Advanced Practice Nursing (APN)

A growing field for students who want to learn the skills of nursing, but want to do more with those same skills is advanced practice nursing. While the definition of advanced practice nursing is broad, the applications of these skill sets are specific and vital for patient care.
The first subset of advanced practice nursing is a nurse practitioner (NP). This is a specialist who has many of the same duties as a physician, without the residency and longer schooling program. A nurse practitioner is able to diagnose and treat acute and chronic conditions as well as prescribe medications. This allows this kind of nurse to work within a medical office setting in much the same way as a physician, while allowing the physician to treat more complicated conditions. A nurse practitioner can also give physicals and needed injections as well as work to educate a patient on how to prevent health problems from occurring.
Another form of advanced practice nursing is a certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA). This is a nurse who works closely with a surgeon in the operating room to make sure that a patient remains unconscious for their procedures and is responding well to the medications given. Unlike an anesthesiologist, a nurse anesthetist doesn't require the longer residency and training program, though they are well trained for any complications that may arise in the operating room.
A clinical nurse specialist (CNS) is another advanced practice nursing specialty. This specialist can be focused in many different health care settings and specialties, including cardiac, neonatology, obstetrics and gynecology, oncology, mental healt, and neurology. Many of these advanced practice nurses can be found in specialist offices so that patients can receive the particular care that they need for their conditions or illnesses.
A certified nurse midwife is another advanced practice nursing program. A midwife is able to give a mother prenatal care as well as deliver the baby when there are no major complications. Many of these certified midwives work in conjunction with hospitals in order to be able to give the woman options should complications arise, i.e. the need for a Caesarean section. This advanced practice nurse can also provide post-delivery care to healthy women.

Becoming a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)

Just as any other health care worker, an LPN, or licensed practical nurse, helps assist in the care of the sick and infirm. In the current times of nursing shortages and low nursing school enrollment, the work of an LPN has become crucial to maintaining high standards of patient care. Note that in California and Texas, an LPN is actually referred to as a licensed vocational nurse (LVN).
Working under the supervision of a doctor or registered nurse, an LPN is able to provide many various patient services:

• Answering patient calls
• Taking and monitoring of vital signs
• Application of dressings
• Administration of ice packs, alcohol rubs, and hot water bottles
• Treatment and prevention of bedsores
• Feeding of patients
• Maintaining proper medical record documentation

Other responsibilities include the observance of any medication reactions as well as the drawing of blood for testing. This is beyond the basic skills of a certified nursing assistant, or CNA. LPNs are also trained in the preparation of patients for more rigorous testing procedures. LPNs can set up procedure rooms with the proper equipment as well as be responsible for oxygen machines, catheters, and other medical supply ordering and maintenance.
There are some states that will allow LPNs to administer medications as well as set up IVs (intravenous medications). LPNs can care for a wide range of patients from infants and newborns to the elderly population. In some cases, LPNs are experienced enough to supervise lesser trained assistants.
Several factors go into the eventual certification to be an LPN. First of all, a student must have a high school diploma or equivalent and then enroll in a two-year practical nursing program. Many community colleges offer this training, but some high schools are also allowing for this to be a part of a degree program. When this course is completed and some work experience is gained through the training, the student may then sit for a national exam, the NCLEX-PN, as well as state licensing exam.

Becoming a Registered Nurse (RN)

In today's health care industry, registered nurses are in short supply and high demand. While nursing assistants and other lesser trained health care aides are filling in the gaps that a lack of registered nurses has left, the training and the experience that RNs bring to every health care setting is undeniable.
A registered nurse can be found in a number of health care settings, including hospitals, nursing homes, specialty doctor offices, private care agencies, and physical therapy settings. They are involved in every aspect of patient care, even when not directly dealing with a patient. Many RNs are also becoming a vital part of insurance companies in determining what care is necessary for patients and how a company should charge for a specific claim.
The responsibilities of a registered nurse are vast and often more detailed that any list could ever cover, but include:

• Directly involved in patient care, including vital signs and basic patient comfort duties
• Administration of injections as well as medications
• Development of patient care plans and assessments
• Determination of necessary equipment and facilities for patient care
• Supervision of nurses' aides as well as LPNs or LVNs
• Direction interaction with physicians regarding the patient care
• Delegation of tasks as deemed necessary
• Education of staff as well as new nursing assistant students
• Education of community
• Determination of patient care needs, including whether they are met and how they can be met as a situation changes for a patient
• Nursing administration position duties
• Maintenance of nursing notes, medical records, and detailed communication to other nurses on staff

Typical nursing school prerequisites will vary from program to program, but generally include an ACT or SAT score, at least a 2.0 grade point average (this varies widely across programs), basic education (math, science, foreign language, and English classes), as well as positive extracurricular activities. As more nursing schools are taking more applicants, the best qualifications will determine acceptance as well as financial aid possibilities.