lOMoARcPSD|3013804
lOMoARcPSD|3013804
Primary Care NP Role vs. APN Roles
St. Thomas University
NUR 512
Advanced practice nurses (APNs) and nurse practitioners (NPs) are licensed registered
nurses with a broad range of knowledge and abilities. In their practice, they employ clinical
competences in accordance with the standards set forth in their jurisdiction. The responsibilities
that NPs and APNs play today have changed due to changes in healthcare. There are
approximately 290,000 nurse practitioners licensed in the United States (U.S.) (AANP, 2020).
This discussion post explains the responsibilities of NPs and APNs to healthcare professionals
and patients, as well as how those positions differ and overlap.
An advanced practice registered nurse (APN) is a registered nurse who has earned a
graduate degree (master's or doctorate) from a recognized institution and, following program
completion, passes a national certification exam to receive certification in a particular
speciality: NP, CRNA, CNS, or CNM. Before particularly advancing the education in one of the
four roles, all APN programs should have practices that are patient and family-centered and
include standard courses like advanced health assessment, advanced pathophysiology, and
advanced pharmacology. For instance, a CNS school might not require a pediatric clinical
practice rotation, but an NP program should. In addition, a student must complete a certain
lOMoARcPSD|3013804
Primary Care NP Role vs. APN Roles
St. Thomas University
NUR 512
Advanced practice nurses (APNs) and nurse practitioners (NPs) are licensed registered
nurses with a broad range of knowledge and abilities. In their practice, they employ clinical
competences in accordance with the standards set forth in their jurisdiction. The responsibilities
that NPs and APNs play today have changed due to changes in healthcare. There are
approximately 290,000 nurse practitioners licensed in the United States (U.S.) (AANP, 2020).
This discussion post explains the responsibilities of NPs and APNs to healthcare professionals
and patients, as well as how those positions differ and overlap.
An advanced practice registered nurse (APN) is a registered nurse who has earned a
graduate degree (master's or doctorate) from a recognized institution and, following program
completion, passes a national certification exam to receive certification in a particular
speciality: NP, CRNA, CNS, or CNM. Before particularly advancing the education in one of the
four roles, all APN programs should have practices that are patient and family-centered and
include standard courses like advanced health assessment, advanced pathophysiology, and
advanced pharmacology. For instance, a CNS school might not require a pediatric clinical
practice rotation, but an NP program should. In addition, a student must complete a certain
