What is an APRN? The Complete Guide to Advanced Practice Registered Nurses
What is an APRN?
An advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) is a registered nurse who has gone through advanced specialty training to gain skills, knowledge, and experience in a specific patient population or skill set. APRNs hold, at minimum, an MSN, but many continue their education and earn a doctorate in nursing practice.
APRN is an umbrella term for four types of nurses. We'll get more into each of these later in the article:
- Nurse Practitioner
- Certified Nurse Midwife
- Clinical Nurse Specialist
- Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist
Popular Online Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) Programs
Earn a valuable nursing credential at Purdue Global’s School of Nursing. Expand your expertise and prepare to take on leadership and independent practice opportunities. Complete your courses online, on your schedule.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide, but certain programs have state restrictions. Check with Purdue for details.
WGU's award-winning online programs are created to help you succeed while graduating faster and with less debt. WGU is a CCNE accredited, nonprofit university offering nursing bachelor's and master's degrees.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide
GCU's College of Nursing and Health Care Professions has a nearly 35-year tradition of preparing students to fill evolving healthcare roles as highly qualified professionals.
CCNE
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide
Earn your nursing degree from one of the largest nursing education providers in the U.S. Walden University’s BSN, MSN, post-master’s APRN certificate, and DNP programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Get enhanced practicum support with our Practicum Pledge.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide, excluding CT, ND, NY and RI. Certain programs have additional state restrictions. Check with Walden for details.
APRN vs. RN
While APRNs do perform some of the same duties as RNs, there are a few key differences. APRNs can prescribe medications, perform procedures, and diagnose and treat patients.
Can RNs Become APRNs?
Registered nurses (RNs) who have completed advanced clinical and educational requirements can become advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs). According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), there are approximately 323,900 APRNs in the US.
Types of APRNs
As we mentioned earlier, there are four types of APRNs. Let's explore each one a bit more.
Nurse Practitioners
Nurse practitioners are one of the most popular and highly desired APRN degrees. Nurse practitioner duties include prescribing medications, examining patients, ordering diagnostic tests, diagnosing illnesses, and providing treatment.
Salary: According to the BLS, as of May 2023, nurse practitioners earn a median annual salary of $126,260, more than double the average annual salary for all other occupations.
Certified Nurse Midwife
A CNM provides healthcare to women throughout the entire course of their lives. They assist in delivering babies, manage emergency situations during labor, repair lacerations, and may provide surgical assistance to physicians during cesarean births. Also includes family planning, gynecological checkups, basic nutrition counseling, patient education, and basic prenatal care.
Salary: The mean average certified nurse-midwife salary is $129,650, according to the BLS.
Clinical Nurse Specialist
Clinical Nurse Specialists are slightly different than other APRNs. The degree focuses on research, teaching, and advancing the nursing practice. A CNS will assist with evidence-based practice projects, teach patients and their families, conduct research as a primary investigator, teach in the community, and help provide transitional care.
Salary: The median salary for Clinical Nurse Specialists is $87,359, as of September 2023, according to ZipRecruiter. Clinical Nurse Specialist salaries currently range between $62,500 to $101,500, with some making upwards of $126,000 annually across the United States.
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist
CRNAs are advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) who administer anesthesia and other medications. They also monitor patients who are receiving and later recovering from anesthesia. CRNAs are also responsible for ensuring the patient is pain-free after a procedure, so a significant part of their job is following up with patients after surgery and prescribing pain medication.
Salary: According to the most recent BLS report, the median average nurse anesthetist salary is $212,650.
How to Become an APRN
Becoming an APRN takes many years of hard work and advanced training. The path to becoming one will look different depending on whether you become an NP, CNM, CRNA, or CNS. But here are the basic steps you'll need to take:
Step 1: Become a Registered Nurse
The first step to becoming an APRN is becoming a registered nurse. You'll do this by enrolling in either an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or a Bachelor's Degree in Nursing (BSN) program. After earning your degree, you’ll need to pass the NCLEX. This will allow you to work as an RN.
2. Get Your Bachelor's Degree
If you don’t already hold a BSN, you may want to enroll in and earn your Bachelor’s in Nursing Science degree. Nurses who have their ADN can enroll in RN-BSN programs, many of which can be completed online. It is possible to go straight from your ADN to an MSN program if you want to skip the step of earning your Bachelor's degree, however. (More on that in step four.)
3. Gain Nursing Experience
Some nurses may choose to skip this step and go right into enrolling in a graduate program, while others choose to get a few years of experience under their belt before continuing their education. However, some APRNs will be required to have bedside experience.
For example, in order to become a CRNA - you must have a minimum of two years of ICU experience. This is a requirement before even applying to a program. Without this experience, schools will not consider your application.
4. Enroll in a Graduate Program (MSN or DNP)
The simplest route to becoming an APRN for RNs who already have their bachelor's degree is by earning a master’s degree in nursing.
For RNs without bachelor's degrees, there are RN-to-MSN programs. You may also see such programs called ADN-to-MSN (which means Associate Degree in Nursing to Master’s).
Some institutions offer doctoral degrees like Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) programs or Doctorate of Nursing Anesthesia Practice (DNAP), which is the highest level of nursing education available.
Popular Online Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) Programs
Earn a valuable nursing credential at Purdue Global’s School of Nursing. Expand your expertise and prepare to take on leadership and independent practice opportunities. Complete your courses online, on your schedule.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide, but certain programs have state restrictions. Check with Purdue for details.
WGU's award-winning online programs are created to help you succeed while graduating faster and with less debt. WGU is a CCNE accredited, nonprofit university offering nursing bachelor's and master's degrees.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide
GCU's College of Nursing and Health Care Professions has a nearly 35-year tradition of preparing students to fill evolving healthcare roles as highly qualified professionals.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide
Earn your nursing degree from one of the largest nursing education providers in the U.S. Walden University’s BSN, MSN, post-master’s APRN certificate, and DNP programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Get enhanced practicum support with our Practicum Pledge.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide, excluding CT, ND, NY and RI. Certain programs have additional state restrictions. Check with Walden for details.
APRN Scope of Practice
The scope of practice depends on the type of APRN. For example, a CRNA has very different job responsibilities and duties than a CNS. Furthermore, NPs have varying scopes of practice depending on the state of practice.
Nurse practitioners have full practice authority in 32 states and the District of Columbia, meaning that they do not have to work under the supervision of a doctor. In the remaining states, NPs still have more authority than RNs, but they need a medical doctor to sign off on certain patient care decisions.
What Are the CEU Requirements for APRNs?
APRNs must complete specified continuing education requirements to renew their specialty certifications. Each state also has continuing education requirements listed in our nurse continuing education guide.
The current trend is for employers to provide on-site or online training for nurses. Professional organizations such as the American Association of Nurse Practitioners typically offer continuing education courses to their members.
Where Can APRNs Work?
The most common places where APRNs work include:
- Hospitals
- Outpatient clinics
- Operating rooms
- Birthing centers
- Veterans’ hospitals
- Hospices
- Academia
- Urgent Care
- Emergency Rooms
- Private practice
- Home health care
- Public health department
Where are the Best APRN Jobs?
High-paying nursing opportunities abound. As an in-demand nurse, you are in control of your career. Explore the opportunities available to nurses of every specialty and education level. Get the pay and career path you deserve. Click here to see today's best nursing job opportunities.
