Show Whether they are a registered nurse taking a patient’s vital signs or a physician prescribing a much-needed medication, every health care worker plays an important role. In today’s health care system, nurse practitioners (NPs) and doctors of medicine (MDs) have important roles that often intersect. When comparing the two roles, NP vs. MD, it’s clear they have many similarities. For example, both NPs and MDs work in health care facilities such as hospitals, clinics, and private practices. Additionally, NPs and MDs do many of the same patient care tasks, especially in states where NPs have full practice authority. Although nurse practitioners and doctors work in the same environments, treat many of the same patients, and perform several overlapping duties in patient care, the roles definitely have distinct differences. Specifically, the differences lie in education, salary, and job roles and responsibilities. For instance, a doctor would complete a four-year medical program to become either a doctor of osteopathic medicine (DO) or an MD, while an NP would need to complete a Master of Science in Nursing program. Additionally, aspiring NPs have the option to select a specialty for their master’s program. Some common choices include family care, pediatrics, and psychiatric mental health care. NP vs. MD — Job Role and ResponsibilitiesAlthough NPs and MDs both deliver patient care, there are some key differences regarding how they can and cannot treat patients. Medical doctors have full practice authority in every state, which means they have the ability to:
NPs, on the other hand, will either have full practice authority, reduced practice authority, or restricted practice authority, depending on the state they work in. Practice authorities for NPs break down as follows:
In addition to the differences in responsibilities, one other big difference when making the NP vs. MD comparison is the medical models each follows. Nurse practitioners follow the nursing model, a holistic form of patient care that emphasizes the psychosocial impact of a diagnosis on a patient. By comparison, MDs follow the medical model, which focuses purely on treating the patient’s disease or illness. Neither model is deemed superior or inferior. They are simply different approaches. NP vs. MD — Education and CertificationEducation and certification are other areas where NPs and MDs greatly differ. The steps to becoming an NP break down as follows:
By comparison, an MD has a completely different educational journey. The main steps to become a medical doctor break down as follows:
NP vs. MD — Salary and Job OutlookTwo other important considerations in the NP vs. MD comparison are salary and job outlook. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), nurse practitioners had a median annual salary of $111,700 in 2020. By comparison, the BLS reports that physicians and surgeons had a median annual salary greater than $208,000 in 2020. Regarding job outlook, the BLS projects the number of jobs for NPs will grow by 52% between 2020 and 2030. This is significantly faster than the average job growth of 8% projected for all occupations. By comparison, jobs for MDs are projected to grow by 3% over the same time period, which is slower than average. The takeaway is that although the salary potential is much higher for MDs, currently the demand is far greater for NPs. Begin Your Journey to an Advanced Career in Health CareBecoming either an NP or an MD can provide an individual with the opportunity to offer patients essential health care services and make the world a better place. Both careers pay well and are projected to keep growing in the coming years. However, the role of NP will grow substantially faster, according to the BLS. With the high demand for NPs, there has never been a better time to become a leader in nursing. For those aspiring to become an NP, the best first step is to enroll in a degree program that can develop the knowledge and skills required to make a difference as a nurse practitioner. Discover how Hawai‘i Pacific University’s Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program can help students reach their career goals as an NP with specializations such as family nurse practitioner, psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner, and adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioner. Take the first step toward your career goals. Recommended Reading: Burnout vs. Compassion Fatigue in Nursing The Importance of a Nurse’s Role in Patient Safety Trauma Nursing in Vacation Cities Sources: American Association of Nurse Practitioners, State Practice Environment CVS Pharmacy, What Is the Difference Between a Medical Doctor and a Nurse Practitioner? Incredible Health, “Nurse Practitioner vs. Doctor: What’s the Difference?” Indeed, “Nurse Practitioner vs. Doctor: What’s the Difference?” Link PAs, “Nursing Model vs. Medical Model (Similarities & Differences)” U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Nurse Anesthetists, Nurse Midwives, and Nurse Practitioners U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Physicians and Surgeons |