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Nurse Practitioners. A Nurse Practitioner is a registered nurse (RN) who also has a Masterâs degree and clinical experience. The NP may work independently or as a member of a health care team. He or she helps to educate patients, with a focus on health maintenance, counseling, and disease prevention.
Differences Between RNs and NPs. The big difference between RNs and NPs is the degree of autonomy an NP is granted. While NPs are required to work under the auspices of a physician, in many states, NPs may diagnose and treat patients in an independent location, without the constant vigilance of a physician.