Advanced Nurse Practitioner (ANP)
Advanced Practitioner is a level of practice which can be found in a variety of professional backgrounds including nursing, physiotherapy, pharmacy, paramedics and occupational therapy.
Advanced Practitioners are highly experienced healthcare professionals who have been educated to a Masters level or equivalent through apprenticeships and have further developed their skills and knowledge – this enables them to take on an expanded role and scope of practice for patients.
Advanced practitioners have demonstrated their ability to work independently at a high level across clinical practice, leadership, management, education and research.
You can find more detail about Advanced Practice here.
Working Life
The role of a ANP differs significantly in comparison to a general nurse – you’ll be working in a more senior position and, therefore, expected to perform more advanced duties. Responsibilities of an Advanced Nurse Practitioner can include:
- Diagnosing health conditions
- Conducting check-ups
- Researching patient conditions
- Referring patients to specialists
- Maintaining records of patient medical history
- Prescribing and administering medication
Training Requirements
The route to becoming an Advanced Nurse Practitioner requires extensive education and training. The steps include:
- Becoming a registered nurse: all nurses will join the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) in order to be able to practice nursing in the UK.
- Getting experience: once you are fully qualified and registered, you will then be able to work as a nurse within various settings. You may then choose to pursue a specialism and gain the skills and expertise you need for the next steps.
- Embarking on a master’s programme: to qualify as a nurse practitioner, you are required to complete a master’s degree. These courses often take 1-2 years to complete and are essential for building up your knowledge.
- Getting your license and certification: to receive your license, you must complete your master’s degree, a two-year clinical experience placement and sit a national certification exam.
Core Capabilities Framework for Advances Clinical Practice Nurses
News and Resources
Advanced Practice survey
The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) have agreed to regulate advanced level practice for nurses in the UK. The detail about how the process will work is yet to be finalised and we are seeking your assistance to provide evidence about advanced practice in community settings. The Queen’s Nursing Institute are working with academics from…
GPN Heart Failure Survey
Heart failure is the destination condition of most cardiovascular diseases. Cardiometabolic disorders such as diabetes with factors such as obesity, raised cholesterol and high blood pressure are also prevalent in people diagnosed with heart failure. An estimated 1 million people are living with heart failure in the UK. There are 200,000 new diagnoses each year…