Nursing Specialty Essay: Roles of NP, CNS, and AANP Explained

This essay delves into the roles and distinctions between Nurse Practitioners (NPs) and Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNSs). It highlights the educational requirements, work settings, and responsibilities of each role, emphasizing their differences in patient care, collaboration, and specialization. The essay further explores the author's choice of a Family Nurse Practitioner specialization within a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program, detailing the motivations and advantages of this career path. Finally, it provides guidance on how to become a part of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP), outlining the steps involved in joining this professional organization. The essay utilizes several academic references to support its claims and provide context.

Running head: NURSING SPECIALTY
Nursing Specialty
Name of the student
Name of the university
Author’s name

1NURSING SPECIALTY
Introduction
In the modern world, there are nurses after the doctors who act as god in providing care to the
patients. In this day, there are several kinds of nursing professionals.
The following article will discuss about three major things –
 Differences between a Nurse Practitioner (NP) and Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS)
 Reason behind choosing the MSN specialization - Family Nurse Practitioner; and
 How to become a part of American association of nurse practitioners.
Discussion
Differences between a Nurse Practitioner (NP) and Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS)
In general, the nurse practitioners (NPs) and clinical nurse specialists (CNSs) have
different roles compared with each other (Lopatina et al., 2017). A nurse practitioner generally
has a minimum education of Master of Science in nursing (MSN) and might require doctor of
nursing practice (DNP) in the distant future; whereas, a clinical nurse specialist has a minimum
education of Master of Science in nursing. The NPs work in private practices, ambulatory
clinics, and to long-term care facilities; and the CNSs work in settings like hospitals, community
healthcare centers, mental healthcare centers and educational institutions (Mayo, Ray, Chamblee,
Urden & Moody, 2017). NPs are generally successful when they work independently and in an
organized manner (Lopatina et al., 2017). Though, CNSs have the skills to work under a busy
and collaborative setting. Efficient CNSs can handle any amount of stress and can also work

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under tremendous pressure, though it is essential that they stay focused and delve into expertise
on one subject for long period of time (Mayo, Ray, Chamblee, Urden & Moody, 2017).
The role of a nurse practitioner is to take the medical records of patients; evaluate,
analyze, and cure acute and chronic diseases, often working as a primary medical carer. They are
also allowed to prescribe medicines, offer referrals for if the patient requires any special care
(Hampton, 2018). Furthermore, the CNSs have the role to give care directly to the patients,
collaborate with other nursing members, educate as faculty or consultant and conduct research in
nursing practices (Wieworka, Anderson & Choflet, 2019).
Choosing the MSN specialization - Family Nurse Practitioner
I chose to become a family nurse practitioner because it allows me work directly with
patients without even being a doctor, and without losing the touch of the caring side. It also gives
me farther more duties compared to those of a general Registered Nurse (RN). It enables us to
work under different kind geographical areas, be it a hospital or in remote and rural community.
My role is too fascinating and diverse.
How to become a part of American association of nurse practitioners (AANP)?
The AANP is a very big organization in the whole U.S.A where the people can join to
take role of any kind of nurse practitioner, be it family nurse practitioner. In order to so, the
person has to go to their website and click on the (NP Job Center). The person can then upload
their curriculum vitae (CV), after which they will get notification or call directly from the AANP
(AANP, 2020).

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Conclusion
It can be concluded that the nurse practitioner is a very important and thriving role. AA
person thinking to become a NP, or thinking to purse MSN, will be a very wise decision as it will
allow the person to grow through his/her career.
References
AANP. (2020). AANP | The American Association of Nurse Practitioners. Retrieved 15
February 2020, from https://www.aanp.org/
Hampton, M. (2018). Nurse Practitioner Role in the United States. Retrieved 15 February 2020,
from https://works.bepress.com/michelle-hampton/21/download/
Lopatina, E., Donald, F., DiCenso, A., Martin-Misener, R., Kilpatrick, K., Bryant-Lukosius,
D., ... & Marshall, D. A. (2017). Economic evaluation of nurse practitioner and clinical
nurse specialist roles: A methodological review. International journal of nursing
studies, 72, 71-82.
Mayo, A. M., Ray, M. M., Chamblee, T. B., Urden, L. D., & Moody, R. (2017). The advanced
practice clinical nurse specialist. Nursing administration quarterly, 41(1), 70-76.
Wieworka, J., Anderson, R., & Choflet, A. (2019). Using the Clinical Nurse Specialist Role to
Support Integration and Standardization Across a Multi-Clinic Department. International
Journal of Radiation Oncology• Biology• Physics, 105(1), E560.