Updated July 10, 2015.

Written or reviewed by a board-certified physician. See About.com's Medical Review Board.

Advanced practice nurses (APN) are experienced nurses who have obtained further training, often including a master’s degree or a doctorate in nursing. Consequently, APNs often have the opportunity to function with a high degree of independence within the healthcare system. While APNs can work in a variety of clinical settings (including medical offices, hospitals, and nursing homes), they generally practice in one of four broad areas:

• Nurse practitioner (for instance, as primary care practitioners)
• Certified nurse-midwives
• Nurse anesthetists
• Clinical nurse specialists

If you have a stroke, chances are good that an APN (in this case, a clinical nurse specialist) will be big part of your healthcare team. Indeed, in many leading stroke centers, APNs are leaders of the stroke team. They often establish and monitor the clinical processes and procedures that make stroke care efficient and effective. For instance, they often drive the procedures for rapidly identifying a possible stroke victim in the emergency room, making a rapid diagnosis, quickly mobilizing the acute stroke care team, then assuring that you get the kind of rehabilitation and education you need to recover as fully as possible, and coordinating your care after you go home.

• Learn about the signs of a stroke.

Edited by Richard N. Fogoros, MD