Pursuing a career as a caregiver is undoubtedly rewarding and overwhelming, but it comes with a lot of doubts when you have to select your ideal path for work. Especially when it’s about determining the type of advanced degree that you want to obtain you should always be very clear. People need clarification about working as an APRN vs NP.
Nursing and healthcare are widely respected fields worldwide and offer a vast range of scope for passionate individuals. If you want to explore other options in Healthcare And Nursing, you can check College Evently, where we give you information on different options that are available for healthcare professionals and nurses.
Before you decide on a career in nursing, it is necessary that you know APRN vs NP.
Though both of them hold advanced certifications and degrees in their area of expertise, there is a thin line in between that makes them both different from each other.
What Is An APRN?
According to the US nursing portal, an APRN is an RN who has earned a graduation-level degree along with training in any of the four following roles.
Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNSS)
They diagnose and treat the ongoing management of patients and provide support and expertise to nurses. For best patient outcomes, they make sure to use best practices and evidence-based care.
Nurse Midwives (NMS)
They provide primary care needed in the gynecological department. They provide prenatal and postnatal care, educate mothers, and access delivery.
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAS)
They administer anesthesia and manage pain.
Nurse Practitioner (NP)
They provide acute, primary, and special healthcare facilities in hospitals and clinic setups.
What Is An NP?
According to the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP), an NP is a collaborative and autonomous clinician who employs expertise in identifying and managing health conditions as well as health management and disease prevention.
They are primary care providers who are organized and independent APRNs who work closely with their patients.
APRN vs NP
Regardless of which career you choose, both roles offer great opportunities for practicing nurses to advance their careers. Go for the option that not only allows you to excel professionally but also gives you the satisfaction of achieving your dream goal.
Though both of them work in the same hospital or clinic setups, they serve different roles and have distinct educational and career tracks.
Differences In Duties And Responsibility
A public health practitioner provides basic primary care to patients, such as diagnosing acute and chronic illnesses, ordering and reviewing diagnostic tests, reviewing and analyzing the patient’s data, creating treatment plans, and performing physical assessments.
The responsibilities of an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse depend upon the role or specialty that they prefer. A Certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA) is responsible for administering anesthesia and other medicines and observing and analyzing the patient. Clinical nurse specialists (CNS) develop healthcare policies, procedures, and practices to provide support and consultation to registered nurses. Nurse midwives (NMs) have the duty of providing prenatal and postnatal care, delivering newborns, educating new parents, and treating sexually transmitted diseases.
Differences In Certifications And Education
NPs or nursing practitioners are mostly the primary healthcare providers. The job needs at least a master’s degree and certification in the area of specialty with a minimum GPA of 3.0 and a current and unencumbered RN license.
You need to earn your Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) or Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) to start a career that can be advanced by earning a Bachelor’s in Nursing (BSN) or an associate degree.
Just like the previously mentioned program, APRN also requires a current and unencumbered RN license along with an MSN or DNP degree. They also need to have specialization in one of the four roles, including Nurse practitioner (NP), clinical nurse specialist (CNS), nurse midwife (NM), and certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA). To start your practice, you also need to pass the National Board of Certification for Registered Nurse Anesthetists (NBCRNA).
Once you are qualified for the role, you can apply for the job through the US nursing portal and find the best job for yourself.
Recently, a new scope, e-nursing, has gained quite a lot of highlights as it represents innovative approaches that can be used for education and comes with the potential to support professional practice throughout the institution.
Good education does not come easily. With the increase in tuition fees and other educational resources, many students are unable to complete their education. At College Evently, we connect you with your desired college and institutes within seconds. To aid your public health education, you can always apply for grants to release the financial burden that comes with it. Apply now to receive your Nursing Educational Grants.
Differences In Annual Salary
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual salary for nurse practitioners is $121,610, with the top NP earning up to $165,240 and the bottom earning $87,340. It has a projected job growth of 44.5%.
For the Advanced Practice Registered Nurse, a certified nursing midwife has a median annual salary of $120,880 with 6.4% projected job growth. A Nurse anesthetist receives a median annual salary of $203,090 with a projected job growth of 9%.
