Comparing Registered Nurse and Nurse Practitioner Job Duties
The nursing profession encompasses various crucial roles, with registered nurses (RNs) and nurse practitioners (NPs) among the most common. While the roles of an RN vs an NP have some overlapping duties, they differ significantly in their responsibilities, work settings, education requirements, and scope of practice.
RN Responsibilities and Work Settings
Registered nurses provide direct patient care, carrying out treatments and medications ordered by a physician. Common RN duties include:
- Monitoring and recording patient healthRNs work in diverse settings such as hospitals, physician offices, nursing homes, schools, and home health. They typically provide round-the-clock bedside care as highlighted in resources from the American Nurses Association (ANA).
- Administering medications, treatments, etc.
- Coordinating care and collaborating with other healthcare professionals
- Educating patients on care needs and self-management
- Advocating for patients
RNs work in diverse settings such as hospitals, physician offices, nursing homes, schools, and home health. They typically provide round-the-clock bedside care as highlighted in resources from the American Nurses Association (ANA).
Nurse Practitioner Responsibilities and Work Settings
Nurse practitioners can provide much of the same care as physicians, like diagnosing conditions, ordering tests, and prescribing medication. Key NP responsibilities include:
- Taking medical histories and conducting physical exams
- Ordering and analyzing diagnostic tests
- Diagnosing acute and chronic illnesses
- Creating customized treatment plans
- Prescribing medication
- Managing patients’ overall care
- Providing preventive healthcare
NPs often serve as a patient’s primary healthcare provider. They typically work in clinics, hospitals, urgent care centers, private practices, and nursing homes.
Direct Patient Care Comparison
While RNs and NPs both provide direct patient care, a few key differences emerge:
- Diagnosing: NPs can diagnose medical conditions; RNs cannot officially diagnose.
- Treatment: NPs develop treatment plans; RNs carry out other providers’ orders.
- Prescribing: NPs have prescribing authority; RNs do not.
In short, NPs have a wider scope of practice and autonomy in providing patient care.
RN vs NP: Understanding the Differences
Education Requirements – Licensure Pathways for RNs and NPs
RNs and NPs take very different paths to licensure:
RN Education
RN education options include:
- Diploma in Nursing (typically 12-24 months)
- Associate’s Degree in Nursing (ADN) (2 years)
- Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing (BSN) (4 years)
Graduates must pass the NCLEX-RN exam overseen by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) to become a registered nurse.
Many RNs go on to earn a BSN even if they originally completed an ADN or diploma.
NP Education
NPs must earn at least:
- Bachelor’s degree (often in nursing)
- Master’s of Science in Nursing (MSN) (2 additional years)
NP programs prepare grads to take certification exams related to their specialty (e.g. family nurse practitioner).
Many NPs pursue Doctor of Nursing Practice degrees as well for the highest level of preparation.
In short, becoming an NP requires 6-8+ years of education, including graduate-level training. RNs can practice after 2-4 years (or less with some diploma programs).
Scope of Practice – What RNs Can Do vs NPs
As highlighted earlier, NPs have a much wider scope of practice than RNs. A few key differences include:
RN Scope
The RN scope of practice often includes:
- Recording vital signs
- Administering medications, wound care, etc.
- Collaborating with care team
- Coordinating discharge plans
- Providing patient education
RNs cannot:
- Prescribe medication
- Order diagnostic tests
- Make official diagnoses
RN duties focus on bedside care delivery while following physician orders.
NP Scope
Key elements within the NP scope include:
- Obtaining medical histories
- Ordering and interpreting tests
- Diagnosing acute/chronic illnesses
- Prescribing medication and treatments
- Managing full-spectrum care
In particular, the ability for NPs to prescribe and diagnose differentiates their scope. They manage a patient’s full care much like physicians.
NP practice authority can vary by state though. Some states prohibit NPs from fully exercising their expertise.
Difference in Autonomy and Leadership
The difference in scope translates into variation in autonomy as well:
RN Role
- Works under a physician’s supervision
- Carries out established treatment plans
- Works alongside other RNs and healthcare staff
NP Role
- Can practice independently in most states
- Determines treatment plans
- Often manages teams of nurses and staff
NPs have emerged as practice leaders. Their advanced education prepares them to guide healthcare teams while also diagnosing and prescribing independently.
Difference in RN and NP Salary and Career Advancement
With their advanced expertise and autonomy, NPs earn significantly higher salaries according to figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
National Median Salary
| Nursing Role | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| RN | $77,600 |
| NP | $115,800 |
Salaries vary further based on:
- Specialty (e.g. psychiatry NPs may earn more)
- Years of experience
- Geographic region
The key point remains that NPs earn nearly 50% higher salaries – a difference of over $35,000 annually.
Career advancement opportunities also diverge:
- RN advancement involves specializing (e.g. surgical nurse) or moving into leadership roles
- NP advancement can involve earning a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) or focusing on an area like oncology
Overall NPs have more advancement potential, especially into higher-paying leadership and specialized roles.
RN to NP Career Transition
Given the appeal of NP roles, many RNs decide to advance their career by becoming nurse practitioners.
To transition from an RN to NP, nurses must:
- Earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (if they don’t already hold a BSN)
- Complete a Master’s level NP program
This requires going back to school for about 2-4 more years.
Programs enable current RNs to build on their existing clinical expertise while preparing for an enhanced advanced practice role.
When weighing the decision whether to pursue the RN to NP path, nurses consider factors like:
- Additional tuition costs
- Foregoing RN wages during the transition
- Challenges balancing school, work and personal responsibilities
At the same time, enhancing their education opens up the door to more autonomy, leadership growth, and increased earning potential.
Many deem the investment well worth it. But it does require dedication and nurse practitioners advise current RNs to prepare for an demanding transition.
Job Outlook and Demand for RNs vs NPs
Both registered nursing and nurse practitioner roles are experiencing substantial growth:
10-Year Job Growth Projections
| Nursing Role | Expected Job Growth | New Positions |
|---|---|---|
| RN | 9% | 342,000 |
| NP | 45% | 114,900 |
NP positions are projected to surge exponentially faster since primary care physicians also face pressing shortages.
RNs are less likely to benefit from staffing trends, though hundreds of thousands of new openings are still anticipated.
In short, those considering nursing careers can feel confident about strong demand ahead. However, nurse practitioners specifically appear to be emerging healthcare leaders with incredible job growth on the horizon.
Roles with Overlapping Duties
While this article focuses on key RN vs NP differences, it’s important to note overlapping duties as well.
Both serve crucial roles in:
- Patient education
- Listening to patient concerns
- Monitoring vitals
- Coordinating specialty care
- Advocating for patient access to treatments
RNs work more closely with bedside care while NPs diagnose conditions. But collaboration remains essential for both.
Deciding Between an RN or NP Career
When weighing nursing careers, key considerations include education requirements, length of program, earning potential, scope limitations, and job responsibilities.
For those seeking frontline patient care roles as part of healthcare teams, registered nursing offers immense value. Diploma and Associate’s programs allow faster paths to gainful employment caring directly for patients.
Those hoping for advanced expertise in diagnosis, treatment plans, and prescribing may benefit most from nurse practitioner programs. This extensive education gives NPs practice autonomy resembling physicians. Higher pay and abundant jobs reflect rising demand.
Ultimately nurses can prosper in either career depending on which nursing role aligns best with their talents, lifestyle needs, and priorities. Both RNs and NPs play integral roles providing compassionate, lifesaving patient care.
Read about the roles of Nurse Practitioner Vs Physician Assistant.
RN vs NP: Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average annual salary for RNs vs APRNs?
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the average annual salary for registered nurses is $77,600 while advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) earn an average salary of $115,800 per year. The nearly $40,000 higher average wage reflects APRNs’ advanced expertise and responsibilities.
What type of nursing license do RNs hold?
All registered nurses hold an RN license in their state after graduating from an accredited nursing diploma, Associates, or Bachelors program and passing the NCLEX-RN exam. Maintaining RN licensure requires satisfying continuing education requirements.
What type of advanced practice license do APRNs hold?
Advanced practice registered nurses must earn a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree and pass related certification exams to obtain APRN licensure as a nurse practitioner, certified nurse midwife, clinical nurse specialist, or other advanced role. Ongoing credentials maintenance is also required.
What are the main continuing education/certification requirements for RN and APRN licenses?
To renew an RN license, nurses must complete state-level continuing education requirements which often equal 10-30 hours of CE credit depending on the jurisdiction. Renewing advanced certifications as an APRN involves maintaining certification through the applicable professional organizations and completing supplemental CE as required depending on the exact credential.
Can an RN obtain APRN status without going back to school?
No, registered nurses cannot obtain advanced practice status without completing accredited Master of Science in Nursing educational programs at minimum. APRN roles require a Master’s or Doctoral level degree and specialized graduate-level training to earn designated APRN credentials.
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- About the Author
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Lauren Webber is a former HR manager and lover of psychology who now runs Dainty Mom among her other pursuits. Her interests range from the corporate world to health and self-care to home improvement and parenting.
