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Graduate Nursing - Advanced Practice Nurse
According to the Advanced Practice Nurse Council of Delaware,
"An advanced practice nurse (APN) is an umbrella term that
includes nurse practitioners (NP), clinical nurse specialists
(CNS), certified nurse-midwives (CNM), and nurse anesthetists
(CRNA). All are registered nurses with advanced training and
education, most with Master's degrees in nursing. An Advanced
Practice Nurse must pass national licensing exams in order to
practice and must maintain their licenses through ongoing educational
activities and testing.
Advance Practice Nurses have been providing primary and preventative
health care for over 35 years. They work in all 50 states, in
a variety of settings, including hospitals, nursing homes, businesses,
and private practices, HMOs, schools, and community centers.
Some APNs have their own practices, but most work in collaboration
with a physician. Many Advanced Practice Nurses can prescribe
medications, order and evaluate laboratory, x-ray and other
diagnostic tests. They can refer to specialists and other community
resources. Nurse - managed health care centers are run by nurses,
usually Advanced Practice Nurses, and are located in neighbor
hoods and communities to best serve their clients.
One type of Advanced Practice Nurse, a nurse practitioner (NP),
can evaluate and treat people with acute illness, (such as pneumonia,
ear and sinus infections, or acute back pain), chronic conditions
(such as diabetes, hypertension, and depression), and provide
preventative health care services (such as physicals and immunizations).
A nurse practitioner focuses on prevention, wellness and education.
Helping people stay well is a primary goal of NPs. Prevention
screening for diseases such as elevated cholesterol, asthma,
and cancer are another focus of nurse practitioners. Advanced
Practice Nurses practice in varied health arenas including Family
Practice, Pediatrics, Geriatrics, Oncology, Cardiology, Midwifery,
and Anesthesia.
Advanced Practice Nurses are educated through programs that
grant either a certificate or a master's degree. It is recommended
that Registered nurses (RNs) who desire to pursue an APN first
achieve a high level of clinical experience before applying.
Key components to any APN program are: Intensive preceptorship
or clinicals under the direct supervision of a physician, mentor,
or experienced Advanced Practice Nurse, an active exchange of
information between curriculum academics and clinical settings,
and a Focus on Health.
Although the scope of an Advanced Practice Nurse's practice
varies from state to state, the focus remains the same: health
maintenance, disease prevention, counseling, and patient education.
With a strong emphasis in primary care, Advanced Practice Nurses
are found in every specialty: Neonatology, Nurse-midwifery,
Pediatrics, School Health, Family/Adult Health, Women's Health,
Mental Health, Homecare, Geriatrics, and Acute Care."
Advanced Practice Nurse
Council of Delaware
2644 Capitol Trail
Suite 330
Newark, DE 19711
http://www.delapn.org
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