Types of Advanced Practice Nurses

Advanced practice nurses are nurses who have advanced clinical skills and advanced degrees in nursing. These professionals have expertise in pharmacology and physical assessment and are certified in specialized areas of practice. APNs can be clinical nurse specialists, nurse practitioners, certified nurse-midwives or certified registered nurse anesthetists. Advanced practice nurses are generally considered to be more independent in their functions than registered nurses or licensed professional nurses.

Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS)

• The clinical nurse specialist is an advanced practice nurse who has specialized knowledge in a designated field of nursing. A CNS can practice in many different settings and within many different roles. They often function as researchers, educators, clinicians and consultants, all with the primary goal of improving patient care in clinical settings.

Nurse Practitioner

• Nurse practitioners offer health care services to a variety of different clients, usually in an outpatient, community-based setting. The major categories of nurse practitioners include acute care and family, pediatric, women's, and geriatric services. Nurse practitioners often work alongside a physician and provide a more holistic approach. They focus on symptoms of nonpathological conditions and comfort, as well as self-limiting acute and chronic stable medical conditions.

Certified Nurse-Midwife (CNM)

• Certified nurse-midwives are RNs who are also educated in midwifery and certified by the American College of Nurse-Midwives. They can perform gynecological services such as routine Papanicolaou (Pap) smears, treatment of minor vaginal infections and family planning. They provide independent care for women during normal pregnancy, labor and delivery, as well as care for newborns.

Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)

• A certified registered nurse anesthetist is an RN with advanced education in a nurse anesthesia accredited program. Alongside an anesthesiologist, CRNAs deliver surgical anesthesia in the form of sedation, nerve blocks and numbing agents.