Advanced Practice Nurse

There are numerous specialties that make nursing one of the largest sectors in healthcare. From neonatal nursing to gerontology nursing, nurses can pursue various career options in this field. If we take a look at the statistics provided by the US Bureau of Labor, there are currently over 2.5 million registered nurses. The growth rate for this occupation has exceeded that of all other healthcare jobs. Due to nursing having a bright future ahead, more and more students are now opting for nursing education.
 

Advanced Practice Nursing Education
 
Nursing requires individuals to develop clinical skills and be able to provide accurate healthcare services. There are a large number of nursing degree programs that are designed to equip students with the required knowledge and skills for nursing careers ahead. Undergraduate nursing programs include RN, LPN, and BSN programs. These degree programs prepare students for entry level nursing careers in various fields. On the other hand, post graduate nursing programs include MSN degrees and doctorates in nursing.
 
Advanced practice nursing can be described as a form of nursing education at a post-graduate level. This mode of nursing focuses on advanced skill development and further defines the scope of future practice. Advanced practice nurses are often found at executive and managerial positions in healthcare institutions. The major difference between regular nurses and advanced nurses is that these professionals have a higher level of qualification and are categorized as experts in their specialization area. Students who wish to acquire an advanced position as a nurse will need to first equip themselves with a masters or a doctorate degree in nursing, and also earn extra credentials in the form of an advanced practice nurse certification. Key areas of study usually include advanced pharmacology, advanced health assessment, and therapeutics.There are also a number of advanced training programs available for APN careers.
 
Each state has its own rules for licensing and registration of advanced practice nurses. Once a degree program has been completed, the next step would be to take the licensing examination. Without a license from a recognized authority, it is difficult to work as a nurse professionally.
 
Job Description
 
An Advanced practice nurse can be found at various clinical settings such as nursing homes, private hospitals, and rehabilitation centers. Although an APN’s job specifications can be general, they often relate to specialization areas such as health maintenance, patient education, disease prevention, and patient counseling. An APN is authorized to recommend patients to relevant specialists and practitioners. A few main job responsibilities have been listed below:
 

• Manage care for individuals and groups
• Manage utilization of staff
• Provide adequate resources for medical tasks
• Evaluate and manage documents of patients
• Provide consultation
• Initiate referrals
• Diagnose and develop treatment plans

 
Income level for an APN
 
An advanced practice nurse salary can exceed $70,000 per year. With more experience and qualifications, the income level can go up to $100,000. Specialization areas and work experience play a key role in determining the income potential for an individual in this nursing field. Becoming an advanced practice nurse can be fulfilling, challenging, and equally rewarding.