Are you an aspiring nurse? You’ll be glad to know that this career comes with good pay, various specialization options, and a chance to make a difference in other people’s lives.
To help you gain insight into your career aspirations, we’ll explain the differences (and similarities) between a registered nurse (RN) and a nurse practitioner (NP).
Table of Contents
Registered Nurse
Registered nurses are licensed healthcare professionals who provide patient-centered care.
Responsibilities
The usual day-to-day tasks of RNs include:
- Assessing and monitoring patients
- Recording detailed medical information
- Creating, implementing, and evaluating treatment plans
- Administering medications and other treatments and observing for untoward reactions
- Drawing laboratory specimens
- Caring for wounds (cleaning and changing bandages)
- Operating medical equipment
- Coordinating patient care with other healthcare professionals
- Educating patients and relatives regarding the condition and the treatment plans
- Supervising licensed practical nurses, nursing assistants, and student nurses
Practice Setting
While most RNs work in hospitals and medical centers, they’re also employed in community health centers, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, home care agencies, schools, private companies, government agencies, prisons, and the Armed Forces.
Most RNs work three 12-hour shifts a week, though those employed at schools or private companies may do the usual work week (five 8-hour shifts).
Specializations
RNs can choose to specialize in one (or several) fields, such as medical-surgical nursing, operating room nursing, oncology, pediatrics, obstetrics-gynecology, neonatology, geriatrics, ambulatory care, and aesthetics, to name a few. RNs can also opt to specialize in education or administration.
Education
Aspiring RNs must have a high school diploma or GED. From there, they can choose to work toward a 2-year Associate, which focuses on basic nursing skills. Another option is a 4-year Bachelor’s degree in Nursing, which explores more than just core nursing concepts. Currently, more employers are seeking BSN-educated nurses.
Aspiring nurses also have the option to take a nursing diploma, although there are only a few schools that offer this track.
Regardless of the degree, nursing students need to complete at least 400 clinical hours in addition to the required coursework.
Licensure and Certification
After obtaining their degree, they can apply (and pass) the NCLEX-RN exam to gain licensure in the state where they intend to practice. The test consists of 75–145 questions.
RNs can also apply for a compact multi-state license that allows them to practice in 43 jurisdictions.
Nurses also have to undergo continuing education in order to renew their license every two years.
RNs can also take a post-degree certification to make them ‘specialists’. For example, an operating room nurse can take the certified perioperative nurse (CNOR) credential, which can lead to increased pay, promotions, and better job opportunities.
Salary
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), RNs earn an average of $41.38 per hour or $86,070 a year. That said, amounts may vary according to the RN’s educational level, experience, specialization, and location.
For example, PayScale puts the salary of BSN-educated nurses at $92,000, while ADN nurses earn about $75,000.
In terms of location, RNs from California earn the most. They bring home an average hourly wage of $66.20 or a mean annual salary of $137,690.
Job Outlook
The job outlook for RNs, according to the BLS, is faster than average at 6%. The employment change from 2023-2033 is projected to be at 197,200.
Nurse Practitioner
Equipped with advanced training, an NP is an RN who provides direct and primary patient care. They can perform tasks that are usually performed by physicians.
Responsibilities
NP responsibilities include:
- Performing detailed patient examinations
- Recording patient information/history
- Ordering medical exams and interpreting their results
- Diagnosing conditions
- Creating treatment plans
- Prescribing medications (supervised or unsupervised, depending on state)
- Performing minor procedures such as suturing or biopsies
- Referring and collaborating with other specialists as needed
- Supervising nurses and other team members
- Educating and counseling patients
Practice Setting
Like RNs, NPs are employed by hospitals, medical centers, clinics, outpatient facilities, campuses, and government agencies.
NPs typically work five 8-hour shifts, though AGACNPs, ENPs, or NNPs employed in hospitals may work longer shifts.
Specializations
Aspiring nurse practitioners can choose their specialization beforehand at NP school. Available tracks include:
- Adult-gerontology NP (acute and primary care)
- Emergency NP
- Family NP
- Neonatal NP
- Psychiatric-mental health NP
- Pediatric NP (acute and primary care)
- Women’s Health NP
Education
After gaining experience, RNs can apply for an MSN or DNP nurse practitioner program. Do note that many are recommending that the DNP, which is a terminal degree, be the standard education for NPs.
BSN holders may directly apply for an MSN or DNP program.
Those with an Associate degree will have to apply for an RN-DNP program. In some states, only RN-MSN programs are available. From there, ADN nurses have the option to pursue an MSN-DNP degree.
On top of completing the required work, NP students need to complete 500+ clinical hours.
Depending on whether an NP program is pursued on a full-time or part-time basis, schooling can take about 2–3 years to complete.
Licensure and Certification
Upon obtaining their MSN or DNP degree, an aspiring NP may apply for a certification exam. Depending on their specialization, they may need to take the exam rendered by:
- American Association of Critical-Care Nurses Certification Corporation — AGACNP
- American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board — AGPCNP, ENP, FNP, and PMHNP
- American Nurses Credentialing Center — AGPCNP, AGACNP, ENP, FNP, PPCNP, and PMHNP
- National Certification Corporation — NNP and WHNP
- Pediatric Nursing Certification Board — PPCNP and PACNP
Passing the certification exam administered by any of the agencies above makes one a ‘board-certified nurse practitioner’.
NPs also have to undergo continuing education and complete additional clinical hours in order to renew their license.
Salary
According to the BLS, NPs earn about $62.25 per hour or $129,480 a year. The top-paying state is California, where NPs earn an hourly mean wage of $77.66 or a mean annual salary of $161,540.
Job Outlook
The job outlook for NPs is 40%, which is much faster than average. From 2023-2033, the projected employment change is 141,200.
In a Nutshell
Both RNs and NPs provide patient-centered care. NPs, however, have advanced education/training, and are licensed to diagnose patients, order tests, and prescribe medications — some responsibilities that physicians perform. As such, NPs have greater autonomy and responsibility compared to RNs.