As revealed by Spain, DeCristofaro and Smith (2004), the difference between registered nurse (RN) and nurse practitioner (NP) is the autonomy level that is given to NPs as well as the required level of education. The modern primary care environment has changed significantly; most graduates of NP programs are required to practice in multifaceted environments. In fact, unlike the role of RNs, their role has been expanded to include the care practices which were previously understood to be within physician practice domain. RNs act as liaisons between the doctor and the patient. They often assume an individualistic approach to care since they spend quality one-on-one time with people within medical systems (Royal, 2016).
Nursing practitioners, on the other hand, have greater roles; they often perform roles which are outside the RN’s job profile. Most notably, they can make diagnoses, issue prescription and advance patients’ treatment plans. NPs, still assume the same holistic technique like RNs in caring for individuals, analyzing their health history and determining the best treatment options and lifestyle, performing physical examination and delivering individualized interventions (Royal, 2016). However, unlike RNs, their fulfillment of the role of NP depends on the attainment of empirical knowledge like physiology, immediate treatment interventions and the disease’s science (Spain, DeCristofaro & Smith, 2004). In essence, to be a NP, one should earn a graduate degree in nursing or anything higher; particularly Master of Science in Nursing or Doctor of Nursing Practice. To adequately prepare for the NP role, individuals should also recognize the blurring precincts between medicine and nursing and should accept that clinical practice requires similar competencies as well as share communication strategies (Spain, DeCristofaro & Smith, 2004). That is, NPs are required to effectively communicate with their colleagues within the health care setting.
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References
Royal, P. L. (2016). Today's health professions: Working together to provide quality care . Philadelphia, PA : F.A. Davis Company
Spain, M. P., DeCristofaro, C., & Smith, C. A. (2004). Educating advanced practice nurses for collaborative practice in the multidisciplinary provider team. Journal of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners , 16 (12), 535-546.
