Salary Comparison
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), in 2020, the average pay for registered nurses was $80,010, while nurse practitioners’ earned an average of $117,670 per year.
Role and Training Comparison
This study concluded that nurse practitioners performed as well as physicians in all areas of primary care delivery and patient outcomes. ARNPs complete either a master’s or doctoral degree program. They receive advanced clinical training beyond that of a registered nurse. ARNPs also complete national certification, periodic peer review, clinical outcome evaluations and adhere to a code for ethical practices.