Health Careers - College of Medicine - University of Vermont

Advanced Practice Nursing
Advanced Practice Nursing refers to several specialties
in nursing for those with advanced education
and skills. They include Nurse Practitioners (NPs),
Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNSs), Certified Nurse
Midwives (CNMs) and Certified Registered Nurse
Anesthetists (CRNAs).
Certified Nurse-Midwives (CNMs) provide obstetric
and gynecologic care to women of all ages. They
perform gynecologic exams and Pap smears,
prescribe medications and birth control methods,
deliver babies, perform the first newborn exam, and
assist new mothers with breastfeeding. CNMs consult
with a physician if complications arise during
pregnancy or birth. CNMs also educate patients
about reproductive health and family planning.
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) are
responsible for the administration of all types of
anesthesia including routine and invasive monitoring
of vital signs for all surgical procedures as well as
obstetric procedures. CRNAs practice under the
supervision of a physician. They also conduct full preanesthetic
assessments and provide post-operative care.
Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNSs) most often work
within a hospital and are experts in a specialized area
of practice, such as cardiology, gerontology, mental
health, or cancer care. They provide direct care or
advise other nurses in the care of those patients.
CNSs may also carry out nursing research, educate
patients and staff, or act as a consultant to groups
needing expert nursing knowledge.
Nurse Practitioners (NPs) work as primary health
care providers in specialty practice. In collaboration
with a physician, they conduct physical assessments,
take medical histories, prescribe medications,
diagnose and treat many illnesses and injuries, and
may perform a variety of medical procedures. Nurse
practitioners are also experts at teaching patients
about staying healthy and preventing disease.
Work Environments
Birthing centers
Clinics
Health maintenance organizations (HMO’s)
Hospitals
Industry
Military
Nursing homes and hospices
Nursing schools
Outpatient offices
Private homes
Public health departments
Schools
Job Outlook
The demand for advanced practice nurses is expected to
continue to increase over the next decade and beyond,
as the need and demand for effective health care
increases. Demand is expected to be particularly high in
rural, inner-city and other underserved areas.
Salary
Nurse practitioners and nurse midwives typically earn a
starting salary of between $50,000 and $65,000 per
year. Nurse anesthetists usually earn up to $85,000 per
year to start.
Education, Certification and Licensing
For those interested in advanced practice nursing, high
school course work should include an emphasis on math
and science. A bachelors degree in nursing (BSN) and a
registered nurse (RN) license are usually required before
continuing on to advanced certification or a master’s
degree; however, there are nursing programs that
enroll non-RNs with bachelor degrees in other areas
of specialization. Master’s programs generally take two
years to complete.
Nurse anesthesia programs usually require 1 to 2 years
of critical care experience. These programs generally
take 2.5 years to complete.
FACTOID: Nurses represent the largest group of health care professionals in the United States.
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