What is the difference between a physician assistant and a nurse practitioner?
They have similar roles but the nurse practitioner has a nursing background and has completed a two to three year NP program. They often specialize. Physician Assistants, also called Clinical Assistants, must have a four-year undergraduate degree usually in health-sciences. The two-year program includes intensive clinical training. PAs work under the direction of physicians and NPs can work independently. For more details go to http://www.npcanada.ca and http://www.caopa.net/ .
From American Academy Of Physician Assistants (AAPA): Physician Assistants (PA) are health care professionals licensed to practice medicine with physician supervision. As part of their comprehensive responsibilities, PA’s conduct physical exams, diagnose and treat illnesses, order and interpret tests, counsel on preventive health care, assist in surgery, and in virtually all states can write prescriptions. Within the physician- PA relationship, physician assistants exercise autonomy in medical decision making and provide a broad range of diagnostic and therapeutic services. A PA’s practice may also include education, research, and administrative services. From American College of Nurse Practitioners (ACNP): A nurse practitioner (NP) is a registered nurse with advanced academic and clinical experience, which enables him or her to diagnose and manage illnesses, either independently or as part of a health care team. A nurse practitioner provides care previously offered only by physicians
Physicians and Physician Assistants (PAs) are focused on the cellular aspects of health care (i.e., the disease and its diagnosis), whereas nursing is very psycho-social, dealing with the patient’s mind, body, and spirit. A nurse practitioner (NP) is a nurse with a master’s degree. NPs can open their own practice independent of a physician or hospital, prescribe medicine in all 50 states, and do minor surgery. A PA cannot prescribe medicine independently of a physician and cannot open his/her own practice. If you are unsure of what career route to choose, try to shadow both a PA and an NP.
A By now you should know that physician assistants are trained in a classical medical tradition. They can work in any field of medicine and can always change fields whenever desired. Nurse practitioners are registered nurses that get more advanced training in nursing. During their training they focus on one area and that is the area that they work in. This is in contrast to physician assistants, as said earlier, who don’t focus on one area. Also be aware that nurse practitioners and physician assistants interact with physicians in a different way. Nurse practitioners typically refer patients requiring specialized care to a doctor. Physician assistants work hand in hand with doctors and can do the same things. The doctor or physician just makes sure that quality care is being provided. SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: “Frequently Asked Questions about Physician Assistants”, url: “http://www.lifeofapa.com/?
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