The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicts that far more nurse practitioners will be needed to care for an aging baby boom generation and to replace nurses who leave the profession due to retirement or burnout. In fact, the BLS projects 52% job growth for nurse practitioners between 2020 and 2030, a figure significantly higher than the 8% growth projected for all professions. This opportunity makes becoming a nurse practitioner more appealing than ever. Nurse practitioners are highly skilled and can possess years of on-the-job experience, and they can provide a high level of care that can potentially improve patient outcomes. It may appear that the duties they perform are similar to those of a doctor, but they don’t quite align. For potential students seeking to advance their careers by earning a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), understanding the distinctions between nurse practitioner versus doctor roles is crucial.

What Does a Nurse Practitioner Do?

Also known as advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs), nurse practitioners record patient symptoms, conduct physical exams and diagnostic tests, diagnose health issues, and analyze test results. Nurse practitioners can also work with patients to build effective health and wellness strategies. In some cases, they can conduct medical research. They can provide general care, or they can funnel their practice toward a specific demographic or concept, such as adult gerontology acute care. Nurse practitioners are essential to clinics and hospitals. Often serving as anchors for the patients in their care and guiding lights for their peers, they can be magnificent leaders, fluent in empathy and bedside care. The nurse is often the first to tend to a patient’s concerns and assists in executing treatment.

What Does a Doctor Do?

Doctors diagnose and treat patient illnesses and injuries through examinations, diagnostic tests, medical history analysis and medication prescription. They also address a patient’s health maintenance through topics such as preventive care, hygiene and diet, and they can design and implement patient-specific treatment plans. Additionally, they can address a wide number of health concerns a patient may have. Doctors can focus on a specific type of practice. This focus can be built around a subspecialty of patient health. For example, cardiologists focus on conditions relating to the heart and blood vessels, while dermatologists treat diseases relating to the skin, hair and nails. Whether a person aspires to be a nurse practitioner or a doctor, the quintessential mission of all who work in health care is the same: to deliver the best care to all patients.