Advanced Practice Nurse (APN)

An Advanced Practice Nurse (APN) is a licensed registered professional nurse who through advanced education and certification meets the requirements for licensure in their specialty. Most typically, APNs practice in a chosen area of concentration. Advanced Practice Nurses work in collaboration with a physician to provide patients access and care by using advanced diagnostic skills to initiate and coordinate care. APNs may order diagnostic tests, prescribe and administer medications, or use therapeutic and corrective measures to treat illness and improve health status. The collaborative model allows patients more available access to care, and continued involvement of their physicians as needed.

 APN services can include:

• Recording patient histories and performing physical examinations.
• Ordering and interpreting laboratory, radiologic and other diagnostic studies.
• Ordering medications and other therapeutic treatments.
• Performing therapeutic interventions and procedures.
• Hospital patient rounds and assisting in surgery.
• Providing patient education and counseling.
• Assisting patients in using community and family resources to cope with their illnesses or injuries.
• Initiating appropriate referrals to other health care professionals such as physician specialists, physical or occupational therapists, or dieticians.
• Providing clinical follow up visits.

Services of an Advanced Practice Nurse
You may request an appointment with an Advanced Practice Nurse when there is one who works in a collaborative practice with your physician. A collaborative practice means that the physician and APN work together as a team to deliver quality health care services to you. The APN delivers your plan of care and treatment under the medical direction of your physician. Your physician might refer you to the Advanced Practice Nurse for particular kinds of appointments, or ask that you make certain kinds of appointments with these providers.

Regardless of whether your appointment is with your physician, or with an APN, your physician will remain integrally involved in your care, and will provide advice and intervention when needed to meet your health care needs.

Billing
When you receive a bill for the charges for a visit with an Advanced Practice Nurse, the visit may be listed under the name of a collaborating physician or in the name of your APN, depending on a variety of circumstances.