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APN - Advanced Practice Nursing
About Us> APN
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Definition: Advanced Practice Nurse |
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Advanced
Practice Nurse is actually an umbrella term used to cover nurse
practitioners (NP's), clinical nurse specialists (CNS's), nurse midwives,
and nurse anesthetists.1 Colorado statutes define an advanced
practice nurse (APN) as a professional nurse who has acquired additional
specialized education and training and applies to and is accepted by the
board of nursing for inclusion in the advanced practice registry.
Requirements for inclusion in the advanced practice registry include the
successful completion of a nationally accredited education program in the
appropriate specialty or a passing score on a certification examination of a
nationally recognized accrediting agency, or both. On and after July 1,
2008 the requirements for inclusion in the advanced practice registry will
include the successful completion of a graduate degree in the appropriate
specialty.2 |
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Nurse Practitioner |
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A nurse
practitioner (NP) is a master's prepared nurse who provides primary care to
individuals and families or communities. The setting may be in ambulatory
care, acute care, or long term care. NP's may serve as health care
researchers, interdisciplinary consultants, educators, and patient
advocates. Health promotion and disease prevention are emphasized. NP's
practice autonomously and in collaboration with health care professionals
and other individuals to diagnose treat, and manage the patient's health
problems. Some of the services provided include: ordering, conducting, and
interpreting diagnostic and laboratory tests, and prescription of
pharmacological agents as well as non-pharmacological therapies. The NP
diagnoses and manages acute episodic and chronic illnesses for a wide base
of patients, depending upon area of certification. Teaching and counseling
are a major part of the NP role.3 |
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Nurse Anesthetist |
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Certified
Nurse anesthetists (CRNA) provide preoperative assessment, administration of
anesthesia, management of post-anesthesia recovery to a narrow base of
patients (those having anesthesia).1 |
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Clinical Nurse Specialist |
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Clinical nurse
specialists (CNS) provide a medium range of services (consultation,
research, education, administration, coordination of care, case management,
direct care within definition of registered nurse) to a narrow patient base,
i.e. those under the care of a medical specialist.1 |
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Certified
Nurse Midwife |
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Certified
Nurse Midwives (CNM) provide well-women gynecologic care, management of
pregnancy and childbirth, antepartum and postpartum care to childbearing
women.1 |
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References |
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1. Buppert,
C. (1999). Nurse Practitioner's Business Practice and Legal Guide.
Gaithersburg, MD: Aspen Publishers, Inc.
2. Colorado State
Statutes
3. Scope of Practice for
Nurse Practitioners (1998). American Academy of Nurse Practitioners.
http://www.aanp.org/ |
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