Nurse Anesthetists, Nurse Midwives and Nurse Practitioners

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Duties

Training at a more advanced level the following is a typical list of tasks performed by a registered nurse:

• Patients' medical histories and symptoms are documented.
• Perform physical examinations on patients and assess their progress.
• Care plans can be created for patients, or they can be added to existing plans.
• Execute diagnostic procedures and place test orders.
• Monitor and operate medical devices.
• Diagnose a wide range of health issues.
• Alter treatment plans based on test findings or changes in a patient's health, if necessary.
• Make sure patients have access to medication and therapy.
• Observe how a patient responds to various medications and therapies.
• When necessary, seek the advice of medical experts such as physicians and nurses.
• Patients and their families should be given advice on how to maintain a healthy lifestyle and how to deal with health problems or injuries.
• Investigate the issue.

APRNs can work on their own or with a team of doctors. The ability to prescribe drugs, perform medical tests, and diagnose health issues is generally available in most states, as well. In addition to providing routine and preventative care, APRNs have the ability to specialize in treatment for certain populations, such as pregnant women, children, or individuals with mental health conditions.

Acquiring information about patients' conditions and taking action to treat or manage the patient's health are some of the roles of APRNs, much like registered nurses. However, APRNs are taught to do a variety of other responsibilities, including ordering and interpreting test findings, referring patients to experts, and diagnosing and treating illnesses. Prior to making a decision, APRNs focus on patient-centered care, which entails learning about a patient's issues and lifestyle.

In addition to providing patient care, some APRNs are involved in research and education. There are others who specialize in a particular area of expertise, such as oncology, the study of cancer.

APRNs fall into the following categories:

When a patient is under anesthesia, nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) are responsible for administering anesthetic and providing pre- and post-operative care. Besides pain treatment and emergency care, they also provide these services. To ensure that anesthesia is delivered properly, nurse anesthetists consult with patients prior to beginning a surgery to learn about any drugs they are taking and any allergies or conditions they may have. Anesthesiologists then provide general anesthesia to put the patient to sleep during surgery or deliver a local anesthetic to numb a portion of the patient. They keep an eye on the patient's vitals and modify the anesthetic as needed during the treatment.

There are a variety of services provided by nurse midwives (CNMs), including gynecological examinations and prenatal care. They deliver infants, handle emergencies during labor, fix lacerations, and may aid doctors during cesarean deliveries in the event of a medical emergency. Pregnant women may be cared for by nurse midwives. To help their patients lead healthy lifestyles, they also educate them on issues like diet and illness prevention. Patients' partners can get care from nurse midwives for sexual or reproductive health concerns from nurse midwives.

Patients and their families may rely on advanced nursing services provided by nurse practitioners (NPs). Patients are assessed, treatment plans are devised to better their health or maintain it, and methods for incorporating health promotion into daily life are discussed. For the most part, nurse practitioners work with a specific group of patients. For example, NPs can work in adult and geriatric health, pediatric health, or psychiatric and behavioral health, among other areas of practice.

While their responsibilities vary from state to state, many nurse practitioners operate autonomously, prescribe prescriptions, and request laboratory testing. They consult with doctors and other health care providers when necessary.

Education

Master's degree in nursing is often required for advanced practice nursing positions such as anesthesiology or obstetrics/gynecology. Classroom and clinical training are common components of accredited healthcare and allied programs in various fields. Many APRNs choose to specialize in one or more of the following areas: advanced health assessment, pathophysiology, or clinical pharmacology, for example.

In order to become an advanced practice nurse (APRN), one must first hold a registered nursing (RN) license and have a good foundation in science.

Candidates with a bachelor's degree in nursing are preferred by the majority of APRN programs. For registered nurses with an associate's or diploma in nursing, several colleges offer bridging programs. A bachelor's degree in nursing is not required to pursue a master's degree in a related health science profession. In addition to the APRN curriculum, these programs prepare students for the RN licensing test.

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) and Ph.D. degrees are also options for advanced practice nurses (APRNs). You may find out exactly what you need to know for each position by visiting professional organizations' webpages.

For entry into an approved school for nurse anesthetists, prospective students must have completed a year of practice as a registered nurse in a critical care environment.

Registration, Licenses, and Certifications

For APRNs, state requirements might differ. For the most part, APRNs are required to hold a registered nursing license, finish an authorized graduate-level school, pass a national certification test, and get an APRN license in order to work as an APRN. Each state's board of nursing has the information you're looking for.

Most states demand national certification for APRN licensure and title usage.

Nurse anesthetists can take the NBCRNA's National Certification Examination (NCE) to prove their credentials (NCE). CRNAs are required to stay current on their certification requirements by participating in the CPC Program (Continued Professional Certification).

Certified Nurse-Midwife certification is available through the American Midwifery Certification Board (CNM). The Certificate Maintenance Program is required for those who have this designation.

These include certificates from the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board (AANPCB), the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), and the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (PNCB) (PNCB). Each of these credentials must be renewed on a regular basis.

Aside from CPR and BLS training, APRN roles may need certification in advanced cardiac life support (ACLS).

Criteria to Be Considered

The ability to communicate. Training at a more advanced level the ability to communicate effectively with patients and other healthcare professionals is critical to the success of registered nurses.

Analytical abilities. Patient health changes must be rapidly assessed and swiftly decided upon, as must whether or not a consultation with another healthcare expert is required by APRNs.

A stickler for the smallest of details. Health-related therapies and drugs must be thoroughly examined by APRNs. Even the smallest shifts in a patient's health must be noted during an examination.

Skills in working with others. In addition to working with patients and their families, APRNs must also engage with other healthcare practitioners and personnel. In order to provide the best treatment for their patients, they work together as a team.

The ability to lead. Seniority is common among APRNs. When delivering patient care, they must be able to successfully guide and occasionally supervise other nurses on the team.

Resourcefulness. The information that APRNs require should be readily available to them.

Pay

Nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives, and nurse practitioners earned an average yearly salary of $117,670 in May 2020. An occupation's median pay is the wage at which half of the workers make more than it and half make less. Ten percent of the workforce earned less than $84,120 and more than $190,900.

Job Projections

There is a projected 45 percent increase in the employment of anesthesiologists, nurse midwives, and nurse practitioners during the next decade.