What is the difference between a certified and a registered nurse practitioner?

Advanced practice nurses include nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, nurse midwives, and clinical nurse anesthetists. All have to be at least Master's-degree prepared, hold a valid RN license, and have clinical training in their specialty areas.Nurse practitioners generally provide primary care, and clinical nurse specialists act more as consultants in their roles as expert clinicians, clinical leaders, educators, collaborators, and researchers -- all wrapped up in to one job. As a clinical nurse specialist, one minute you could evaluate why an older patient is refusing to eat, and the next you could be overhauling or building a new unit incorporating all of the latest research in best practices.A