I've always wanted to know what the difference is

Nope...one is a Medical Doctor and the other has either a Masters or a Doctorate degree in Nursing...a Masters degree is much more common to find.

between an NP and a general practice/family practice MD?

I always got the impression that they're very similar.

Or maybe it's just my continuing confusion about what the NP role is.

Maybe you are wondering what the difference is as far as what one is able to do versus the other? I think in situations where the FNP is most autonomous, he/she can function very much like a Family Practice MD. Would others agree?

Maybe you are wondering what the difference is as far as what one is able to do versus the other? I think in situations where the FNP is most autonomous, he/she can function very much like a Family Practice MD. Would others agree?

Yes, as far as what we do in daily practice, the roles are similar, although with some differences in our underlying philosophy.

Dana

Yes, as far as what we do in daily practice, the roles are similar, although with some differences in our underlying philosophy.

Dana

That's what I figured.

Which means no NP for me....never wanted a doctor's role or anything like it.

UHM.....I may sound like the dumbest bimbo there is, but can someone tell me the difference between a CNS and an NP? What degrees do they both have? Thanks for the attention!

That's what I figured.

Which means no NP for me....never wanted a doctor's role or anything like it.

Just curious... are you not interested in the NP because it's similar to the MD role in Family Practice? Or other reasons?

I'm finishing up my FNP degree and don't have any interest in working within the Family setting... just not stimulating for my needs. However, I know I can work within specialty areas and plan on doing so.

Just curious... are you not interested in the NP because it's similar to the MD role in Family Practice? Or other reasons?

I'm finishing up my FNP degree and don't have any interest in working within the Family setting... just not stimulating for my needs. However, I know I can work within specialty areas and plan on doing so.

Why not go the ACNP route, then? Just curious....

Why not go the ACNP route, then? Just curious....

A little late for that. I graduate in 7 months. No school will take all my transfer credits and the school I attend doesn't have the ACNP. Believe me. I've looked.

Just curious... are you not interested in the NP because it's similar to the MD role in Family Practice? Or other reasons?

The first reason...I think of MDs as specialists in the pathophysiology of disease, and NPs appear to be the same.

I'd rather have a broader, more holistic focus, something I think you see more with nursing.

I'd rather have a broader, more holistic focus, something I think you see more with nursing.

Nursing IDEALS encompass holistic care. Generally, in nursing education, there's explicit emphasis on this - so for that reason, nursing education might appeal to you more. The REALITY is that many nursing roles demand prioritization of patient needs and often the less immediately life-threatening needs don't get addressed as thoroughly as one would hope. For example, traditionally NPs had more time to spend with patients and could use their added awareness of holistic care (and relatively cheaper billing time) to address patient needs that the physician was less likely to address. But as NPs are pushed to see more patients in less time, they may end up being pressured to just treat immediate concerns and rush on to the next patient. Meanwhile, there's no reason physicians can't choose to take a more holistic view of their patients (given the time and resources available).