What is the Difference between an RN and a NP? A Nurse Practitioner (NP) is a nurse with a Masters in nursing – almost on a par with a Doctor. While there is a shortage of doctors across the country, NPs are filling in these gaps because doctors are choosing other specialties not associated with family or primary care for the simple fact that they can earn more. NPs undergo an intensive course to earn their qualification, and they train under Physicians. They do not work under a doctor, but with a doctor and they can see patients in their own right. They can ask for tests and write prescriptions and organize a treatment plan. Often in the NP is a woman they will specialize in women’s health, oncology or Paediatrics. Patients sometimes think that a NP cannot help them when they have a serious problem; however they are very capable and well trained. They can always refer a patient to a Physician if they are not sure of their diagnosis. Related: 10 Complaints Every Nurse Has on the Job NPs come from a nursing background as compared to doctors who come more from a medicinal discipline. This gives NPs the edge when looking after their patients as they tend to care for their patients from a holistic view of their lifestyle, instead of making one medical diagnosis as a trained doctor would. A registered nurse or a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) has an associate degree. A Registered Nurse simply means that the nurse has completed a programmed with an accredited institution and has passed the state board exams. He / She will have been registered and licensed to practice as a nurse. The major difference between a RN and a NP is the qualification. A RN qualifies with a Bachelor’s or an Associate’s degree, whereas a NP should at least have a Master of Science in Nursing degree. Both these jobs require that the incumbents reassess their qualifications every 5 years or so, depending on which state they live in. What Characteristics should a RN and a NP have?
So if after all this information about Registered Nurses and Nursing Practitioners, you still are not sure which one you would like to be, let’s have a deeper look as some other aspects of the two jobs. How about your personality? What sort of person should you be to become a Registered Nurse? Think back to the last time you went to visit someone in hospital – what was the atmosphere like, how were the nurses? You might say that the overall feeling of the wards is of calmness and peace, they are quiet and restful. And the nurses seem to glide around on those shiny floors as if they are skiing on them. They move soundlessly, don’t they? The quietness in a hospital is so conducive to healing. And there is absolutely nothing you have to worry about when you are in hospital. The nurses take such good care of you: they are gentle, caring and patient. Being a nurse is about caring for other people and putting their needs above yours. If you decide to be a registered nurse, then what character traits should you have? ● Good listener – communication skills ● Empathetic – feel sympathy for patients ● Considerate – able to work in a group ● Neat and tidy – able to think out the box ● Accurate – pay attention to details ● Reliable – can solve problems ● Ethical – patience with the patients. Related: Cover Letter Dos and Don'ts A nursing practitioner must have more or less these same characteristics. You are working in the same environment, so you can share your skills with one another and support each other. So here is your personality if you want to become a nursing practitioner: ● Diagnosis skills – working out problems ● Empathetic – computer-literate ● Sensitive – know your patient’s needs ● Reliable – be able to work in a team and on your own ● Communication – be able to take the lead ● Amiable – good interaction with staff and patients ● Good listening skills – always put your patient first
Conclusion Whether you decide to become a Registered Nurse or a Nursing Practitioner, there are some things that stay the same no matter where you are in the medical hierarchy. Let’s agree that a good nurse must have sound experience and literally, knowledge on tap, to be able to feel confident and able to cope. This comes from the years you have spent studying for your degree or your diploma. Then from your first days in a ward, you absorb everything you see and learn – there is nothing like on the job experience. This is where you learn to keep your mouth shut and your ears open – soak up all the knowledge you have access to. The exceptional nurse is the one the doctors ask for advice as a peer. She / He asks the questions, finds out why and why not. They weigh up the consequences of a diagnosis and this or that form of treatment in conjunction with the symptoms the patient is presenting. They make an informed decision. Are you an exceptional RN or an exceptional NP? Related: Skilled Nurse Donna Lee-Phillips, RN, to Be Published in the Worldwide Leaders in Healthcare Please follow us on Facebook, Linkedin, Pinterest and Twitter