Advanced practice nursing refers to a nurse with a master’s degree who has taken additional classes beyond both RN nursing school and a regular master’s degree. Advanced practice nursing includes nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, certified nurse midwives, and certified nurse anesthetists There are a wide variety of advanced practice nursing certifications
Nurse practitioners work in hospitals, clinics, and doctor’s offices, usually under the direction of a physician. The advanced practice nurses assess and diagnose common illnesses, such as colds or flu, and perform preventive health exams. They can generally prescribe some medications, but with limitations.
Advanced Practice Nursing Takes Many Forms
Clinical nurse specialists function in advanced practice nursing with jobs in a multitude of settings. They may have jobs in hospitals, insurance companies, or clinics. Clinical nurse specialists are master’s or doctorate nurses who are experts in a particular field of nursing, such as mental or community health, or cancer care. Some clinical nurse specialists have roles as patient or staff educators. Clinical nurse specialists take a national certifying exam before being able to use the initials CNS after their name.
Certified nurse midwives enjoy status as advanced practice nurses. Certified nurse midwives may be employed in hospitals, physician’s offices, or freestanding birth centers. The certified nurse midwife performs both well women and pregnancy exams in addition to assisting in childbirth. Certified nurse midwives are also able to prescribe medications, with limitations, in certain states. Certified nurse midwives enjoy a good reputation and are increasing in popularity.
Certified registered nurse anesthetists perform another type of advanced practice nursing. They administer anesthesia to patients having surgical procedures. They are generally employed in hospitals, independent surgical centers, and some doctor’s offices. Nurse anesthetists administer over one-half of all the anesthesia performed. Certified registered nurse anesthetists hold master’s degrees, and must pass national certification exams.
Some challenges do exist for advanced practice nurses. One of those is the issue of reimbursement for their services. Often it is not clear what these advanced practice nurses do, so their value as a healthcare professional is often not perceived. In addition, barriers exist in the provision of care due to the overlap of traditional nursing and medical functions. One issue that is helping to resolve the reimbursement problem is the fact that advanced practice nurses are increasingly being recognized as being able, in some circumstances, to deliver the same quality of care that a physician does, but in a more cost effective manner. This makes reimbursement of advanced practice nurse services more lucrative for insurance companies.
Despite the challenges, advanced practice nurses probably enjoy the most career diversity of any segment of the nursing population, and are generally well paid.