Rn vs Np

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Could someone please help me in detail, what is the difference between a nurse and a nurse practioner.

For one thing i know np can diagnose and prescribe medicine and Rn can't. Please help.. thanks in advance and god bless

Specializes in Critical Care, Postpartum.

SirI, thanks for sharing with us a glimpse of what you do. My future goal is to become a FNP, and hope I'm capable of knowing as much as you when I get there.

Edit: Don't know how I ended up responding to a thread from 2005. LOL.

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Specializes in ER, ICU, Education.

Well you have to be an RN first (in most states) before becoming a NP. A NP is an RN with advanced education/training (most states now require a Masters degree) and increased responsibilities. An RN is at the bedside for 8 - 12 hr shifts in a setting such as a hospital - providing care and carrying out the physicians, NP, or PAs orders. An NP in a sense can function more like a physician in that they generally don't stay with the patient for an entire shift but "round" on them - which means visiting with them, assessing them, prescribing care - which might include medication, therapy or other interventions.

In other words the RN is in the trenches caring for the patient and the NP is like a sargent giving the orders and over seeing the care of the patient. Does that help?

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