Are you thinking about becoming a nurse? But do not know which one to choose. Worry no more. Here, we are giving you detailed information on the difference between a registered nurse vs nurse practitioner if you want to know about educational requirements, roles and responsibilities, and the salary of both! You are at the right place.
Difference between Registered nurse vs nurse practitioner
Registered nurse:
Registered nurses are the healthcare professionals who provide direct care to the patients in different healthcare settings. They work under the supervision of doctors and nurse practitioners and cannot diagnose or prescribe medications.
Nurse practitioners:
Nurse practitioners can work independently and can diagnose, treat, and prescribe medications to patients.
let us talk in detail about the difference between registered nurse vs nurse practitioner (RN vs PN)
Educational requirements
- Registered nurse or RN: They need to get a nursing degree like a BSN or ADN. After that, they must pass the licensure exam (NCLEX). Once they pass their exam, they get a license to work in the medical field.
- Nurse practitioners or NP: They need an MSN (Master of Science) degree or DNP (Doctor of Nursing Practice) to work in the medical field.
RNs must choose between two nursing degrees, a BSN or an AND. They need to pass the NCLEX exam to get their license and start working. For NPs, they need an MSN degree to get their license to work in the medical field. However, nurse practitioners can choose between MSN or DPN to get their license. The pathways to becoming a nurse and nurse practitioner are as follows:
Registered nurse (RN)
- Get a degree like a BSN or AND
- Pass the licensure exams to get the nursing license (NCLEX)
- You can also apply for a compact state license so you can work in multiple states.
Nurse practitioner (NP)
- Get your RN license.
- Get a degree like MSN or DPN
- Get the certification in your specialty.
- Apply for a license in your state to work.
Role and responsibilities of both RN and NP nurses
Both the registered nurse and nurse practitioner have a significant role in taking care of the patients. The major difference is that the nurse practitioner can diagnose and treat the patients. They can also prescribe medications to the patients. However, registered nurses can only follow the treatment plan prescribed to the patients by physicians or nurse practitioners. They do not have the freedom to diagnose the patients and prescribe them medications.
Roles of a registered nurse
- To take care of the patient.
- Monitor the patient’s health and inform the doctors if they see any abnormality.
- To follow the care plan of the patient given to them by the physicians or nurse practitioner
- To help and give their assistance during surgeries.
- Talk to the patient’s family and friends.
- They also manage other medical workers such as CNAs.
Roles of a nurse practitioner:
- They can perform physical exams.
- Nurse practitioners can diagnose and treat illnesses, infections, or diseases.
- NPs can develop treatment plans for the patients.
- They can also prescribe the medications if their states allow them prescriptive authority.
- They can order the tests and diagnostics. They can also review the test results.
- Nursing practitioners can also counsel the patients.
- They can also perform treatment for minor injuries and infections.
Workplaces and specialties of RNs vs NPs
The workplace of registered nurses and nurse practitioners can vary according to their roles and responsibilities.
Registered nurses or (RN)
Hospitals
- Medical surgical units
- Emergency departments
- Maternity and neonatal units
- Intensive care units
- Operating rooms
Outpatient facilities and Clinics
- Primary care clinics
- Specialty clinics
Home health care
- Visiting nurses provide care in the patient’s home.
Long-term care facilities
- Rehabilitation centers
- Nursing homes for older people
Community
- Schools
- Public health departments
- Jail or prison
- military
Nurse Practitioners or NP
Hospitals
- Acute care departments
- Surgical departments
Primary care facilities
- Family practice clinics
- Internal medicine or diagnosing and treating adults.
Specialty care
- Women’s Healthcare
- Mental healthcare
- Pediatrics
- Geriatrics
Ambulatory care
- Urgent care clinics
- Specialty care clinics such as oncology, cardiology etc.
Community Health
- Public health centers
- School health-based centers
Private practice for Nurse Practitioners
Nursing practitioners can open clinics where they can provide services to patients.
Salaries of registered nurse (RN) and nurse practitioners (NP)
Now, we will discuss the salaries of NP nurse practitioners vs RN Registered Nurses. Both RN and NP have high demand due to their specialty, but NPs are paid more because of their additional responsibilities and specialties.
Registered nurses (RN): The average salary of RNs is $68,450 per year.
Nurse practitioner (NP): The average salary of an NP is $100,910 per year.
Which job to choose? Registered nurse vs nurse practitioner
It is everyone’s personal choice! After reading the difference between a registered nurse vs nurse practitioner, you now have a clear picture of which one you want to choose. It is important to remember that both play important roles in our society and there is high demand for both of the professions. One thing you can clarify is that if you are the type of person who does not want to work under someone in the long run, then a nurse practitioner is a better choice. In this way, you can have your clinic and be your own boss.
Conclusion:
Learn about the difference between the registered nurse vs nurse practitioner. Their educational requirements, jobs, salaries, and responsibilities make it easy for you to make the decision of which profession you want to go for.
Want to read more interesting comparisons like these? You can check this blog or you can visit our blog page here.
