What is an advanced practice registered nurse?
An advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) is a registered nurse with graduate education and national certification in one of four roles: nurse practitioner, certified registered nurse anesthetist, certified nurse-midwife or clinical nurse specialist.
The four roles
Nurse practitioner: primary and specialty care, $132,300 median pay. Nurse anesthetist: anesthesia care, $236,590. Nurse-midwife: pregnancy, birth and women’s health. Clinical nurse specialist: expert care and system improvement in a specialty.
See each: nurse practitioner, nurse anesthetist, nurse-midwife, clinical nurse specialist.
Licensure
APRNs hold an RN license and a separate advanced practice authorization from the state, and the rules on independence and prescribing differ by state. Check the board of nursing in the state where you plan to work.
Pay and projections: Bureau of Labor Statistics. NCLEX figures: NCSBN. Enrollment: AACN. Sources and years are ondata sources.