Nursing School Guide

APNs are Registered Nurses with advanced education, knowledge, skills, and scope of practice. APN defines a level of nursing practice that utilizes extended and expanded skills, experience and knowledge in assessment, planning, implementation, diagnosis and evaluation of the care required. Nurses practicing at this level are educationally prepared at post-graduate level and may work in a specialist or generalist capacity. APNs demonstrate a high level of independence and clinical expertise in the management of rheumatic diseases. APNs integrate education, research, management, leadership, and consultation into their clinical roles, collaborating with the patient and family, and other health care professionals as needed, the APN develops an appropriate plan of care to attain individualized expected outcomes, prioritizing multiple needs. The roles of the advanced practice nurse:

• Preventative care
• Treatment
• Management of acute and chronic illnesses using advanced clinical skills and diagnostic reasoning
• Advanced therapeutic interventions
• Prescribes, orders, and implements interventions and treatments identified in the plan of care, including: prescribing pharmacologic and non pharmacologic interventions, in accordance with state law
• Providing patient/family education and counseling
• Initiating referrals to other health care providers