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Advanced Practice Nurses

Overview

Advanced practice nurses (APNs) are a broad category of registered nurses (RNs) who have completed advanced clinical nurse educational practice requirements beyond the two to four years of basic nursing education required for all RNs. Four categories of nursing specialties fall under the advanced practice nursing designation: clinical nurse specialists (CNSs), nurse practitioners (NPs), nurse-midwives (NMs), and nurse anesthetists (NAs). According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, more than 320,000 advanced practice nurses were employed in the U.S. as of 2022.

Salary Range

$75,000 to $100,000+

Minimum Education Level

Master's Degree

Certification/License

Required

Outlook

Much Faster than the Average
Personality Traits

Helpful

Problem-Solving

Scientific

Career Ladder
Nurse Manager, or Physician, or Health Care Executive

Advanced Practice Nurse

Registered Nurse

Related Professions