AHEC Connecticut
NURSING - Advanced Practice Registered Nurse
To be a successful Advanced Practice Registered Nurse you should...
- be adaptable, compassionate, and caring
- have excellent leadership and organizational skills
- have excellent communication skills
- have good physical and emotional stability
- be able to deal with a variety of people
- have the ability to note slight change
- have an understanding of computers and technology
- have the ability to analyze problems
- have the desire to pursue additional academic and clinical training
What will my job be like?
The jobs as an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) vary according to speciality. APRNs include:
- nurse practitioners
- clinical nurse specialists
- certified registered nurse anesthesists
- certified nurse-midwives
Nurse Practitioners may specialize in any of the following:
- Adult Acute Care Nursing
- Neonantology
- Adult Nursing
- Oncology
- Gerontology
- Outpatient
- College Student Health
- Pediatrics
- Family Nursing
- School Nurse
- Maternal Infant Nursing
- Women's Health
Clinical Nurse Specialists may specialize in any of the following:
- Intensive Care
- Medical/Surgical
- Forensics
- Neonantology
- Gerontology
- Pediatrics
Certified Nurse-Midwives specialize in any of the following:
- Obstetrics or women’s wellness
Advanced practice nurses have met higher educational and clinical practice requirements beyond the basic nursing education and licensing required of all RNs. APRNs usually are primary health care providers. They work independently or in collaboration with physicians and other primary health care team members.
Where could I work?
Advanced Practice Registered Nurses may work in any of the following:
- Community Agencies
- Hospitals
- Nursing Homes
- Private Practice Setting
- Public Health Departments
- Research Centers
Nurse Practitioners may work in any of the following:
- Clinics
- Community Health Centers
- Home Health Agencies
- Hospitals
- Military
- Physician Office
- Prisons
- Public Health Departments
- Rural Health Departments
- Schools
Clinical Nurse Specialists may work primarily in the following:
- Hospitals
Certified Nurse-Midwives may work in the following:
- Birthing Centers
- Hospitals
- Physician Offices
What is the average annual salary?
$78,000
What is the future of this career?
Advanced practice fields continue to grow rapidly as the health care system adjusts to advances in health sciences and responds to the need to provide cost effective care.
What type of education and/or training do I need?
Excellent clinical skills, gained through education and experience lay the groundwork for advanced practice. A master's degree is the minimum preparation for an APRN.
Where can I get the education and/or training?
- Fairfield University, Fairfield
- Quinnipiac University, Hamden
- Sacred Heart University, Fairfield
- Southern Connecticut State University, New Haven
- St. Joseph College, West Hartford
- University of Connecticut School of Nursing, Storrs
- Western Connecticut State University, Danbury
- Yale University School of Nursing, New Haven
Do I need a license or certification for this career?
Licensure is required in the state of Connecticut. In addition to Connecticut Registered Nurse licensure, the APRN must be certified by a prescribed national organization; have 30 hours of pharmacology coursework; and have obtained a masters degree.
Where can I get more information?
American Nurses Association
600 Maryland Avenue, SW
Suite 100 West
Washington, DC 20024
(800) 274-4ANA (4262)
www.ana.org
National League for Nursing
61 Broadway
New York, NY 10006
(800) 669-1656
www.nln.org