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Advanced practice registered nurse (APRN)

A registered nurse with graduate-level training in a specialized role such as nurse practitioner or certified registered nurse anesthetist. APRNs assess, diagnose, and treat patients, often providing anesthesia and perioperative care in surgical settings.

What is an Advanced practice registered nurse (APRN)?

An Advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) is a registered nurse who has completed graduate-level education and training in a specialized clinical role. The category includes nurse practitioners, certified registered nurse anesthetists, clinical nurse specialists, and certified nurse-midwives.

APRNs are prepared to assess patients, diagnose conditions, and develop and carry out treatment plans, often with a substantial degree of clinical autonomy depending on state scope-of-practice rules. Their advanced training expands what they can do beyond the role of a registered nurse.

How are APRNs used in an ASC?

In surgical and perioperative settings, APRNs are central to delivering care safely and efficiently; certified registered nurse anesthetists, for example, administer anesthesia and monitor patients through procedures. Nurse practitioners and other APRNs may handle pre-operative assessment, post-operative follow-up, and ongoing patient management.

Because they extend clinical capacity and can perform many services independently, APRNs help ambulatory surgery centers manage case volume and coverage. Their roles also carry implications for documentation, credentialing, and how services are billed, which ties their work directly into the revenue cycle.

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