Some experts predict a significant shortage of healthcare professionals by the 2030s, with some estimating that the US will face a shortage of nearly 200,000 nurses and 124,000 physicians. Both FNPs and MDs are in high demand to help fill these gaps.
If you’re interested in dedicating your life to a career in healthcare, you may be wondering about the differences between being a family nurse practitioner (FNP) and a doctor of medicine (MD). Here, we examine the differences between these two roles to help you decide which one may be the right path for you.
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Major Differences Between an FNP and an MD
The biggest difference between an FNP and an MD is the length and extent of their education.
To become an FNP, nurses must first obtain a BSN. BSN programs vary, but most are four years long and include about 600 to 800 hands-on clinical hours. After they complete their initial nursing education, they must pass the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) and apply for state licensure.
After completing a BSN, passing the NCLEX-RN, and obtaining a state license, nurses must apply to an FNP program. Most NP programs are between two and four years long. Many of them allow for online learning with between 500 and 1,000 clinical hours where they provide direct patient care.
These programs generally offer either an MSN or a DNP degree. Some organizations recommend that a doctorate be required as an entry-level NP degree by 2025, but this has yet to become law.
MDs, on the other hand, complete a four-year college degree, usually in something related to medicine, like biology, public health, or microbiology. They must then apply to and complete medical school, which takes another four years. To gain practical experience, training includes three to seven years of residency, which is comprehensive training future physicians go through after medical school but before being able to practice independently.
After residency, medical school graduates who want to specialize in a subspecialty can also complete a one to three-year fellowship to gain more training. Between medical school and residency, MDs get between 12,000 and 16,000 hours of hands-on experience with patients during their training, more if they continue on into a fellowship.
Doctors must pass multiple standardized exams throughout medical school and residency, standardized exams after every rotation, and multiple licensing examinations. State law also dictates the scope of practice for MDs, but they are able to practice medicine independently in all states. Some states may allow them to delegate certain activities to physician assistants or nurse practitioners.
What Does an FNP Do?
FNPs are advanced practice nurses trained to provide higher-level care to patients across the lifespan, from senior citizens to infants. Depending on their training, FNPs can work in either acute or primary care in a clinic, hospital, or office setting.
The duties of an FNP will depend on where they work, but they are qualified to provide a range of patient services, including preventative care, routine checkups, immunizations, patient education, and diagnosing and treating illnesses.
There are a variety of FNP programs across the country. While they all vary slightly in terms of curriculum and clinical requirements, most prepare students to take the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) Family Nurse Practitioner exam or the American Association of Nurse Practitioners Certification Program (AANPCP) exam. Once students pass the exam, they can apply for a FNP license in their state.
The scope of practice for all nurse practitioners, including FNPs, depends on the state where they practice. There are full practice, reduced practice, and restricted practice states.
In full practice states, FNPs have many options because they can work as independent providers. These states allow FNPs to initiate and manage treatment, order and interpret diagnostic testing, assess and diagnose patients, and prescribe medication, including controlled substances.
In reduced-practice states, an FNP’s scope of practice is somewhat limited. In these states, all NPs must enter into collaborative agreements with physicians to prescribe medications, but they may be able to diagnose and treat patients independently. NPs in restricted-practice states need physician oversight to prescribe medication and to diagnose and treat patients.
What Does an MD Do?
Doctors can work in many areas, and their specialization largely dictates their responsibilities. The specialty that overlaps the most with an FNP is primary care or family medicine. In these roles, MDs diagnose patients using diagnostic tests, thorough examinations, and medical history, develop treatment plans, and prescribe medication. Doctors in these roles also address other patient needs, like diet and preventative care.
Like FNPs, MDs can help patients manage long-term health concerns as well as address short-term, acute illnesses, injuries, and infections. In some states, they can also delegate these tasks to other healthcare professionals.
FNP vs MD: Similarities
- Both FNPs and family doctors can act as primary care providers, diagnosing conditions and managing treatments.
FNP vs MD: Differences
- FNPs have less extensive education and a more limited scope of practice.
- FNPs in reduced- or restricted-practice states may be unable to prescribe medication, diagnose, or treat patients without career-long physician supervision. MDs can do all these things independently in all 50 states and D.C.
- The average salary for a master’s-prepared FNP is $102,000 per year, while the average salary for a family medicine doctor is $230,000 per year.
- Potential job growth for FNPs is much higher than for MDs. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the projected job growth for FNPs and other advanced practice nurses is 38% between 2022 and 2032, while the job lookout for MDs (physicians and surgeons) in this same period is 3%, or as fast as average.
- Total education and training for an FNP is about six to seven years; for an MD, it’s about 11 to 15 years, which includes undergraduate and medical school and residency.
- FNPs usually have between 1,100 and 1,800 hours of clinical training during their education; MDs typically have between 12,000 and 16,000.
- The cost of education is significantly higher for MDs. FNPs can practice with either an MSN or a DNP. While the costs vary significantly per program, the average cost of a master’s degree is about $60,000 while the average cost of a doctorate is about $133,000. The average cost of medical school is about $236,000.
Which Path Is Right For You?
Whether you should choose a career as an FNP or an MD largely depends on how much time and money you want to spend on your education. While pursuing a career as an MD is certainly the right calling for some people, the education required to become one is extensive and costs a considerable amount of money. It takes a much shorter time and is significantly more affordable to pursue a degree as an FNP.