what is the major differences between an md and a nurse practitioner?

GilaRRT · Jul 23, 2007

MD: Medical Doctor/Physician

NP: Registered Nurse

Yes, it is that simple. A Nurse practitioner is an RN and a MD is a physician. APN's are RN's that receive advanced level education and can apply the nursing process at a more advanced level.

woody62, RN · Jul 23, 2007

About two more years in school and a residency from 3 to 5 years, for an MD. NP, two years in graduate school, several years of basic nursing experience.

Woody

iamcool · Jul 23, 2007

MD: Medical Doctor/Physician
NP: Registered Nurse
Yes, it is that simple. A Nurse practitioner is an RN and a MD is a physician. APN's are RN's that receive advanced level education and can apply the nursing process at a more advanced level.

i knew that. :rolleyes: i think i read somewhere that np's can prescribe medicine, diagnose, etc, so i was just wondering like how much more can a md do than a np. and what other things does a md do that np's don't. it just seemed to me that np's do basically what md's do, except they don't go to school for as long.

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · Jul 23, 2007

i knew that. i think i read somewhere that np's can prescribe medicine, diagnose, etc, so i was just wondering like how much more can a md do than a np. and what other things does a md do that np's don't. it just seemed to me that np's do basically what md's do, except they don't go to school for as long.

An MD can have a completely solo practice. An NP cannot. An MD practices medicine, an NP practices advanced nursing. While mostly autonomous, an NP must be affiliated with an MD, who would "supervise" and be a resource person for more complicated cases, second opinions, etc. I'm sure there's more, but that's the nutshell for me.

SonicnurseRN · Jul 23, 2007

NP's have restrictions also on what kind of Rx's they can write. They can't prescribe controlled substances like Xanax for example.

deeDawntee, RN · Jul 23, 2007

About $150,000 and an ego to match!!!! hehe

:lol2: :lol2: :lol2:

richardjboro1 · Jul 23, 2007

I'll have to take issue with the above post about autonomy. NP's can and do have solo practices in several states that I'm aware of. Also, NP's can prescribe and can even bill medicare for their services in some places.

Richard

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Jul 23, 2007

I'm rather surprised nobody mentioned that NPs cannot perform appendectomies, amputate necrotic extremities, perform total hip replacements, and so forth. In other words, NPs have not been trained to complete complex surgical procedures. However, certain types of advance practice nurses perform very simple surgeries (for instance, the nurse midwife who does an episiotomy, or the FNP who removes a bunion using sharp debridement). Also, I know a dermatologic NP who removes growths from patients' skin via simple surgeries.

RN4NICU, LPN, LVN · Jul 23, 2007

NP's have restrictions also on what kind of Rx's they can write. They can't prescribe controlled substances like Xanax for example.

This is not true in every state.

azor · Jul 23, 2007

MD/physician,NP/Registered nurse.Tho they do partially same thing,Its much difference than u can match.not to talk of the years in Studies.I mean residency and all what not.

Azor

txspadequeenRN, BSN, RN · Jul 23, 2007

any np i have worked with has been able to write for xanax , ativan..etc if they couldn't i would have lots less hair . however, they cannot write for medications that require triplicates. it has been my experience though that they can adjust the dose once the script is already in progress...

np's have restrictions also on what kind of rx's they can write. they can't prescribe controlled substances like xanax for example.