NP Vs. APRN - What's The Difference? - Pacific College

How Do You Become an APRN?

To become an APRN, you need to go through some steps, including education, certification, and licensing.

Education

The first step to becoming an APRN is completing an advanced nursing degree. However, to be able to do that, you need to have an RN license and working experience. When these prerequisites are met, you can go on and pursue a graduate-level degree. Depending on the area you plan to specialize in, you can choose to pursue a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree or a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree.

Certification & licensure

Next, you need to earn your specialty certificate and licensure.

Apart from the RN licensure exam, you need to pass the national NP (nurse practitioner) certification board exam. There are many national accredited organizations that offer certification for APRNs, such as:

• The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)

• The American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board (AANPCB)

• The American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP)

• The National Certification Corporation (NCC)

• The National Board of Certification & Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists (NBCRNA)

• The American Midwifery Certification Board (AMCB)

You need to choose which certification exam to take based on your area of specialization.

The last step to becoming an APRN is obtaining your license. After you pass the certification exam, you need to apply for NP licensure in your state. Licensure requirements may vary depending on the state where you will practice.

Skills

In addition to the hard skills obtained through education and certifications, as an APRN, you also need to possess soft skills. Strong communication skills are essential to being a successful APRN, as you need effective communication when collaborating with other nurses and colleagues. Furthermore, you need to communicate with patients. When you take the time to listen to their issues, it results in better patient care. You also need to be organized and able to work under pressure. An advanced role in nursing comes with more responsibilities. Leadership, decision-making, critical thinking, analytical, organizational, and stress management skills—these are all skills that you must possess as an APRN.

APRN Career Paths

In your journey towards becoming an advanced practice registered nurse, you need to choose an area of specialization. There are four specialization areas; hence, four types of APRNs: certified nurse-midwives (CNM), certified registered nurse anaesthetists (CRNA), clinical nurse specialists (CNS), and certified nurse practitioners (CNP).

Certified nurse-midwives (CNMIs)