Advanced Practice Registered Nurses

Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRN) represent a powerful force in the healthcare system. As APRNs became the integral part of the healthcare system, their education, accreditation, certification and licensure need to be aligned effectively to ensure patient safety while expanding patient access to APRNs. An APRN includes, certified nurse practitioners, certified registered nurse anesthetists, certified nurse-midwives and clinical nurse specialists. Even though, each role has a unique history and context, but shares the commonality of being APRNs. In order to prepare an APRN for practice, the necessary components of education, accreditation, and certification are important, however, the licensing boards governed by state regulations and
In order to be certified as an APN, a practitioner must be licensed as a registered nurse. The board recognize the graduate-level advanced specialty areas includes, nurse anesthetist, nurse practitioner, nurse-midwife, Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) and Psychiatric/ Mental Health nurse (PMH). In order to be a nurse anesthetist, a nurse must attend a program accredited by the council on accreditation of nurse anesthesia educational programs and seek certification through the council on certification/recertification of nurse anesthetists. A nurse can become NP by completing an in state program recognized by the board as meeting standards as well as earning certification through an accepted organization or completing an equivalent program. In order to certify equivalency, a nurse should verify clinical experience and clinical competency in providing primary care services. A nurse is eligible for California nurse-midwife certification by completing an approved California program or complete another program that meets standards of state regulation, or achieving certification through the American midwifery certification board. There are only three approved in state nurse-midwife programs. A nurse can become a clinical nurse specialist by completing a master’s degree in a clinical nursing specialty or a master's degree in a related clinical field. If the masters programs meets board
The ARNP is a broad license category which includes nurse practitioner, certified nurse midwife, and certified registered nurse anesthetist. Clinical nurse specialists are not licensed in Washington. The ARNPs should hold a license as Washington registered nurses or RNs. Washington does not allow nurse compact license. An ARNP should complete an approved advanced practice program. The practitioners should not practice beyond their training but are permitted to sub-specialize and serve only a segment of the population that they were trained to serve. Washington state program of education must meet requirements of Washington Administrative Code. Which includes, diagnostic theory and health management, advanced coursework in physiology, health assessment, and pharmacology, and clinical and didactic preparation for the advanced practice role. Students must receive 500 hours of patient care under faculty oversight. Accreditation will seek through an agency recognized by the council on higher education accreditation or the United States department of education. Any program located within the United States is expected to hold national accreditation. Some out-of-state advanced practice programs have been approved to provide clinical placements in Washington. After completing the educational requirements student must pass a national certification examination.