Key team members in a patient-centered, multidisciplinary care model
Advanced Practice Providers (APP) are highly skilled, well-trained medical professionals. At NorthShore, you will find APPs who are either Physician Assistants or Advanced Practice Registered Nurses, such as Nurse Practitioners, Certified Nurse Midwives, Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists and Clinical Nurse Specialists. APPs work collaboratively with the team members across our health system to provide excellent patient care.
What makes APPs unique is their emphasis on providing every patient with personalized attention and a quality care experience that is underscored by compassion and understanding.
Physician Assistants
Physician Assistants (PA) have earned a master’s or doctoral degree with advanced clinical training, and bring a vast array of prior clinical experience from backgrounds, such as paramedics, athletic trainers, patient care technicians (PCT) and medical assistants (MA). PAs complete intense didactic and clinical coursework during their training programs, preparing them with the specialized skills necessary to care for patients. PAs are trained to diagnose and treat illnesses, perform comprehensive history and physical examinations, order and interpret diagnostic tests, perform procedures, counsel patients and families, initiate and manage treatment plans, order and prescribe medications, and assist in surgery.
Advanced Practice Registered Nurses
Nurse Practitioners
Nurse Practitioners (NP) have completed a master’s or doctoral degree program with advanced clinical training, in addition to their initial training as a registered nurse. Their intensive coursework and specialized training prepare them with the clinical competency necessary to care for patients in various fields of medicine, including primary care, family medicine and many specialties. NPs are trained to diagnose and treat illnesses, order and interpret diagnostic tests, perform procedures, counsel patients and families, initiate and manage treatment plans, and order and prescribe medications.
Certified Nurse Midwives
Certified Nurse Midwives (CNM) are master’s educated professionals with a prior degree in registered nursing. These highly specialized individuals are trained to care for women throughout their lifespan. CNMs provide routine gynecologic care, contraceptive care, prenatal care, perinatal care and postpartum care. CNMs can also care for women throughout their labor and delivery process, perform vaginal birth deliveries and provide lactation support services in the postpartum setting.
Learn about NorthShore Midwives ›
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Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNA) are educated in master’s or doctoral degree programs with extensive education and training. CRNAs provide anesthesia to patients in collaboration with surgeons, dentists, podiatrists, physician anesthesiologists and other qualified healthcare professionals. As advanced practice registered nurses, CRNAs practice with a high degree of autonomy and professional respect. CRNAs are qualified to make independent judgments regarding all aspects of anesthesia care based on their education, licensure and certification. They are the only anesthesia professionals with required critical care experience prior to beginning formal anesthesia education.
Clinical Nurse Specialists
Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNS) are advanced practice registered nurses who hold a master’s degree in a specialized area of nursing practice. In addition to conventional nursing responsibilities, which focus upon helping patients to prevent or resolve illness, a clinical nurse specialist’s scope of practice includes diagnosing and treating diseases, injuries and/or disabilities within their field of expertise.