What is the difference between a nurse practitioner and a physician assistant?
Two popular alternatives to becoming a physician have been Physician Assistant (PA) and Nurse Practitioner (NP) programs. Both positions are usually obtained after completing advanced training, generally a two-year program. Each specialty provides the opportunity to see individual patients and to provide basic clinical health care. Both offer the opportunity to prescribe medications (depending upon state regulations), and order diagnostic tests in the treatment of their patients. What is the difference? While the professions have similarities, they are also diverse tracks of health care and have differing underlying philosophies to training and practice. The greatest difference between the two fields is an underlying philosophy toward patients and disease. PA’s come out of and are trained in a medical model. Their training is very similar to that of a physician because, from the outset, they were seen as an extension of the physician, not as a replacement for the physician or as a diff
What is the difference between a Nurse Practitioner (NP) and a PA? According to the American College of Nurse Practitioners (ACNP), “While NPs and PAs often perform similar functions, there are important distinctions between these health care professionals. PAs work under the supervision of a physician. They must meet the entrance requirements of a PA program, but that does not necessarily include a background in medicine or nursing. In contrast, NPs may work independently or in collaboration with a physician and must have an RN license before being accepted into an NP educational program.” Note: the AAPA’s definition of the duty of PAs states “Physician assistants are health care professionals licensed to practice medicine with physician supervision”. The distinction between under and with was made to note that much of the PAs work is done without direct physician supervision. In addition, the entrance requirements for nearly all PA programs require a background of patient focused hea
NP and PA are two different professions. PAs are taught in a similar fashion to medical students however the schooling is shorter. NPs are nurses first so their approach is from a nursing perspective not a medical one. PAs work under the supervision of a physician however many of us work independently (we don’t follow orders as many think, and are independent thinkers). NPs have some more autonomy. PAs can work in any specialty and can move between specialties. NPs choose a specialty (mostly primary care like geriatrics, peds, or family medicine) and stick with it. In terms of salary it depends on where you work and what specialty. NPs do tend to make a little more money. An NP cannot work as a PA and a PA cannot work as an NP. If you really want to be a PA maybe you should reconsider and move somewhere that has a PA program. Best of luck!
