ADVANCED PRACTICE NURSES: FAQs

What is an Advanced Practice Nurse (APN)?

In Illinois, a licensed APN must have completed an accredited educational program with a master’s degree in nursing (MS or MSN) or doctorate degree in nursing (DNSc, DNP, or PhD) and be board certified. While all APNs are registered professional nurses (RN), only those with advanced education and clinical training are APNs.

Are there different types of APN and what is the difference?

Yes, depending on their education and clinical training. APNs include:

• Certified Nurse Practitioner (C.N.P.): provides a full scope of primary care & disease management in various settings across the lifespan.
• Clinical Nurse Specialist (C.N.S.): expert clinicians providing services in a specialized area of nursing practice identified in terms of population (i.e. pediatrics, adults, geriatrics); setting (i.e. critical care, ER, outpatient clinic); disease/medical subspecialty (i.e. diabetes, neurology); type of care / problem (i.e. rehab, pain, wounds)
• Certified Nurse Midwife (C.N.M.): provides health care for women and their newborns during the childbearing cycle as well as provide reproductive and primary care to women throughout their lifespan.
• Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (C.R.N.A.): administers anesthesia in hospitals, ambulatory surgical treatment centers, and office settings.

What health services do APNs provide?

Depending on their education and training:

• Take medical histories and perform physical examinations
• Diagnose & treat acute and chronic problems (i.e. ,infections, injuries*, asthma, diabetes, hypertension*)
• Provide routine health care, wellness and disease prevention (prenatal, well-child, preventative adult*)
• Order and interpret laboratory tests, X-rays & other diagnostic tests
• Prescribe medications and treatments
• Provide education and support for healthy lifestyle behaviors
• Manage normal pregnancy, labor and birth as well as many other aspects of women’s health throughand including menopause (C.N.M.)
• Manage anesthesia care and pain management (C.R.N.A.)
• Enhance quality and safety throughout the continuum of healthcare by improving patient, nursing, and organizational outcomes
• Reduce healthcare costs, hospital length of stay, and hospital readmissions
• Serve as Educators, Leaders, Researchers, Administrators, Change-agents
• Provide expert consultation throughout continuum of healthcare
• Provide palliative or end-of-life care

(* indicates a limited list of examples)

Where do APNs practice?

Clinics, physician offices, hospitals, long term care facilities, home health agencies, communities, schools and other health settings.