Types

• There are four types of advanced practice nurses. Clinical nurse specialists provide care in a nursing specialty field, such as critical care or pediatrics. Nurse anesthetists administer anesthesia for diagnostic, therapeutic and surgical purposes. Nurse midwives treat female patients, and often assist with labor and delivery. Nurse practitioners work as primary or specialty care providers, and may specialize in a variety of fields, including geriatrics, neonatalology and oncology.
  
  

Description

• Responsibilities for advanced practice nurses vary based on title and area of specialization. Advanced practice nurses often function as a primary health care provider. They examine patients, arrange for diagnostic testing, prescribe treatment and dispense health care advice to patients. Because they are able prescribe medication and have advanced training, they are able to oversee a patient's care without supervision from a doctor.
  
  

Education

• All advanced practice nurses require at least a master’s degree, which is usually the Master of Science in Nursing degree. Some also earn a doctoral degree, such as the Doctor of Nursing Practice. Graduate programs in nursing education combine classroom instruction with supervised clinical work in hospitals, clinics and other healthcare facilities. Classes typically include physiology, anatomy, chemistry, microbiology, psychology, nutrition and specific nursing courses. Advanced practice nurses interested in an area of specialization usually complete their clinical experience in the corresponding hospital department.
  
  

Licensure

• Licensing requirements for advanced practice nurses vary by state, but all jurisdictions require that candidates graduate from an approved graduate level nursing program and successfully complete the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN) in order to become licensed. While all states permit advanced practice nurses to prescribe medicine, the actual scope of this authority depends on state laws. Those interested in becoming an advanced practice nurse should consult their state’s board of nursing for verification of these laws and information about additional licensing requirements.
  
  

Salary

• According to PayScale, a salary information website, the median annual salary for advanced practice nurses with less than a year of experience was $69,632 as of July 2010. Those with five to nine years of experience had median annual wages of $78,918. Advanced practice nurses with more than 20 years of experience were paid median annual wages of $86,876.
  
  

Employment Outlook

• The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that employment for registered nurses, including advanced practice nurses, will increase by 22 percent between 2008 and 2018, which is a much faster rate than the average for all occupations. Advanced practice nurses should have particularly good opportunities in rural areas and inner cities because of the lack of health care options in these locations. Advanced practice nurses usually offer more affordable health care services than doctors, which has increased employment opportunities for the occupation.