Provide an overview of what will be covered in the paper. An introduction should include general statements on advanced practice nursing roles, general statements on the role transition from RN to APN, and identification of the purpose of the paper.

Competencies of Advanced Practice Nurse Roles

Advanced practice nurses (APNs) are registered nurses (RNs) who have advanced their education and achieved a master’s degree in nursing (Miranda Neto et al., 2018). They are also referred to as advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs). Due to their advanced training, APNs possess clinical knowledge and competencies to make treatment decisions and carry out care operations without physician supervision (Hankins et al., 2020). They have the clinical capacity to carry out disease diagnoses, make clinical decisions regarding public health, create treatment plans, liaise with other physicians on patient care, and act as nurse leaders.

APNs can specialize during their training to perform various APN roles within the healthcare delivery system as certified nurse practitioners (CNP), clinical nurse specialists (CNS), certified nurse-midwives (CNM), and certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNA) (Hankins et al., 2020). Based on these specialties, APNs can work in various care settings such as hospitals, home care, and long-term care. This paper explores the various roles of APRNS, including CNP, CNS, CRNA, and CNM. It will also provide a personal rationale as to why I choose CNP over the other APRN roles. It will also provide details of my plans for clinical practice as a CNP and the role transition from an RN to a CNP.

APN Roles

Advanced practice nurses can specialize in training, as earlier noted, to work as CNPs, CNSs, CRNAs, and CNMs. For registered nurse to transition into APN entry level of nursing practice, they must first complete a master of science in nursing (MSN) program. They can also undertake a post-graduate in nursing, Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP). However, the DNP is optional. The training and role for each APN specialty vary from another. The roles and educational requirements for APN roles, CNP, CNS, CRNA, and CNM, are discussed below.

Certified Nurse Practitioners (CNP)

A Certified Nurse Practitioner (NP) is an APN specialty in which registered nurses advance their education and get trained and licensed to carry out medical examinations, diagnose various health conditions, initiate treatment plans, and carry out other primary care functions (Hamric et al., 2013). A registered nurse must first complete a doctoral degree program in nursing to become an NP.

NPs work in primary care settings and are required to provide diagnoses for diseases, provide health education, and plan treatment for patients. Their roles are also focused on the provision of care practices that prevent diseases and help maintain overall population health (Cooper et al., 2019).

Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNS)

CNS requires an MSN degree or a DNP to qualify for licensure and to practice as an APN. They are focused on evidence-based care and may therefore, undertake a DNP to become specialist researchers. A CNS plays the role of leadership in the nursing department. They advocate for other nurses and are agents of change within healthcare organizations. They are also required to carry out research and develop evidence-based approaches to provide quality and affordable care. They can work as a specialist within primary care settings to collect comprehensive disease histories and diagnose and treat chronic health conditions and other acute illnesses (Cooper et al., 2019).

Certified Nurse-Midwives (CNM)

CNM is an APN specialty focused on reproductive health in women and childbirth (Hamric et al., 2013). Their roles in healthcare include the promotion of women’s reproductive health, supporting childbirth, and providing post-partum care. They are also tasked with the prevention of reproductive health issues in women (Knestrick & Russell, 2020).

A CNM must first complete a certified nursing program, a bachelor’s degree in nursing, and an MSN program to qualify for practice as an APN.

Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNA)

CRNA is an APN certified in anesthesia. CRNAs work in acute care settings. CRNAs can work in operating rooms, obstetrics, outpatient surgery, carry out plastic surgeries, operate in dental surgeries, and in pain management. In most settings, CRNAs have the expertise to operate independently without physician supervision (Knestrick & Russell, 2020).

The training for CRNAs is the same as the other APN specialties. However, CRNAs require more experience and a curriculum focused on anesthesiology and the principles of anesthesia. They also require longer experience periods of up to 8 years to qualify as anesthesiologists and work independently.

Rationale for Choosing the CNP Role

My initial focus on a role as an APN was on NP and CN