Mrs. Langman is in the hospital recovering from hip replacement surgery. Her surgery involved insertion of a new type of hip replacement prosthesis and newer postsurgical care. The advanced practice registered nurse is preparing her discharge medication and rehabilitation prescriptions. The staff nurse is preparing to transfer Mrs. Langman to a rehabilitation facility. The nurse educator is conducting bedside rounds to explain the new prosthesis and related postoperative care.

·         Identify similarities and differences in the roles of the staff nurse, advanced practice registered nurse, and nurse educator.

·         What is the educational preparation for each role?

·         Use information in this chapter to consider career objectives for yourself over the next 5 years. Obviously the first would be to complete your nursing program. But decide what you want to do as a professional nurse and then outline strategies to achieve these goals.