RN vs. NP: What's the Difference?
Have you ever thought about the structure of the healthcare system? It is made of a team of hardworking professionals that come together to provide the best healthcare plan for patients. Two of the most important roles are those of a registered nurse (RN) and a nurse practitioner (NP). Keep on reading to learn more about the differences and similarities between these two and how you can become one.
What Is a Registered Nurse?
Registered nurses (RNs) are deemed the backbone of the American healthcare system. RNs not only work with other healthcare professionals and doctors but also deal with patients directly. Let’s now explore their responsibilities, how to become one, the job prospect, and the salary.
What does an RN do?
Generally speaking, a registered nurse is responsible for providing healthcare to patients and educating them and their families on health and safety. In addition to this, they have more specific responsibilities they have to fulfill every day; here is a list of some of them:
Recording patients’ medical history
Collecting DNA samples
Assisting and providing results for diagnostic tests
Communicating with and assisting patients
Monitoring the progress of patients
Working with other healthcare professionals to ensure efficiency
Keeping track of the patients’ health
How to become an RN?
Like everything else that is worth it, becoming an RN is hard but fulfilling work. First, students must have a high GPA in natural sciences before going to a nursing school. The duration can vary depending on the program they apply to.
Interested in pursuing an RN degree in California?
Fill out the form and get all the detailed information you need regarding your chosen program.
RN school requirements
There are three forms of nursing degrees students can pick from: bachelor’s, associate’s, and a diploma. The difference lies in the duration of the program and the focus of the specialization; however, students can obtain more than one of these degrees.
Associate’s Degree in Nursing (ADN): this program is the shortest one as it takes only two years to complete. Nursing students who choose this degree can then take their academic challenge to the next level and obtain a bachelor’s in nursing. The difference between these two degrees, besides duration, is the specialization. Students in this program learn clinical skills, such as blood transfusion, physical examination, pulse and blood pressure assessment, etc.
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN): this is the most required degree by registered nurses in hospitals. This program lasts three years, and nurses who complete it learn critical clinical skills such as health and safety within the confines of the U.S. healthcare system, patient care technology, research, and leadership skills. Registered nurses who obtain this degree get advancement opportunities in healthcare facilities such as hospitals.
Diploma: this program also lasts three years, and it teaches students the fundamentals of nursing. It mainly focuses on the study of treating patients and saving their lives. A diploma in nursing is one of the fastest ways to become a registered nurse as it allows students to put everything they learn to practice. Students who obtain this degree learn important skills such as administering medications and performing injections.
RN qualifications
Besides nursing school, students have to undergo one more step before embarking on their career as registered nurses. All students who finish nursing school must then take a pass-fail exam, the NCLEX-RN exam, to determine if they are ready to practice nursing in their state by having their skills and knowledge tested. This exam is issued by the NCSBN (National Council of State Boards of Nursing), and it is divided into four categories:
The safe and effective care environment
Health promotion and maintenance
Physiological integrity
Psychosocial integrity
RN skills
There are a lot of skills besides the clinical ones that determine whether you are ready to become a registered nurse. These skills will help you in the day-to-day work as an RN, and also when you’re applying for a job, it is important to remember to mention them in your cover letter and CV. Here are some skills that every successful RN should possess:
Stress management
Kindness and compassion
Organization skills
Responsibility
Critical thinking
Mental and physical endurance
Decision making
RN job prospects & salary
Jobs in the medical field have always been in demand. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a 9% employment growth for RNs from 2020 to 2030. As RNs continue to be high in demand, one can assume that their salary will also grow. The average annual salary for a registered nurse is $75,330.
What Is a Nurse Practitioner?
A nurse practitioner (NP) is an advanced registered nurse, and the only difference between NPs and doctors is the amount of training they go through; otherwise, NPs can have their own offices and work independently, unlike RNs who work under other healthcare professionals such as NPs, physicians, or doctors.
What does an NP do?
As an NP has a lot of authority, that comes with many duties that need to be achieved every day. The responsibilities of an NP will vary depending on the state they are practicing in or even the healthcare facility they work in. Here are some general duties of a nurse practitioner.
Managing patients’ care
Prescribing medication to patients
Order and interpret medical tests
Counselling
Educating patients on making healthier choices and prevention of diseases
How to become an NP?
An aspiring nurse practitioner typically starts by becoming a licensed registered nurse and gaining a lot of clinical experience. And after choosing their master’s or doctoral degree program, prospective NPs have to select the patient population-based specialization area.
NP school requirements
To become a nurse practitioner, students must go through four steps that involve taking more than one program and gaining experience.
Obtain a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN): the program takes at least three years to complete, and it is the first step every nurse must complete to become an RN and then an NP.
Pass the NCLEX-RN exam: this pass-fail exam will determine if you are ready to become a registered nurse and sets the course for your career journey to become an NP.
Enrol in an NP program: you can either get your Master of Nursing Practice (MSN) or if you are looking for better opportunities and don’t mind spending more years studying, get your DNP (doctor of nursing practice)
Earn NP License and Specialty Certification: this license will give you the title of an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN), and an NP is required to pass in their specialty area, which accredited certifying organizations administer.
NP qualifications
Alongside the education and licensure requirements, a qualified NP must choose a specialty area during their MSN or DSN program. This all depends on the preference and fortes of the NP and whether they prefer to work with adults or children. There are five areas of expertise they can choose from:
PNP - Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
WHNP - Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner
PMHNP - Psychiatric - Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
NP skills
A good nurse practitioner should combine the soft and hard skills of both RNs and physicians. They need to be organized and alert for the clinical responsibilities but empathetic and great listeners for dealing directly with patients and their families. Here are a few skills every successful NP should possess.
Leadership skills
Analytical skills
Patience under pressure
Communication and listening skills
Decision making
Attention to detail
NP job prospects & salary
The important role of nurse practitioners has been in high demand ever since their existence came to be; back in 1960, NPs were brought to the healthcare system because of the shortage of physicians. Even nowadays, they still are just as important and continue to be high in demand. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment of NPs, together with nurse anesthetists and nurse-midwives is projected to grow 45% from 2020 to 2030, and the average annual salary is $114,510.
Registered Nurse vs. Nurse Practitioner
Suppose you were pondering choosing a career in nursing and want to make the best decision, registered nurse vs. nurse practitioner. The answer to that question is relatively easy; it all depends on your preference. Just because an NP works above an RN does not make the role of a registered nurse any less critical. If you enjoy working in a team, providing healthcare while executing leadership skills, and aren’t interested in obtaining a master’s or doctorate, then the role of an RN might be your perfect fit.
However, suppose you enjoy more autonomy and responsibility of providing healthcare directly to patients and making decisions for your own office and would enjoy spending extra years getting a master’s or doctorate. In that case, you might consider becoming an NP.
Conclusion
Becoming an RN or NP will take a lot of hard work and dedication; for one thing, it’s not easy being the foundation of the healthcare system, but it sure is rewarding. Whichever field you choose, you will inevitably get to interact with patients and see the progress they make because of your compassion and hard work. Hopefully, this article enlightened you about the thoroughly specific details that go into the tasks of an RN and NP and possibly helped you make a decision you will be thankful for.