Description

“Advance Practice Nurses” include nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists (CNS), nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives and others.  They are primary and acute health care providers.  License depends on specialty and generally allows advanced practice nurses to conduct physical exams, order and interpret lab tests, diagnose and treat illnesses, and counsel patients.  They are independent practitioners.

Degree

Advance Practice Programs are Master’s Degree Programs leading to M.S.N.  Types of Advance Practice Nurses include N.P. (Nurse Practitioner), C.N.S. (Clinical Nurse Specialist), Nurse-Midwife, Nurse Anesthetist and others.

Program Length

Accelerated B.S.N. Programs, 1 year.  Direct Entry Master’s Programs, approximately 3 years. 

Professional Schools’ Organization

AACN (American Association of Colleges of Nursing)

http://www.aacn.nche.edu

Application Service

School specific applications.

Academic Admission Requirements

Common requirements: Human Anatomy & Physiology, General Chemistry (4-8 cr), Statistics, Psychology (including Developmental), SWK 253, English. Schools vary considerably. For school specific detail, see

http://www.aacn.nche.edu

Admission Exam

GRE (Graduate Record Exam)

http://www.gre.org

Personal Attributes & Experiences

Maturity, motivation, commitment to and interest in working closely with patients, sense of activism and interest in social justice, ability to work independently.  Direct patient care experience.

Recommendation Letters

Individual letters of support.