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Advanced Practice Nurses

Employment Prospects

Employers

Advanced practice nurses are employed by hospitals, managed-care facilities, long-term care facilities, clinics, mental health facilities, nursing homes, home health care agencies, veterans affairs facilities, industrial organizations, nursing schools, other educational institutions, physicians' offices, and the military.

Starting Out

The advanced practice nurse position is not entry-level. Most APNs enter the field after working as registered nurses, accruing several years of experience, completing advanced education, and becoming certified.

The only way to become a registered nurse is to complete one of the three educational programs and pass the licensing examination. Registered nurses may apply for employment directly to hospitals, nursing homes, companies, and government agencies that hire nurses. Jobs can also be obtained through school career services offices, by signing up with employment agencies specializing in the placement of nursing personnel, or through the state employment office. Other sources of jobs include advanced practice nurses' associations, professional journals, newspaper ads, and the Internet.

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