What does the acronym APN represent?
APN stands for advanced practice nurse, an umbrella term given to a registered nurse (RN) who has met advanced educational and clinical practice requirements beyond the 2 to 4 years of basic nursing education. Under this umbrella fall four principal types of APNs: Nurse Practitioner (NP) Nurse Practitioners work in clinics, nursing homes, hospitals, or their own offices and are qualified to handle a wide range of basic health problems. NPs conduct physical exams, take medical histories, diagnose and treat common acute minor illnesses or injuries, order and interpret lab tests and X-rays, and counsel and educate clients. Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM) Certified nurse-midwives (CNMs) are licensed health care practitioners educated in the two disciplines of nursing and midwifery. They provide primary health care to women of childbearing age including: prenatal care, labor and delivery care, care after birth, gynecological exams, newborn care, assistance with family planning decisions, prec
