Nursing Profiles

Advanced Practice Registered Nurse
Ambulatory Care Nurse
Camp Nurse
Cardiac Care Nurse
Cardiac Cath Lab Nurse
Case Management Nurse
Certified Nurse Midwife
Clinical Nurse Leader
Clinical Nurse Specialist
Correctional Facility Nurse
Critical Care Nurse
Dermatology Nurse
Developmental Disabilities Nurse
Diabetes Nurse
Domestic Violence Nurse
Emergency Nurse
Family Nurse Practitioner
Flight/Transport Nurse
Forensic Nurse
Gastroenterology Nurse
Geriatric Nurse
Gynecology/Obstetrics Nurse
Hematology Nurse
HIV/AIDS Nurse
Holistic Nurse
Home Health Care Nurse
Hospice Nurse
Independent Nurse Contractor
Infection Control Nurse
Labor & Delivery Nurse
Lactation Consultant
Legal Nurse Consultant
Licensed Practical Nurse
Long-Term Care Nurse
Managed Care Nurse
Medical Assistant
Military Nurse
Missionary Nurse
Neonatal Intensive Care Nurse
Nephrology Nurse
Neuroscience Nurse
Nurse Advocate
Nurse Anesthetist
Nurse Attorney
Nurse Educator
Nurse Entrepreneur
Nurse Executive
Nurse Manager
Nurse Practitioner
Nurse Researcher
Nursing Informatics
Occupational Health Nurse
Oncology Nurse
Operating Room Nurse
Ophthalmic Nurse
Orthopaedic Nurse
Otorhinolaryngology Nurse
Pain Management Nurse
Parish Nursing
Pediatric Endocrinology Nurse
Pediatric Nurse
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
Perianesthesia Nurse
Perinatal Nurse
Plastic Surgery Nurse
Psychiatric Nurse
Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner
Public Health Nurse
Pulmonary Care Nurse
Radiology Nurse
Registered Nurse
Rehabilitation Nurse
Reproductive Nurse
Rheumatology Nurse
School Nurse
Substance Abuse Nurse
Surgical Nurse
Toxicology Nurse
Transplant Nurse
Trauma Nurse
Travel Nurse
Urologic Nurse
Wound Care Nurse

Nursing Schools by State

Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming

Nursing Career Info

Career Outlook
Compensation
Industry Overview
Training, Qualifications, and Advancement

Featured Article

Demand for Nurses
Nurses may be the most in-demand health care position in the country.

Nursing Articles

10 Fastest-Growing Careers in Nursing
Financial Aid for Nursing Schools
Finding the Best Nursing School for You
How to Become a Nurse
How to Choose a Nursing School
How to Know if Nursing School is Right for You
Nursing School Accreditation
Nursing Shortage
Nursing Skills
Returning to School
Types of Nurses
What Is Nursing?
Why Nursing School Is a Smart Career Choice

Featured Program

RN to BSN

South University is one of the most respected names in online colleges and provides a variety of nursing degree plans.

Featured College

Kaplan University

Kaplan is an accredited university with a history ofplacing students in high-growth nursing careers.

Advanced Practice Registered Nurse

What Does an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Do?

The term Advanced Practice Registered Nurse is a general title granted to those registered nurses that have completed advanced educational and clinical requirements, usually a master's degree at the least. Advanced Practice Registered Nurses can be employed in a wide variety of positions and locations, from hospitals to community clinics and private practices. Under the APRN umbrella are Nurse Practitioners that are able to act independently of physicians, Certified Nurse Midwives that provide midwifery skills for pregnant women and newborns, Clinical Nurse Specialists who are experts in diagnosing and treating illnesses, and Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists who are specialized in administering anesthesia. Each of these four professions can also have specialized subsets or concentrations, like pediatrics, geriatrics, neonatal and more. These professionals generally possess a wider knowledge of patient assessment and planning, implementation, diagnosis and evaluation of patient care. Their roles and responsibilities are varied, but all draw from the advanced level of education they earn.

How Can I Become an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse?

Earning the distinction of Advanced Practice Registered Nurse requires students to earn an advanced education above the required amount to become a registered nurse. This means that after earning a registered nursing degree at nursing school, APRNs must also earn at least a Master's Degree as well. Currently, there is a movement in the health care industry that will require APRNs to earn a Doctorate in Nursing Practice beginning in 2015. This additional education is believed to meet the ever changing medical need of patients, as well as changes in the health care industry. A doctorate education can take a student up to seven years to complete, so it should not be entered into lightly. On top of the education requirement, some specialties, like Nurse Practitioners, must also take a state mandated board exam to become licensed and certified.

What Is the Career and Salary Outlook for an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse?

Today there are over 200,000 Advanced Practice Registered Nurses employed in the health care industry in the United States. The average salary is around $78,000 per year. The average salary for Nurse Practitioners is $89,634 per year. As you can see from those numbers, the more specialized the education and expertise of an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse, the larger salary they can earn. Government economists believe that despite the current recession, the outlook for registered nurses, especially APRNs, is very positive. They believe that the profession should continue to grow very quickly in rural and inner-city areas through 2018. Because the required amount of education will be raised in 2015 and the nation is facing a nursing shortage, job prospects are high for Advanced Practice Registered Nurses. The demand is high because these professionals provide a very high level of care, yet do not cost as much as a physician to employ.

Select a degree level.

I'm interested in...

Particularly in the field...

Top Nursing Colleges

Kaplan University - Certification, Associate's & Bachelor's Degree.
Kaplan University has a well respected nursing program for students looking to obtain their degree online. Kaplan is an accredited university with a history of placing students in high-growth nursing careers.

University of Phoenix - Certification & Associate's Degree.
University of Phoenix is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, and offers nursing degrees at affordable prices. Phoenix allows students to practice what they learn with hands on teaching methods.

Georgetown University - MS in Family Nurse Practitioner.
Georgetown University is committed to teaching students the measures to provide the best patient care and treatment. Their MS in Family Nurse Practitioner program will prepare registered nurses to manage and care for patients in a primary care setting.

Western Governors University - Bachelor's & Master's Degrees.
At Western Governors University, students will learn the valuable knowledge and practices needed to succeed in the nursing field. The university accepts first time students or working professionals.

South University - Certification & Bachelor's Degree.
South University is one of the most respected names in online colleges and provides a variety of nursing degree plans. South University makes it possible to earn your entire nursing degree online.

Virginia College - Associate's & Bachelor's Degrees.
Challenging students to be the best student they can be, Virginia College has a large diverse community. A variety of healthcare programs are available at their campus locations or online.