Magnet Certification - Read About It

What is an RN? NP? CNA?

What is an RN?

  L-R: Lori Huot RN, ACU nurse, Lois Skillings RN, MS, NEA-BC, President and CEO of Mid Coast-Parkview Health, LeeAnne Sargent RN, ACU nurse.

An R.N. is a registered nurse. A registered nurse is one who has graduated from an accredited nursing education program and has passed a state board examination and been registered and licensed to practice nursing. Today's registered nurses typically have completed an Associate's Degree, a Bachelor's Degree, or a Master's Degree in Science prior to taking the state licensing exam. The term was first used sometime between 1895 and 1900.

What is an NP?

An NP is a nurse practitioner. Nurse practitioners are registered nurses who have advanced education and training for diagnosing and treating health problems. They may provide primary health care for patients, including many tasks customarily performed by physicians. A nurse practitioner has a Master’s Degree in Nursing. This term was first used between 1975 and 1980.

What is a hospitalist?

A hospitalist is a physician or a nurse practitioner who specializes in seeing and treating hospitalized patients. The hospitalist program allows the physician or nurse practitioner to become very familiar with your care and treatment plan. They work right on the units and work very closely with your nurses on your plan of care. They make rounds every day and maintain close contact with your primary care physician, keeping them updated on your progress.

What is a CNA?

A CNA is a certified nursing assistant. Certified nursing assistants, also known as certified nurses aides, have completed an accredited CNA program and taken a state exam to be placed on the CNA registry. They work under the direct supervision of a nurse and are an important part of your healthcare team.

CNAs help patients with activities of daily living, such as bathing, grooming and eating. They also collect important data such as vital signs, and intake & output and report it to the nurse. They work hard to make sure patients and their families are comfortable.