What is the difference between registered nurse and nurse practitioner?

Answer 1

A nurse practitioner has additional schooling, typically a Master's degree or higher. This enables the NP to work more independently and see her own client's while working under the supervision of a physician. They can prescribe medications, do additional testing and do yearly physical exams on patients.

A registered nurse, works as part of a health care team, so they can't prescribe medication to patients and typically report to the client's practitioner for any changes in their status.