Advanced
Practice
Nursing
Created by: Jennifer Choplin, Mary Fielding, Linda Huckin, Zhanna Margulis,
My Linh Nguyen, Julie Simmons
UNC-Charlotte Nursing Students
Special thanks to Marilyn Smith, RN, MSN, CS, FNP, for being our faculty
advisor
"Historically nursing has been
responsive to changes and influences in shaping the continually involving
health care system. Advances in knowledge and technology have led
to multiple specialties and subspecialties. Advance practice nurse
(APN) roles have been developed to address the needs of patients, families,
and communities." (Berger, 1996, p.250)
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The advanced practice nurse (APN)
is an umbrella term given to a registered nurse (RN) that has met advanced
educational and clinical practice requirements beyond the basic nursing
educational requirements. (ANA, 1997, p. 1) The four principle types
of APN's are Nurse Practitioners (NP), Certified Nurse Midwives (CNM),
Certified Register Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA), and Clinical Nurse Specialist
(CNS).
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Almost 140,000 advanced practice
nurses are carving out a new role in delivering practice in a timely, cost-effective,
quality health care.
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APNs have a graduate degree
in nursing.
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The role of the APN and what
they are allowed to do varies depending on the state in which he or she
is practicing. Scope of practice for any one area of practice can
be located within the Nurse Practitioner act statues and regulations.
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Standards of practice are set and
monitored by nursing professional organizations. (ANA, 1997, p.3)
A nationwide survey conducted by
the Gallop Organization found that 86% of the public is willing to accept
APNs as every day health care providers. (ANA, 1997, p.3)
For information about credentialing
of advance practice nurses: www.nursingworld.org/ancc/index.htm
References
Certified
Nurse Midwife