What is the primary difference between collaborative practice and independent practice for NPs?

The primary difference between collaborative practice and independent practice for nurse practitioners (NPs) lies in the nature of their professional interactions and the level of autonomy they possess in their roles. Collaborative practice is characterized by NPs working alongside other healthcare professionals as part of a team. This team-based approach focuses on comprehensive patient care, integrating various expertise to improve health outcomes and facilitate shared decision-making.

In contrast, independent practice provides NPs with the autonomy to operate without the direct supervision of other healthcare professionals. This means they can perform assessments, diagnoses, and treatments independently, relying solely on their clinical training and judgment.

The other options illustrate aspects of the practices that don't accurately convey the core difference. For example, the idea that collaborative practice has NPs work alone contradicts the essence of collaboration, which is about teamwork. Also, while independent practice can be more comprehensive in terms of scope, it does not necessarily restrict the procedures in collaborative practice to certain limits. The cost comparison between the two models is irrelevant in defining the primary difference and doesn't address the fundamental concepts of autonomy versus teamwork.