Nurse Practitioner vs Registered Nurse: Understanding the Key Differences

Within the field of nursing, you can choose from many different career paths. Before deciding which one you want to pursue, it’s important to understand the key differences and expectations for each role. Two nursing careers that are often compared are registered nurses (RNs) and nurse practitioners (NPs). The role of each is unique and their education and training requirements differ.

Pursuing a career in nursing means exploring the various levels and specialties of the healthcare field. At Xavier University, you can learn the complexities of the nursing field and gain useful experience through our Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program, earning your degree in as few as 16 months and being well on your way to pursuing higher levels of nursing.

What is a Registered Nurse (RN)?

To start understanding the differences between RN vs nurse practitioner, you can first break down the definition and role of each job. Registered nurses are vital members of our healthcare system on the front lines of patient care. They may be a patient’s first resource for information and education. Though their definition and role may vary, their general terms are as follows:

Definition of an RN

RNs are the largest group of nursing professionals. These individuals have earned degrees from an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) through a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) and beyond. After earning a degree, they must have passed the NCLEX-RN, giving them licensure and the ability to enter practice. RNs can choose from many different specialties. They are part of the healthcare team and collaborate with healthcare professionals, patients and families to provide complex care.

Role of an RN

The role of an RN is to provide care, directly or indirectly, and also to be a resource for both patients and the healthcare team. There are many roles that nurses fill, from working at the bedside to coordinating care as a nurse navigator for patients and families experiencing a complex disease such as cancer. A nurse navigator works with the healthcare team, patients and their families, exploring different treatment options to identify the best plan of care. RNs are usually a patient’s first point of contact in the acute care setting, and the care they provide is crucial to rapidly identifying changes in a patient’s condition, providing treatment and working toward positive health outcomes.

RNs fill many different areas within a healthcare facility, including:

• Geriatric nursing
• Labor and delivery nursing
• Medical-surgical nursing
• Pediatric nursing
• Emergency nursing
• Case manager

This is not an exhaustive list, and it’s important to do your own research to decide which area is the right one for you.

What is a Nurse Practitioner (NP)?

In comparison, a nurse practitioner has a different educational focus and different education experiences related to their selected specialty. They are advanced practice nurses (APRNs) and serve as primary care providers — other examples of APRNs include Certified Nurse Midwives and Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists. These nurses are part of the healthcare team that directs patient care, writes orders, provides prescriptions and determines diagnoses. A nurse practitioner is a primary healthcare provider and, in many states, can practice independently.

Definition of an NP

NPs are nurses who have undergone additional education and certification in their chosen practice area. Because of their higher level of education and experience, NPs often earn a higher salary and have a different level of responsibility based on their advanced practice roles.

Role of an NP

An NP’s role will vary depending on their specialty, but as an NP, you can expect to provide more advanced care to patients, diagnose diseases and prescribe treatments. Let’s explore some of the popular career specializations that NPs can pursue:

• Pediatric nurse practitioners provide care to patients from birth to early adulthood. They perform routine checkups, diagnose acute and chronic illnesses, order tests and prescribe medication. They also talk with parents about normal growth and development and educate parents and patients.
• Adult-gerontology nurse practitioners take over after patients age past pediatrics, serving them from early through late adulthood. They may focus on chronic disease management, identification of acute illness and educating patients regarding healthy lifestyle habits.
• Family nurse practitioners are unique in their scope because they administer care to people of all ages.
• Psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners specialize in mental healthcare. They focus on applying mental health interventions and techniques that are catered to a patient’s individual needs.

Key Differences Between Nurse Practitioners and Registered Nurses

While both nursing roles are important for patient care, comparing an NP vs. an RN reveals key differences. Comparing their respective time commitments, responsibilities and opportunities in career advancement can help you differentiate between these two vital roles.

Education and Training

One key difference between nurse practitioners and registered nurses is in the focus of the educational program. RNs typically have either a bachelor’s or associate’s degree in nursing, though some also hold more advanced degrees. The main qualification for an RN’s education and training is to pass the NCLEX and attain licensure. During their educational journey, they learn to care for patients of all ages in all areas.

Nurse practitioners will typically return to school for a master’s or doctorate-level degree in a program that is specific to advanced practice nursing and often focused on a specific population. Typically, an NP has experience working as an RN. They may have worked in the field of pediatrics, for example, and decided to further their education and become a pediatric nurse practitioner.

Responsibilities and Autonomy

Another difference between RNs and NPs is that of responsibility and autonomy. In an acute care setting, RNs are responsible for managing the care of many patients in a day and prioritizing patient care, as well as facilitating communication within the patient care team and advocating for their patients. NPs are able to practice with a higher level of autonomy and decision-making, diagnosing patient conditions, prescribing care and adjusting care based on patient response.

If an NP works in a state where they can start their own independent practice, these nurses can set their own schedules and shape their careers around their specialty. NPs can also take on mentorship roles for NP students and help further the nursing field by teaching or shaping best practices.

Career Advancement and Specialization

Another difference between these two roles is the opportunity to advance their careers. Both NPs and RNs have autonomy in what specialty area they want to work in and can find great satisfaction in making positive impacts on patients. Although an NP may be limited based on the educational focus of the program they completed. A pediatric NP would not be able to see geriatric patients, for example. A women’s health NP would not see male patients. An RN can provide care to patients from newborns to the elderly.

Specialization opportunities also exist for both roles, but the application of these specialties looks different for NPs vs RNs. With many different areas of nursing needing nurses to fill roles, there is no shortage of ways for nurses, regardless of role, to specialize in their care. Where this differs is in certification and experience. RNs can pursue certifications and further education to specialize in areas like geriatrics or pediatrics.

Specialization for NPs may look like more avenues for career advancement. As stated before, in some states, NPs can privately practice in their specialties outside the typical hospitals or outpatient facilities, opting to open their own practice and becoming their own boss. This opens even more opportunities for mentorship in the field.

Is an NP a Higher Role Than an RN?

Being a nurse practitioner is a higher role than that of a registered nurse in that NPs can practice with more autonomy. However, both roles carry authority and are highly respected in healthcare. NPs in hospitals assign diagnoses and patient treatment, and RNs collaborate and carry out the treatment plans that NPs prescribe. Both NPs and RNs can take on mentoring roles with young nurses beginning their careers, as well as nursing students. As a Xavier ABSN student, you will work with RNs and NPs as you gain experience across multiple practice areas during accelerated nursing clinicals.

Nurse practitioners generally earn higher salaries than RNs. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median wage for registered nurses was $86,070 in 2023, with a 6% job outlook increase through 2033. This is compared to nurse practitioners, whose median salary was $129,480 in 2023, with a 40% job outlook increase to 2033.

Start Your Nursing Journey with Xavier

If you’re considering a job in one of the many specialties of nurse practitioners, Xavier University is ready to get you started. Our ABSN program delivers a curriculum of online-based coursework, onsite nursing skills and simulation labs and in-hospital clinicals. We prepare students for a successful nursing career, regardless of whether they want to pursue RN or NP roles. As a Xavier graduate, you will receive a 25% discount if you choose to pursue your advanced degree at Xavier. There any many specialties to choose from at Xavier, including education, forensics, family nursing practitioner and psychiatric/mental health nurse practitioner.