Registered Nurses (RN) vs. Nurse Practitioners (NP)

Updated June 30, 2023

If you're interested in a career in nursing, you may be researching the differences between various roles. Understanding the differences between a nurse practitioner (NP) and a registered nurse (RN) can help you decide if the nursing field is right for you. Basically, an NP has much more independence than an RN, who typically works under the supervision of a doctor or an NP.

In this article, we explain the job duties of NPs and RNs and explore their similarities and differences.

Key takeaways:

A registered nurse (RN) can provide basic patient care with an associate or bachelor's degree but can't prescribe medication, while a nurse practitioner (NP) may do so and also performs more advanced patient care.
There are more requirements to become an NP than an RN. NPs must obtain a Bachelor of Science in nursing, earn their RN license and get their master's or doctoral degree in advanced practice nursing with clinical training.
Both an RN and NP must complete 400-500 clinical hours to qualify for their roles.

 

What is a nurse practitioner?

A nurse practitioner is a registered nurse who has completed an advanced, graduate-level education to perform certain duties traditionally performed by a physician. The role of an NP is to work collaboratively with the health care team while seeing and assessing patients, ordering and interpreting diagnostic tests, diagnosing a condition and creating a plan of treatment. They also help manage chronic conditions and make adjustments accordingly for the patient.

An NP can write prescriptions, order and interpret tests such as blood tests and X-rays and perform basic procedures such as suturing, biopsies and other skills depending on the area in which they work.

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What is an RN?

A registered nurse acts as a caregiver for patients in a medical setting. An RN assists a physician and other health care employees in several health care environments. They're found everywhere from the operating room to a doctor's office and are usually the first health care employee a patient sees.

Registered nurses listen to patients, take vital health information, collect samples, write down patient information, monitor health equipment, administer medications and therapies and work in conjunction with a physician or NP. They also educate patients, assist with managing and navigating their care and serve in a variety of administrative, managerial and executive positions. Registered nurses cannot prescribe medication or order tests for patients.

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Differences between a nurse practitioner and an RN

A registered nurse and an NP are both trained to care for patients. However, there are some differences in their job duties, education and salaries. It's helpful to think of the RN and NP roles on a continuum since the NP role builds on the foundation of an RN role.

Here are some of the major differences between an NP and an RN:

Job duties

Job duties for RNs and NPs are similar, but an NP performs more advanced duties than that of an RN.

RN job duties

Here are some common job duties that RNs perform:

Providing basic care to patients
Monitoring patients' vital signs
Recording patient information
Assisting physicians and clinicians in the treatment of patients
Communicating with patients and their families

Related: PRN vs. Per Diem: A Definitive Guide

NP job duties

While an NP can perform the above duties, their advanced training prepares them to fulfill these primary duties:

Writing prescriptions
Ordering lab tests and other diagnostic tests such as X-rays and blood tests
Communicating with patients to provide a correct diagnosis
Diagnosing and treating acute illnesses
Monitoring and managing chronic illnesses
Working with patients to live healthy lifestyles
Performing minor procedures, such as sutures, splinting and biopsies

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Educational requirements

The minimum education required for each role is different. An RN can become licensed after completing an associate's or bachelor's degree program. Registered nurses can also advance their education in certain leadership or education fields by obtaining a master's or doctoral degree. An NP needs to first earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and become a licensed RN. They then complete a master's or doctoral degree in advanced practice nursing with the associated clinical training to be eligible for licensure as an NP. There are no residency requirements for nurse practitioners as there are for physicians completing medical training.

To become either type of nurse, students undergo a certain amount of clinical training as well. Registered nurses usually need at least 400 hours of clinical experience, while an NP needs 500 or more hours. Registered nurses and NPs also undergo continuing education, complete a set amount of contact hours and complete specific types of training to retain licensing. Local jurisdictions set the requirements for renewal. Registered nurses renew their state licenses periodically per respective state requirements. Nurse practitioners also renew their state licenses and their board certifications, with a combination of practice hours and continuing education contact hours.

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Supervision

Registered nurses and NPs have unique supervisory requirements. Depending on the work setting, RNs have their own supervisory structure. Nurse practitioners may practice independently in some states that have full practice authority. In other states, NPs may have to work collaboratively with a physician or receive direct supervision. One of the major duties of an RN is to assign, delegate and supervise licensed practical nurses and nurse assistants in most health care settings. Registered nurses with extensive experience may also create schedules, oversee all work, take part in the hiring process and act as managers of entire units and departments.

Nurse practitioner oversight varies based on the local jurisdiction requirements and the organization for which they work. Many NPs work closely with a physician regardless of the supervisory requirements. Some organizations and practice settings require the NP's patient notes to be reviewed by a physician. In other settings, the physician makes themselves available for clinical consultation. Some jurisdictions are eliminating the requirement of a supervisory or collaborating physician and allowing NPs to operate independently. In many states, NPs can open their own practices as business owners.

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Work environment

While both roles are health-industry related, RNs typically have a wider range of work environments available to them than an NP. Registered nurses often work in surgical suites, doctor's offices, nursing homes, hospitals, schools, home health care, hospice facilities and even on cruise ships. Fewer physicians are entering the primary care field and many medical facilities are using NPs to fill these roles. Urgent care clinics, private practices, hospitals, managed care facilities and college campuses are some of the places that employ NPs.

More employers are hiring NPs because they're capable of performing many of the duties traditionally performed by a primary care physician. As a result, an NP is most likely to find employment in a clinical setting. Since many NPs also complete doctoral degrees, they may work in managerial and executive-level roles. Nurse practitioners can also work in research settings, as entrepreneurs and in non-traditional health care settings such as concierge medicine, telemedicine and aesthetics. Both NPs and RNs can work in a higher education setting, teaching nursing students in a school or clinical setting.

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Salary

Since RNs and NPs complete different education and training requirements, they usually earn varying salaries. The average salary for an RN is $93,111 per year. They can expect to earn an additional income of $11,250 per year in overtime. The average annual salary for an NP is $117,232 per year and overtime pay averages about $17,500 per year. For the most up-to-date salary information from Indeed, click on the salary link.

The pay for both professions can vary depending on experience, educational level and area of practice. An RN with many years of experience, for example, may earn more than an entry-level NP. Salaries can also vary from state to state with adjustments for the cost of living and demand for these roles.

For the most up-to-date salary information from Indeed, click on the links provided

Jobs similar to nurse practitioners and RNs

If caring for patients and working in the medical field is something that interests you, there are a variety of careers to consider. Here are 10 jobs related to nurse practitioners and RNs:

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