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
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