APRNs treat and diagnose illnesses, advise the public on health issues, manage chronic disease, and engage in continuous education to remain ahead of any technological, methodological, or other developments in the field.

What Does a Nurse Practitioner Do? Recording a patient's medical history. Updating medical records. Documenting symptoms. Collecting samples (blood, urine, mucus, stool, etc.) Ordering lab tests or diagnostic procedures as necessary. Performing detailed examinations of the patient. Creating and implementing treatment plans.

Comparing the RN and the ARNP The big difference between an ARNP and a RN is that an ARNP is fully capable of seeing patients on their own and have the authority to coordinate an entire healthcare team to plan and evaluate a patient's care. The ARNP also has the authority to supervise other healthcare workers.

APRNs treat and diagnose illnesses, advise the public on health issues, manage chronic disease, and engage in continuous education to remain ahead of any technological, methodological, or other developments in the field.

Advanced practice registered nurses are required to display both the “APRN” licensure designation, as well as the licensure title granted by the Board when providing care to patients. This means that, at a minimum, an APRN must list their credentials as: (Name), APRN, (licensure title).

A primary difference between physicians and NPs is the fact that all doctors can prescribe medication to patients as a part of their duties. Nurse practitioners also prescribe medicine, but in some states they must be directly overseen by a doctor or physician in order to do so.

APRNs deliver a particular type of care in a role such as nurse anesthetist, certified nurse midwife, clinical nurse specialist, or nurse practitioner. Nurse practitioners focus on a particular population, from the very broad family practice to the very narrow neonatal population.