An advanced nurse practitioner is a registered nurse who has gone through higher education program and training in a particular area medical field such as pediatrics or psychiatry. The nurse practitioner should have a Master's of Science in Nursing (MSN) and certification by the board to practice in their specialty. The biggest difference between the advanced nurse practitioners (ANPs) and ordinary Registered Nurses (RN) is that they have a higher level of autonomy. A BSN degree qualifies a nurse to provide care in critical care settings or work in leadership positions serving in administration or management.

Advanced practice roles in nursing are the responsibility of advanced practice registered nurses (APRN).An APRN is a registered nurse who completes additional education in form of a master's or PhD degree within one of these four advanced practice nursing roles.

Advanced practice in nursing is the area of practice for nurses who have a minimum of a Master's degree in nursing. It also requires further specialization within the Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) category.A nurse who qualifies for advanced practice role should have extensive knowledge in the area of practice, clinical competencies, and skills to make critical skills. The shaping of characteristics for a good advanced practice depends largely on the state where a nurse has credentials to run.

Substance abuse is a condition that requires treatment. Ironically, even nurses who know better about the dangers of substance fall into the trap. Statistics by The American Nurses Association show that 1 in 5 nurses could be having substance abuse problem which is a high number. Most nurses engaging in the vice are nor long-term abusers but usually become victims of tolerance and dependence after a drug prescription or self-medication after an emotional trauma. Most nurses suffering from this problem believe they are fine but in reality, they are unable to offer efficient and safe care for their patients.