Welcome to Advanced Practice Registered Nursing Student Opportunities at The MetroHealth System!

The Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) is an umbrella term given to a registered nurse (RN) who has met advanced educational and clinical practice requirements beyond the two to four years of basic nursing education required of all RNs. Under this umbrella term fall the four APRN groups recognized throughout the country: Nurse Practitioners, Clinical Nurse Specialists, Certified Nurse Midwives, and Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists.

APRNs are first and foremost registered nurses, a profession with its own educational and licensing requirements, regulatory oversight by boards of nursing in all 50 states, competency standards and continuing education requirements. APRNs are skilled in performing a wide range of initial, or primary health services, especially screening and preventive services, that if ignored, can lead to far more serious and costly health problems. APRNs also practice in very specialized areas of health care. 

All advanced practice registered nurses must meet rigorous education, certification, and continuing education requirements.  Standards of practice are set and monitored by professional organizations.  Advanced practice registered nurses work collaboratively with physicians and other health professionals to coordinate health care services.

The MetroHealth System employs one of the largest groups of APRNs in Ohio. The following is only a partial listing of APRN practice areas:

Emergency and Trauma Care Surgical Specialties OB/GYN General Pediatrics and Specialties (GI,      Endocrine, Comprehensive Care,      Neurology) Adult Medicine Long Term Care/Rehab Services

Coronary Care Pulmonary Care Psychiatry Community Health Geriatrics/Senior Health Perioperative Care Metro Life Flight

Advanced Practice Registered Nurses have a long and rich history with The MetroHealth System, reaching back to the 1970s. There are approximately 100 APRNs in The MetroHealth System.

An Advance Practice Registered Nursing Council, developed in 1994 by both APRNs and hospital administration, is an ongoing group in place to resolve APRN professional and practice issues in a collaborative forum. Among other achievements, the APRN Council developed the template for the Standard Care Arrangement utilized by the Ohio Association of Advanced Practice Registered Nurses. The council sponsors continuing education events and business meetings throughout the year which are held at the MetroHealth Medical Center main campus.