Adult Nurse Practitioner (ANP)
Scope of Practice
Overview
The Adult Nurse Practitioner (ANP) is a Registered Nurse prepared at the master’s degree level as a nurse practitioner whose focus is the primary care of adults. Vanderbilt educates the ANP to provide comprehensive care to adults in a variety of primary care settings. ANPs assess and manage common acute and chronic adult primary care health problems. Health education and disease prevention are important components of the ANP role.
Credentials and Certification
Graduation from the MSN program prepares you for licensure and “approval to practice” as a Registered Nurse (RN) in every state. You also will be eligible to sit for examination for the applicable certification, and eligible for prescriptive authority in all 50 states, with restrictions as specified by each state. Visit Credentialing and Certification for specific information.
Functions Performed by the Adult Nurse Practitioner
In addition to general functions performed by the Advanced Practice Nurse, the Adult Nurse Practitioner may also provide these functions:
- Reduce illness and disabilities
- Coordinate community resource use
- Promote wellness-oriented self-care
- Teach preventative health promotion activities
- Negotiate the health care system as a patient advocate
- Provide health promotion intervention based on
risk assessment - Develop health promotion programs
Vanderbilt ANP Areas of Focus
Vanderbilt MSN students in the Adult Nurse Practitioner Program will choose a sub-specialty area of focus. Visit these sites to find additional information about Scope of Practice of these respective areas:
- Cardiovascular Disease Prevention and Management – treating the leading cause of death in the United States, with emphasis on the management of diabetes, hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol and high triglycerides), hypertension (high blood pressure), obesity and metabolic syndrome.
- Forensic Nursing – addressing the bio-psycho-social needs of individuals, families, communities and society within the context of situations such as interpersonal violence, public health threats, man-made or natural causes of trauma and vulnerabilities created by specific circumstances.
- Older Adult (Gerontological/GNP) – a dual certification preparing the ANP also to meet the unique health care needs of the geriatric population.
- Palliative Care – seeking to reduce the symptoms and suffering of patients with life-limiting progressive illnesses.
