is one of the four APRN roles where a RN specializes in childbirth and performs a host of women’s health medical services. Similarly, certified registered nurse anesthetist entails RN administering anesthesia for patients undergoing surgery or other medical procedures while ensuring patient safety. Clinical nurse specialist is where a RN provides leadership and high-level clinical expertise in a specialty area of medicine. Nurse practitioner is the fourth role of APRNs and involves provision of advanced, comprehensive care to patients.
Advanced nurse practitioners have benefit patient care and experiences while. At the same time reducing the workload of medical staff, and subsequently optimizing the cost-effectiveness and efficiency of health care services and improving overall patient satisfaction. Advanced nurse practitioners enhance patient care, service cost-effectiveness, efficiency, and general patient satisfaction with the overall quality of care provided. They help in addressing current and future health care needs of patients and their families. Advanced nurse practitioners offer a promising solution for addressing the rising complexity and demand of health service users worldwide. APRNs provide effective and high-quality care and improve the quality of patient care in the United States.