What is the Difference Between RN (Registered Nurses) and NP (Nurse Practitioners)?

Registered Nurses (RNs) and Nurse Practitioners (NPs) are both essential roles in the nursing field, but they have different responsibilities, education requirements, and scopes of practice. Here are the key differences between the two roles:

1. Scope of practice: The main difference between RNs and NPs is the scope of practice. NPs are given more autonomy and are responsible for primary patient care, which includes diagnosing patients and prescribing treatments, while RNs are responsible for direct patient care, such as administering medications and providing physical support to patients.
2. Education: RNs typically hold either an Associate's Degree in Nursing (ADN) or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). NPs, on the other hand, are required to hold a Master's of Science in Nursing (MSN) or a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree.
3. Job duties: RNs provide and coordinate patient care, as well as educate patients and their families. They record patient medical history, assess, monitor, and observe patient conditions. NPs, on the other hand, are responsible for primary patient care, including diagnosing patients, prescribing medications, and ordering tests.
4. Work environments: RNs work under the supervision of clinicians, such as doctors or NPs. NPs, however, can work independently and even have their own offices.
5. Salary: NPs generally earn more than RNs due to their increased autonomy and education requirements. In 2021, NPs averaged $118,040, while RNs averaged $82,750.

In summary, while both RNs and NPs are crucial for patient care, they differ in their responsibilities, education requirements, work environments, and salaries. RNs provide direct patient care under the supervision of clinicians, while NPs have a greater scope of practice and are responsible for primary patient care, including diagnosing and prescribing treatments.

Comparative Table: RN (Registered Nurses) vs NP (Nurse Practitioners)

Here is a table comparing the differences between Registered Nurses (RNs) and Nurse Practitioners (NPs):

In summary, while both RNs and NPs focus on patient care, there are significant differences in their scope of practice, education, workplace, and salary.