What is the difference between an NP and APN?

What is the difference between an NP and APN?

What is the difference between an NP and APN? The APN role has emerged as a result of an ever-changing health system and the aim to meet the needs of clients. There however, are barriers pertaining to the APN role description, which may cause the role to be less utilised. A process of data collection showing the needs and requirements of the APN role are required to implement the APN role effectively (Chang, Gardner, Duffield &Ramis, 2011). The role of a NP is given more description and is tightly regulated, according to the Nursing and Midwifery Board Australia (2013) it is an expectation that NP’s obtain and develop specialist skill in a specific area of practice and it is a prospect that the NP maintains competence in their practice area to meet the needs of their client group. The role of an APN covers many other roles within nursing such as clinical nurse specialists that involve a higher level of knowledge and the ability to work autonomously but not to diagnose or treat, the NP is not included in this umbrella of nursing as the role of an NP includes the ability to diagnose and treat (Chang, Gardener & Duffield, 2007). Would you employ an NP rather than an advanced clinician? Where is the NP role most effective? The employment of an NP versus APN should come down the skill set and the scope of practice needed to benefit the patient outcomes in that particular setting. Through personal experience as a student I have seen the NP used in the emergency department of a small hospital, coordinating the fast track or minor injuries section, where patients may not require seeing a doctor.