APRN vs. RN: Differences in Roles, Salary, Skills, And More
Are you interested in pursuing a career in nursing but confused about which direction to go? The nursing field is vast and has several titles, including RN and APRN. Knowing what each title entails will give you a better idea of what is good for you, your future, and your career.
So, how different are these titles, APRN vs. RN? Below is an in-depth analysis of these titles based on responsibilities, education, and skills. By the end of the article, you'll have the necessary information to make a sound decision about your nursing career.
What is a Registered Nurse?
A Registered Nurse-RN is a licensed medical professional who works directly with patients, doctors, and other healthcare givers in their places of work. RNs provide direct healthcare to their patients as specified in their medical plans while educating them about their conditions and other illnesses.
Besides hospitals, RNs can work in different settings, including prisons, patients’ homes, nursing homes, schools, community clinics, doctors’ offices, and camps. In all these settings, the registered nurses’ leading role is to coordinate patient care and ensure everything runs smoothly in the interest of their patients.
Other than coordinating patient care, RNs have other duties depending on their level of education, location, and work setting. Their job responsibilities and daily tasks vary based on different factors such as patient demographics and needs.
Salary and career outlook
An RN earns a median salary of about $75,330 annually, which is about $36.22 per hour, according to the May 2020 Bureau of Labor Statistics.
RN salaries can vary depending on the place of work. While some facilities like government settings and hospitals may pay more, others like camps and homes may pay less.
Registered Nurses' salaries also depend on their location. For example, some states provide higher salaries for Registered Nurses. The top highest paying states for registered nurses in the United States are:
California
Hawaii
Massachusetts
Oregon
Alaska
According to the latest BLS data, the employment of RNs is expected to grow by 9% during the 2020-2030 decade. This means that an average of 276,800 new RN jobs will open during the 10 years.
What is an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse?
An Advanced Practice Registered Nurse-APRN is a medical professional with a registered nurse license who has furthered education to earn a master’s or doctoral degree in nursing.
Advanced nurses are the primary caregivers in healthcare settings and educate the public on various preventive disease measures. They coordinate patient care while also providing primary or specialty duties.
They have advanced skills and knowledge in any of the four APRN specializations, allowing them to have more autonomy than RNs. The four types of APRN specialties include:
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) – Their training involves administering anesthetics in surgeries and overseeing conscious sedation.
Certified Nurse-Midwives (CNMs) - Their primary focus is on reproductive health. They also provide primary health care and gynecologic services.
Nurse Practitioners (NPs) – May focus on one specialty area like psychiatric or offer primary care, providing direct health care to their patients. They can also diagnose illnesses, order tests, and prescribe medications.
Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNSs) – They only focus on their areas of expertise like acute illnesses and critical care.
Salary and career outlook
As APRN nurses are more educated and have more responsibilities, they earn substantially more than other treating practitioners.
The APRNs salary depends on their specialization; however, according to BLS data, they earn a median yearly salary of $117,670. The wages may differ depending on specialization, location, and experience.
More specifically, as of May 2020, BLS data shows that the median salary for APRN specializations was:
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists - $183,580
Nurse Practitioners - $111,680
Certified Nurse-Midwives - $111,130
Besides the high salary, APRNs have another advantage. According to BLS, APRNs expect a 45% job growth, which is way higher than other healthcare occupations. This means the healthcare industry will create more than 122,000 new jobs for APRNs.
Main Differences Between RN and APRN
RNs and APRNs coordinate and deliver direct patient care while educating patients about their conditions and other illnesses. However, APRNs have some knowledge and undergo specialized training that RNs don't. That is where the primary difference between RNs and APRN lie.
Are you still confused about the whole idea of APRN vs. RN? Below are three key areas that reveal the differences between RN and APRN titles.
Responsibilities and scope of practice
RNs' responsibilities and scope of practice depend on the employer and their patients’ needs. But their primary duty is to ensure all patients receive the direct and proper care they need to recover. After assessing patients, they will identify their needs, and then implement treatment according to their medical plans, usually given by doctors. As such, RNs work under the supervision of doctors.
On the other hand, APRNs have more autonomy as they don’t work under doctors. Instead, they work alongside doctors to ensure patients receive the best possible care. In addition to what registered nurses do, APRNs can also perform diagnostic tests, prescribe medications, and treat patients after evaluating their cases. Other responsibilities depend on their specialty and state.
If you’re still wondering what an APRN’s scope of practice looks like, here is the deal. They may evaluate diseases, order and perform diagnostic tests from the lab, interpret results, prescribe medications, and refer patients for further care. But their roles depend on their field of specialty. Therefore, each APRN may have different functions.
While RNs follow instructions from doctors, APRNs have the right to directly see patients and make decisions on their own without consulting doctors. They can also coordinate and supervise the entire medical team.
Skills
Both RNs and APRNs work directly with patients, assessing their illnesses, talking to them, advising, educating, and administering treatments.
For this reason, they have common skills that enable them to relate better with patients. These are clinical, communication (written and spoken), listening, and critical thinking skills.
But since APRNs have other duties besides the RN roles, they require additional skills. These include:
Excellent decision-making skills, especially when working under pressure in settings where they're the primary caregivers;
Be a continual learner as you continue practicing;
Show empathy since patients relate better with people that understand and share their feelings;
They should have leadership skills since they have the authority to coordinate health care, supervise and educate other healthcare workers, such as RNs.
Education
There are different education requirements for a nurse to become either an RN or an APRN, bringing yet another difference between RN and APRN.
The first initiative to becoming a Registered Nurse is to earn a nursing degree from an accredited institution. It could be an Associate's or a Bachelor's degree in nursing, depending on the state you want to practice.
After getting your degree, take the NCLEX Exam and ensure that you pass before finally obtaining the state licensure to practice. After being a practicing RN, you can further your education to become APRN.
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On the other hand, to become an APRN, you must first meet the above educational requirements for RNs. Then, advance further in education by pursuing either master's or doctoral degree in nursing, depending on your area of specialization.
You can then choose a certification exam based on your specialty. Finally, pursue state licensure after passing the exam, which varies from state to state.
The Bottom Line: Which One is Right for Me?
Looking at APRN vs. RN, it's clear that APRNs are superior to RNs in terms of education, skills needed, and responsibilities. APRNs also have a higher salary figure than RNs. However, the path to becoming an APRN is much longer than that of an RN.
So, depending on the goals you have for your career, you can weigh the pros and cons of each profession. Still, you don't have to decide right now, as you can continue your education to become an APRN if you are already a practicing RN.