The Advanced Practice Nurse (APN) system, implemented in 2000, describes nurses who have attained the APN certifications issued by the Minister of Health and Welfare and contributes professional nursing with high-level knowledge and techniques to individuals or family patients in medical organizations and local communities. Current Medical Service Act authorizes 13 different fields covered by the Advanced Practice Nurse system: Home Health, Infection Control, Gerontological Nursing, Anesthesia, Public Health, Occupational Health, Child Health, Emergency Care, Adult Health, Psychiatric mental Health, Oncological Nursing, Critical Care and Hospice.

An Advanced Practice Nurse serves patients with superior nursing services based on extensive knowledge along with professional nursing techniques and nursing related studies in his or her own specialized field. Additionally, they teach patients, families, general nurses, student nurses, and other medical health employees and as well as taking part in the development of continuing education or practical educational programs.

In order to apply for Advanced Practice Nurse certifications in each field, an applicant needs to have at least three years’ work experience in relevant fields within the last 10 years of application as well as having completed Advanced Practice Nurse education curriculum at domestic or foreign education institutions (graduate-level program) accredited by the Minister of Health and Welfare.

Advanced Practice Nurse Fields

1. Home Health Care Advanced Practice Nurse

The home health care APN system was created as part of the 1990 Medical Service Act enforcement rules. Home health care APNs establish home care plans and provide nurse services drawing from surveys and evaluations of households. They play a significant role in local communities and retirement service fields like hospitals, community health centers, long-term care facilities, and the National Health Insurance Service. Home health care nursing programs provided by medical organizations offer professional medical home-visit services to discharged patients, chronic patients, senior citizens, and the handicapped who have difficulty moving around.

2. Infection Control Advanced Practice Nurse

In order to prevent and control infection in hospitals, nurses investigate infection statuses and then establish and implement prevention plans along with regulation implementations, guidelines, and policies regarding infection control. Epidemiologic investigations follow when infections become rampant, medical employees are exposed to infection, or in times of hospital environment management. Infection control APNs investigate the cause of the outbreak and implement precautionary procedures with control solutions and regulations, guidelines, and infection control policies.

3. Gerontological Nursing Advance Practice Nurse

Gerontological nursing APNs establish nursing plans for health management and recovery as well as implementing various programs to nurse elderly patients in hospitals for the elderly, elderly welfare centers, and nursing homes. They conduct various rehabilitation treatment and treatment programs for health management and recovery for the elderly, or help the elderly with flexible implementations. In addition, they implement emergency treatment, health management, and disease prevention for the elderly.

4. Anesthesia Advanced Practice Nurse

Anesthesia APNs treat patients to anesthesia with the necessary equipment for the procedures and handle abnormal reactions as well as observing and preventing unnatural symptoms as the patient recovers. They analyze patients’ conditions and draw diagnoses in addition to monitoring reactions.

5. Public Health Advanced Practice Nurse

Public health APNs create plans program for disease prevention, healthcare education, and health promotion for citizens and organizations in local communities. They verify environmental health problems that influence patients through safety, accident, and environment management. Additionally, they establish plans for disease prevention and healthcare education as well as promotion plans for individuals, families, and local community patients.

6. Occupational Health Advanced Practice Nurse

Occupational health APNs work in health care management departments in companies and cover several healthcare areas including health management and healthcare education for employees, management of working environments and sanitation, and establishment of safety and health systems. They look after employees’ health by being at hand and fulfilling the significant role of health promotion for employees.

7. Emergency Care Advanced Practice Nurse

Emergency care APNs implement emergency procedures and treatment in accordance with patients’ conditions in emergency cases.

8. Psychiatric Mental Health Advanced Practice Nurse

Psychiatric mental health APNs help patients relax and manage stress with various methods like drugs treatment and psychotherapy.

9. Oncological Health Advanced Practice Nurse

Oncological health APNs implement education related to cancer prevention and treatment policies. They conduct the necessary consultation and education services for cancer patients and provide nursing services to patients as needed.

10. Critical Care Advanced Practice Nurse

Critical care APNs provide nursing services mostly for critical patients, and interpret results of physical examinations and diagnoses in order to establish and implement reasonable nursing plans.

11. Hospice Advanced Practice Nurse

Hospice APNs provide nursing services for physical and mental comfort as well as pain relief in order to stabilize terminal patients.

12. Child Health Advanced Practice Nurse

Child health APNs help babies, children and teenagers receive stable medical services and quality treatment.

13. Adult Health Advanced Practice Nurse

Adult health APNs interpret vital signs and integrate data information focusing on problems and finding common health problems like dyspnea, dizziness, fever, chest pain, joint pain, status, headache, digestion problem, constipation, dehydration, nutrition, deficiency, mobility problems and wounds. They also understand life threatening situations and intervention based on prioritization.