Show You’ve probably heard that nursing jobs are hot right now. And it’s true. But even within the general nursing world there are tons of specialties, so it’s important to know who does what before you commit to the career path. There are emergency nurses, pediatric nurses, travel nurses, nursing assistants, etc. You name the health care specialty, there’s probably a specific type of nurse attached. But what about nursing jobs that aren’t as clear? If you’re not yet super-familiar with different kinds of nurses, you may hear “registered nurse” and “nurse practitioner” and think that the terms are interchangeable. After all, both types of nurses work with patients to monitor their health and provide direct medical care. Let’s walk through how to tell the difference between these two important nursing careers. Prescribing medicineNurse practitioners have greater flexibility when it comes to prescribing medicine and performing duties normally handled by physicians. Licensed nurse practitioners are legally able to prescribe medications and have greater flexibility in diagnosing and treating illnesses. Registered nurses cannot prescribe medications and often work under the direction of a physician when it comes to determining patient care and follow-up. Work environmentNurse practitioners often work in more private practice-style settings like community clinics, government agencies, nonprofits, or educational settings. A nurse practitioner may take on more of a physician-style in a clinical setting. Registered nurses typically work in hospitals or surgical clinics. Because of the nature of private clinics vs. the realities of working in a hospital, nurse practitioners often have more standard hours, while registered nurses work a greater variety of shifts. Level of educationRegistered nurses usually need a bachelor’s degree in nursing to get started in the field, but nurse practitioners typically hold a master’s degree or higher. This makes nurse practitioner a logical next step for nurses who’ve been in the field for a while and want to take on more of an independent leadership role. But it can also mean additional investment of time and resources in an additional degree, so it’s important to consider whether becoming a nurse practitioner is truly what you want to do. SalaryBecause of the additional education and training for nurse practitioners, salaries tend to be higher for nurse practitioners than registered nurses on average. Per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, registered nurses make a median annual salary of $68,450 per year, while nurse practitioners take home a median annual salary of $100,910. If you’re thinking about a career in nursing, both nurse practitioner and registered nurse have the potential to be great, fulfilling career options. And if you’re not sure yet which one would better suit your career goals, we have a quiz for you to help figure out your next steps. Good luck! Want More Content Like This? Get TheJobNetwork's Latest Career Advice & You may also likeAbout the authorKate LopazeKate Lopaze is a writer, editor, and digital publishing professional based in New York City. A graduate of the University of Connecticut and Emerson College with degrees in English and publishing, she is passionate about books, baseball, and pop culture (though not necessarily in that order), and lives in Brooklyn with her dog. There are more than 400,000 nurses across Canada.Aug 26 2021 3 minute read  There are four main categories of nurses in Canada. GETTY Anyone who has spent any amount of time in a hospital understands how integral nurses are. They are the lifeblood of any hospital and the engine that makes the healthcare machine run. But nurses do a lot more than just work in hospitals. In fact, there are dozens of specialities in nursing that provide a range of health services from counselling and teaching to long-term or palliative care. All nurses fall into four main categories in Canada, Registered Nurses (RNs), Nurse Practitioners (NPs), Registered Practical Nurses or Licensed Practical Nurses (RPNs or LPNs), and Registered Psychiatric Nurses (RPNs). There are more than 400,000 regulated nurses across the country. Let’s look at what the differences are and what specialties fall within each category. Registered Nurses (RNs) RNs handle a wide variety of tasks and can do anything from administering care for patients and assisting doctors to recording medical history, monitoring symptoms and working with families and patients in many different settings. RNs deliver direct care to people in all types of medical situations at all stages of life. ADVERTISEMENT AdvertisementRNs (as well as NPs, RPNs and LPNs) can be certified through the Canadian Nurses Association in any of 22 different areas to gain extra knowledge or expertise in specific areas of medicine. RNs can certify in more than twenty specialities, including in the areas of cardiovascular health, hospice and neonatal care as well as mental health and rehabilitation. Nurse Practitioners (NPs) In 2020, there were more than 6,000 NPs across Canada. According to the Canadian Institute of Health Information , just eight per cent of NPs are males. Registered Practical Nurses or Licensed Practical Nurses (RPNs or LPNs) ADVERTISEMENT AdvertisementThere were more than 130,000 LPN/RPNs in Canada as of 2020 , and this group makes up the second largest number of nurses across the country. Becoming an LPN/RPN requires the least amount of education as RNs or NPs and people pursuing this path can enter the work force after completing a diploma program in practical nursing and passing a standardized exam. Because they don’t have the same level of education as other types of nurses, LPN/RPNs tend to be placed with more stable patients in uncomplicated conditions. Some specific duties might include things like changing bandages, speaking with families of patients or taking blood pressure readings. According to the Canadian Institute of Health Information , these types of nurses also make up the largest portion of part-time workers. They also make up the largest proportion (59 per cent) of nurses working in long-term care. Registered Psychiatric Nurses (RPNs) ADVERTISEMENT AdvertisementAccording to the Registered Psychiatric Nurse Regulators of Canada , RPNs focus on “mental developmental health, mental illness and addictions while integrating physical healthcare and utilizing bio-psycho-social and spiritual models for a holistic approach to care.” Psychiatric nursing focuses a great deal on illness prevention, rehabilitation, recovery, emotion, behaviour and cognition. In addition to these four regulated streams of nursing, nurses can specialize in other areas such as clinical studies nursing (observing and interviewing patients for research), midwife nursing (assisting mothers who wish to give birth at home), education (working in hospitals or schools training other nurses) or travel nursing (going to different locations for temporary assignments). ADVERTISEMENT AdvertisementADVERTISEMENT AdvertisementADVERTISEMENT AdvertisementAnyone who has spent any amount of time in a hospital understands how integral nurses are. They are the lifeblood of any hospital and the engine that makes the healthcare machine run. But nurses do a lot more than just work in hospitals. In fact, there are dozens of specialities in nursing that provide a range of health services from counselling and teaching to long-term or palliative care. All nurses fall into four main categories in Canada, Registered Nurses (RNs), Nurse Practitioners (NPs), Registered Practical Nurses or Licensed Practical Nurses (RPNs or LPNs), and Registered Psychiatric Nurses (RPNs). There are more than 400,000 regulated nurses across the country. Let’s look at what the differences are and what specialties fall within each category. Registered Nurses (RNs) RNs handle a wide variety of tasks and can do anything from administering care for patients and assisting doctors to recording medical history, monitoring symptoms and working with families and patients in many different settings. RNs deliver direct care to people in all types of medical situations at all stages of life. ADVERTISEMENT AdvertisementRNs (as well as NPs, RPNs and LPNs) can be certified through the Canadian Nurses Association in any of 22 different areas to gain extra knowledge or expertise in specific areas of medicine. RNs can certify in more than twenty specialities, including in the areas of cardiovascular health, hospice and neonatal care as well as mental health and rehabilitation. Nurse Practitioners (NPs) In 2020, there were more than 6,000 NPs across Canada. According to the Canadian Institute of Health Information , just eight per cent of NPs are males. Registered
Practical Nurses or Licensed Practical Nurses (RPNs or LPNs) ADVERTISEMENT AdvertisementThere were more than 130,000 LPN/RPNs in Canada as of 2020 , and this group makes up the second largest number of nurses across the country. Becoming an LPN/RPN requires the least amount of education as RNs or NPs and people pursuing this path can enter the work force after completing a diploma program in practical nursing and passing a standardized exam. Because they don’t have the same level of education as other types of nurses, LPN/RPNs tend to be placed with more stable patients in uncomplicated conditions. Some specific duties might include things like changing bandages, speaking with families of patients or taking blood pressure readings. According to the Canadian Institute of Health Information , these types of nurses also make up the largest portion of part-time workers. They also make up the largest proportion (59 per cent) of nurses working in long-term care. Registered Psychiatric Nurses (RPNs) ADVERTISEMENT AdvertisementAccording to the Registered Psychiatric Nurse Regulators of Canada , RPNs focus on “mental developmental health, mental illness and addictions while integrating physical healthcare and utilizing bio-psycho-social and spiritual models for a holistic approach to care.” Psychiatric nursing focuses a great deal on illness prevention, rehabilitation, recovery, emotion, behaviour and cognition. In addition to these four regulated streams of nursing, nurses can specialize in other areas such as clinical studies nursing (observing and interviewing patients for research), midwife nursing (assisting mothers who wish to give birth at home), education (working in hospitals or schools training other nurses) or travel nursing (going to different locations for temporary assignments). |
The difference between a nurse and a nurse practitioner
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