Hillary Murray, CRNP Talks About the Role of Your Advanced Practitioner

Don Scott and Hillary Scott Murray, CRNP, MBA, GBMC Director of Advanced Practitioners, answered a question many of us have: "What is the role of an Advanced Practitioner and Nurse Practitioner?"

Do you know what the difference is between an advanced practitioner, a nurse practitioner, and a physician’s assistant?

Advanced practitioner is a broader term for an nurse practitioner (NP) or a physician’s assistant (PA). These healthcare professionals provide primary care services in inpatient and outpatient settings as well as prescribe medications, similar to a physician.

So, what’s the difference?

An nurse practitioner requires a master’s degree in nursing. An NP education is built under the nursing model and is managed under the board of nursing. Many NPs go back to achieve a master’s degree in a variety of clinical areas such as acute care, adult and family health, neonatal medicine, among other specialties. A PA is managed under the board of medicine and their education and training is built under the medical model. PAs must have a supervising physician in order to see patients and write prescriptions.

Nurse practitioners, however, have more independence in patient care and have the ability to run their own practices and prescribe medication without the need for physician oversight. Instead, nurse practitioners typically have a collaborating physician.

“With the increasing stress on the healthcare system, advanced practitioners play an important role in delivering high quality, patient-centered care,” explains Murray.

Learn more about the growing role of the advanced practitioner as well as the many opportunities available for individuals interested in pursuing advanced degrees and beginning a rewarding career in health care.