Are you interested in pursuing a career as a nurse practitioner, but aren't sure if it's the right fit for you?
Or maybe you're thinking about changing careers and want to learn more about becoming a doctor. Whatever the case, becoming and being a nurse practitioner is often misunderstood by people unfamiliar with this healthcare role.
There is a difference between being a nurse practitioner and vs. doctor. These are two distinctly different roles that require two different educational training backgrounds and varying communication skills, experience, and comfort levels in dealing with patients.
There are many states where NPs can work independently without supervision. What is the difference between a doctor and a nurse practitioner? Let's take a closer look at some of the differences between doctors and NPs below.
1. Roles and Responsibilities:
NPs provide primary patient care; the responsibilities of a doctor revolve around more complicated diagnoses, specialty care, and treatment. NPs focus on the impact of diagnosis, while doctors focus mainly on the illness.
Nurse Practitioner Role:
- Provide comprehensive primary care to patients of all ages, from birth through the end of life.
- Take a holistic approach to health, including physical, mental, social, and spiritual aspects.
- Assess the health status of patients to diagnose and treat disease; provide preventive services; identify and manage risk factors for disease; educate patients about health maintenance and disease prevention.
- Prescribe medications, perform procedures, and create an environment for optimal patient outcomes.
- Evaluate, diagnose and treat acute and chronic illnesses
- Perform physical exams, take medical histories, order tests and make referrals
- Order medications and prescribe them to patients
- Consult with primary care physicians on a variety of cases
- Manage the care of patients with long-term conditions such as diabetes or heart disease
Doctor’s Role
- Conduct a physical exam and ask the patient questions to assess their symptoms
- Provide medical care to patients.
- Provide preventive care, which includes vaccinations and screenings.
- Diagnose and treat injuries, illnesses, and conditions.
- Prescribe medications, including narcotics, when necessary.
- Order tests, such as blood tests or imaging studies (X-rays), to help diagnose the cause of their symptoms
- Provide patient care that is safe, effective, and efficient
- Maintain confidentiality of patient information
- Develop and maintain professional relationships with a diverse group of patients, families, and health care providers
2. Autonomy and Prescription Authority
The difference between nurse practitioners and doctors is that NPs are not physicians and are not licensed to practice medicine as doctors and physicians do.
NPs can diagnose and treat patients, but need physician oversight to prescribe medications. NPs who work in local states cannot prescribe, diagnose, or treat patients without physician oversight or approval.
3. Common Practice Settings
For nurse practitioners
For Nurse Practitioners, common practice settings include:
- Inpatient and outpatient hospital clinics
- Psychiatric/mental health facilities
- Public health departments or agencies
In addition, NPs may work in private practices, nursing homes, schools (public or private), or other community-based settings.
For doctors
For Doctors, four common practice settings are listed by the American Medical Association:
- Private individual practices (75%)
- Private group practices with equity ownership (15%)
- Group clinics, hospitals, or healthcare systems (3%)
- Academic institutions (6%)
4. Salary Expectations
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics average salary of nurse practitioner and doctor are:
Nurse Practitioner
Doctor
5. Education Timeline
The time it takes for doctors to earn their degrees and license is more prolonged than programs.
Nurse Practitioner
- Undergraduate degree: Four-year bachelor's program
- Entrance exam: National Council Licensure Exam for RNs (NCLEX-RN)
- Graduate degree: Master's program (2-3 years)
- Practicums: Hours vary
- Licensure examination: Specialty board certification exam
- Total time: 6-7 years
Doctor (M.D. or D.O.)
- Undergraduate degree: Four-year bachelor's program
- Entrance exam: Medical College Admission Test (MCAT)
- Graduate degree: Four-year professional doctoral program (M.D. or D.O.)
- Residency: Three years
- Specialty certification: Optional
- Licensure examination: United States Medical Licensing Examination or Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensure Examination
- Total time: 11-15 years
What Are the Pros and Cons of Being a Nurse Practitioner vs. a Doctor?
Before moving on to the advantages of being a nurse practitioner, some people would list the next disadvantage: prestige. For some people, the title of “Doctor” is essential.
Nurse Practitioner
Pros
- You get to help people every day
- You get to be the expert
- Nurse practitioners can make a lot of money
Cons
- Nurse practitioners are expensive to hire, and they have a lot of education requirements
- Nurse practitioners don't get as much autonomy as doctors
Doctor
Pros
- You get to help people in their time of need
- You get to work with the most talented, compassionate people in the field
- You can be your boss and set your hours
- You can make a lot of money if you're good at what you do
Cons
- It's a challenging career with long hours, especially during residency when you're always on call.
- The pay isn't always great unless you're good at billing and collecting from patients.
- It's expensive to go through medical school and residency, so it takes a long time before you start making money
Conclusion
The truth is that these two positions have distinct advantages and disadvantages- and it's important to weigh them before deciding which is better for you and your circumstances.
So get educated, ask around, and do your homework. As you can see, there are many excellent NPs out there. Are you ready to finally make a decision? Good Luck!
If you are curious about how to become a nurse practitioner, click here!
FAQ's
Can you become a nurse practitioner or doctor online?
Yes, it is possible to become an NP online.
The certifications you need to become an NP are RN, BSN, and APRN. You can study for these at the same time as your NP certification.
However, there are no online programs for doctors, and you must complete all of your schooling offline.
Which is more stressful: nurse practitioner or doctor?
There is no absolute answer as to which position is more stressful. Both nurse practitioners and doctors have their own unique set of challenges and responsibilities. Still, many nurses find that the flexibility offered by NP positions helps them manage their work-life balance.
M.D.s are also typically in charge of overall decisions regarding a patient's care, which can increase stress and anxiety levels.
What can a doctor do that a nurse practitioner cannot?
A doctor can do things a nurse practitioner cannot do, such as prescribe medication.
NPs must receive doctor approval before prescribing medication.
When should patients see a nurse practitioner vs. a doctor?
It depends on the patient's needs, but generally, patients can expect to see an NP when they have:
- A routine checkup, such as for annual physicals or vaccinations
- Non-urgent issues that don't require immediate attention
- A specific condition that requires treatment or monitoring (such as diabetes)
