Advanced Practice Registered Nurse

Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) is a term used to describe a level of nursing practice that utilizes extended and expanded skills, experience and knowledge in assessment, planning, implementation, diagnosis and evaluation of the care required. Nurses practicing at this level are educationally prepared at the post-graduate level and may work in either a specialist or generalist capacity. However, the basis of advanced practice is the high degree of knowledge, skill and experience that is applied within the nurse-patient/client relationship to achieve optimal outcomes through critical analysis, problem solving and evidence-based decision making.

Pronunciation

Advanced Practice Registered Nurse: /ədˈvɑːnst ˈpræk.tɪs rɪˈdʒɪs.tərd ˈnɜːrs/

Etymology

The term "Advanced Practice Registered Nurse" is derived from the English language. "Advanced" refers to being at a higher level in training or knowledge, "Practice" refers to the actual application or use of an idea, belief, or method, "Registered" refers to having been entered in an official list or directory, and "Nurse" refers to a person trained to care for the sick or infirm, especially in a hospital.

Related Terms

• Nurse Practitioner
• Clinical Nurse Specialist
• Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist
• Certified Nurse Midwife
• Nursing
• Registered Nurse
• Nurse Educator
• Nursing Practice Act

See Also

• Nursing theory
• Nursing assessment
• Nursing diagnosis
• Nursing care plan
• Nursing process

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