If you’re an experienced nursing professional, there are a number of opportunities in advanced practice nursing you could pursue. Choosing the role of advanced practice nurse requires additional education and training commitment but will provide you with a rewarding and fulfilling career path. With an astonishing 40% projected growth in the next decade, this profession also holds tremendous opportunities. In this article you’ll learn:

  • what is an advanced practice nurse
  • what career path it provides
  • how to become one
  • what salary prospects it has

What Is an APRN?

An APRN, which stands for advanced practice registered nurse, is a highly trained and specialized nurse that is authorized to provide primary or specialty healthcare. An APRN’s role is somewhere between a registered nurse and a physician.

APRN vs. ARNP

Depending on the state, you may be called an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) or an Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner (ARNP). These titles are somewhat interchangeable and usually your responsibilities won’t differ.

APRN vs. RN

APRNs have more comprehensive and specialized education and training compared to RNs (registered nurses). They’re allowed to provide full healthcare services including diagnosis, treatment, and patient management, whereas RNs follow a physician’s plan.

What Does an APRN Do?

Although their exact responsibilities depend on their specialization, APRNs are generally in charge of:

  • conducting patient assessments and examinations
  • providing primary care services including preventive care, health screenings, and immunizations
  • educating patients about health conditions or treatment options
  • ordering and interpreting diagnostic tests
  • diagnosing health issues, creating treatment plans, and monitoring patients’ recovery
  • performing minor procedures and assisting in surgical interventions
  • conducting research

Can an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Prescribe Medication ?

Although advanced practice nurses are qualified and trained to prescribe medications, their specific prescribing privileges vary. In certain states they have full authority, whereas in others they need various degrees of physician supervision.

Advanced Practice Nurse Careers

There are four main types of advanced practice nurses:

  1. Nurse Practitioner (NP)

There are more than 355,000 nurse practitioners (NPs) licensed in the U.S. They can provide primary and specialty care, independently or in collaboration with physicians. They diagnose and treat illnesses, prescribe medicines, and provide health education.

  1. Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNA)

CRNAs or simply “nurse anesthetists” administer anesthesia and support patients before, during, and after surgical procedures. They work in collaboration with surgeons, anesthesiologists, dentists, and other healthcare professionals to ensure patients’ comfort.

  1. Certified Nurse-Midwives (CNM)

CNMs specialize in women’s maternity care, including prenatal, childbirth, and postpartum care. They also support gynecological and reproductive healthcare, including annual exams, family planning, and menopausal care.

  1. Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNS)

CNSs specialize in a particular population or healthcare field, such as geriatrics or emergency room care. They provide expert clinical knowledge, education, and consultation to improve patient outcomes.

How to Become an APRN

You’ll need to be already a registered nurse (RN) to obtain a master’s degree in the APRN specialty you’re interested in. More specifically, you’ll also need to have a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) to apply to a master’s degree program in nursing.

Wondering how to become an advanced practice nurse if you’re a registered nurse (RN) with an associate degree or diploma in nursing? There are nursing bridge programs like an RN-to-NP or an RN-to-MSN CNM you can apply to. Earning a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) or a Ph.D. instead of a master’s is a less common route to become an APRN.

Most states require you to pass a national APRN certification and renew it every few years. Some of the official organizations offering qualifying exams include:

Based on your state you might have to satisfy additional requirements to become an APRN, so make sure to verify those with your state’s board of nursing.

How Long Does It Take to Become an APRN?

In all, it takes about seven to nine years to become an APRN. Assuming you’re already an RN with a BSN, which takes four years on average, you’ll first need one to two years of experience as an RN in an ICU unit before applying to a CRNA program. It usually takes about two to three years to complete an NP, CRNA, CNM or CNS program.

Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Skills

Skills you’ll need to succeed as an APRN include:

  • interpersonal skills
  • decision making
  • empathy
  • attention to detail
  • problem-solving
  • leadership
  • collaborative mindset

What’s the Average Advanced Practice Nurse Salary?

The average APRN salary depends on your specialization, experience, location, and the healthcare organization you work for. For instance, here are the median salaries for the four types of advanced practice nurses:

By industry, nurse practitioners make the most in:

  • home health care services: $146,850 on average per year
  • psychiatric and substance abuse hospitals: $141,260 on average per year
  • business, professional, labor, political, and similar organizations: $153,580 on average per year

As far as location goes, nurse practitioners earn the most in the following states:

By contrast, the top-paying states for nurse anesthetists are:

Check out Monster’s Salary Page to find out what APRN salary to expect in your area. Learn the average wage for your APRN specialty and see the pay for similar healthcare roles.

How to Find Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Jobs

Advanced practice registered nurses will be in demand in the next decade. Nevertheless, if you want to land a job at the most prestigious healthcare facilities, a professional and comprehensive resume is still essential.

Save time and use a resume template like our new grad nurse practitioner resume sample to write your resume. Be sure to highlight your current licenses, registrations and certifications for your state both in your nurse career summary and key skills section, so recruiters will see you’re ready to start right away.

Adapting your resume before sending it out is also crucial. Scan the job ad and find the specific competencies and skills required for the role, such as bedside manner, urgent care, occupational health, or strong computer skills and add them to your resume.

Finally, explain why you’re interested in the position and how your experience will serve you in your new role with a well-written nursing cover letter.

Where to Find a Job as an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse

APRNs can work in a variety of healthcare settings, besides hospitals and clinics, depending on their specialization and personal preference. However, you’ll find it easier to secure a job at one of the largest employers of APRNs:

  • physicians’ offices
  • general medical and surgical hospitals
  • outpatient care centers
  • the offices of other health practitioners

APRNs can also be hired to provide care in patients’ homes, which means your job can require travel.

Are you willing to move and curious about which states offer the highest employment level for APRN professionals?

Start by looking for a job as a certified nurse-midwife here:

Or you can look for jobs in the best U.S. metro areas for nurse midwives:

Find Advanced Practice Nurse Jobs on Monster

With Monster’s advice, you’re already on the right track to becoming an APRN. Now, get ready to secure the job of your dreams by setting up a free Monster profile. Upload your resume and turn on the alerts for APRN jobs. You’ll receive the latest job openings in your email. Plus, partner recruiters and companies will be able to contact you with more opportunities in your field.

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Kirsten Chorpenning Career Advice Expert

Kirsten Chorpenning is a career advice writer who empowers job seekers to take control of their career paths using Monster’s comprehensive job search and resume tools. She specializes in helping job seekers find rewarding jobs in today’s dynamic work environment.Holding a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a minor in writing, Kirsten combines academic knowledge with five years of career industry experience to provide practical job search guidance. She focuses on the nuances of the modern job market and effective strategies for job applications. Her work, which focuses on providing actionable advice on how to secure interviews and achieve long-term career success, has been featured in Forbes, Money Talks News, MSN, and FlexJobs.

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