Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants are Advanced Health Professionals When They have similar responsibilities, such as diagnosing illness and prescribing medicine. However, the training and path towards certification are very different. This blog post will clarify the main differences between NP and PA and help you decide which career path her best suits her goals.
What is a Nurse Practitioner?
A Nurse Practitioner (NP) is a licensed clinician who provides comprehensive care to patients of all ages. NPs can work in nearly any healthcare setting, diagnosing patient conditions and prescribing medications. As of October 2022, nurse practitioners have full practice authority in 27 statesThis means you can practice independently without a doctor’s supervision.
Primary responsibilities of a nurse practitioner include:
- Diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic diseases
- Prescribing Medications, Treatments or Other Treatments
- general patient care
- Performing and interpreting diagnostic tests (e.g. X-rays, laboratory work)
- Educate patients about healthy lifestyle choices and disease prevention
- Counseling patients about their health care plans
- Other discipline-specific responsibilities
What is a Physician Assistant?
Physician Assistants (PAs) are licensed advanced care providers who provide many of the same clinical services as physicians working in primary care settings. These services include performing physical exams, diagnosing and treating illnesses, and prescribing medications.1
The primary responsibilities of a Physician Assistant are:2
- medical history
- Ordering and interpretation of clinical and diagnostic tests
- Conducting a physical examination
- Disease diagnosis and treatment
- Surgery aid
- Educate the patient about the treatment plan
NP and PA: Key Differences
The two most basic differences between NPs and PAs are the training they receive and the environment in which they work. Nurse practitioners are trained in advanced nursing practices and focus on specialized roles such as neonatal nurse practitioners. doctor’s assistantOn the other hand, I am educated in general medicine. Their training follows the medical model and covers all basic aspects of medicine and specialties.
difference in education
Both nurse practitioners and physician assistants must have a graduate degree, complete a rigorous schedule of clinical training, and be certified. The difference lies in the type of training and certification requirements.
To become a nurseyou need to complete the following steps:3
- To earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN): A full-time BSN program typically takes four years to complete.
- Pass NCLEX-RN. passage This examination requirement Practice as a registered nurse (RN) in your state. Upon passing the exam, you will receive your RN license.
- Earn a graduate degree: Requires one of Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) specializes in nurse practitioner roles such as Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP). In addition to coursework, NP programs typically include 500-650 hours of clinical training under the supervision of a preceptor.
- Become a Certified Nurse Practitioner (CNP): To become licensed as a nurse practitioner, you must take a national certification exam through one of five national certification boards.
- Recertification options: for certification renewal, nurse practitioner Must takes 100 hours continuing education 1,000 clinical hours every 5 years.
To become a doctor’s assistant, you must complete the following:Four
- Earn your master’s degree: Must graduate from an accredited PA program. Usually a Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies. Students must also complete at least 2,000 hours of supervised clinical practice in a variety of medical and surgical settings before graduation.
- Pass the Physician Assistant National Certification Examination (PANCE): Passing the PANCE exam, administered by the National Board for Accreditation of Physician Assistants (NCCCPA), will earn you a state license.
- Maintaining national certification: PAs must complete 100 hours of Continuing Medical Education (CME) every two years. You must recertify every 6 to 10 years.
Difference in working environment
Nurse practitioners and physician assistants work in primary care, acute care, and specialty care in a wide range of health care settings, including clinics, hospitals, nursing homes, VA facilities, correctional facilities, and community clinics.
PAs can serve as primary care providers, but typically must work under the direct supervision of a physician or surgeon. Scope of work of PA Varies by state and determined by state licensing requirements.
NPs are required to work under medical supervision in 11 states. However, 27 states and her two U.S. territories allow nurse practitioners to conduct their own practice with complete autonomy. (The remaining 16 states and US territories have intermediate regulations.)
Differences in specialties
There is also a legal distinction between nurse practitioners and physician assistants. NP works in different areas. Nursing specialty, Get a certification in a specialty that requires it. When an NP wishes to switch professional qualifications, such as switching from newborn to professional qualification family nurse practitioner, they need formal education and licensing for their new roles. For PAs, once licensed, you can switch specialties without the need for new certifications or additional vocational training.Five
NP and PA Career Outlook
Employment of both nurse practitioners and physician assistants is projected to grow over the next decade at a faster rate than average for other occupations.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 40% increase in the role of NPs and a 28% increase in the role of PAs between 2021 and 2031. again, US News & World Report ranks these occupations as the top two roles for 2022. Best Healthcare Jobs List of 2022.
PA vs NP salary
As of 2021, the average salary of a nurse is $123,780while the average salary of a physician assistant is $121,530Based on this BLS estimate, nurse practitioner salaries are slightly higher than physician assistant salaries, but not by much.
How to choose the right career path
Comparing educational requirements, work environments, and scope of practice can help you make career decisions. For example, NPs spend more time in inpatient bedside care. Physician assistants, on the other hand, may take up surgical specialties.6
Resources for Nurses
The following organizations provide access to professional development opportunities, events, and other benefits for nurse practitioners.
Resources for Physician Assistants
If you are pursuing a career as a Physician Assistant, these organizations offer opportunities to attend seminars, networking events, and professional development opportunities.
Whether you decide to pursue a career as an NP or PA, it’s reassuring to know that both are in high demand in the healthcare field. Both are rewarding roles that help patients live healthier, longer lives.
St. Augustine University Health Sciences (USAHS) Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), and nursing certificate after graduation Designed for working nurses. Our degrees are offered online, with optional on-campus immersion. family nurse practitioner (FNP), nurse educator,** When nurse executiveMSN gives you several options to speed up your time to degree. Earn an advanced nursing degree while maintaining a work-life balance.
*FNP role specializations include two mandatory hands-on clinical concentrations as part of the curriculum.
**The Nursing Educator role specialization is not available in the DNP program.
- Physician Assistant Education Association (PAEA), “What is a PA?”: [↩]
- American Academy of PA (AAPA), “What is PA?”: [↩]
- Nursing Licensing Map, “How to Become a Nurse”, July 2020: [↩]
- National Commission for Accreditation of Physician Assistants (NCCCPA), “Accredited PAs: Improve Health, Save Lives, Make a Difference,” 2020: [↩]
- Ryanne Coulson, “PA vs. NP: A Brief Explanation of Fundamental Differences,” Be a Physician Assistant, May 2, 2017: [↩]
- Nurse.org, “Nurse or Physician Assistant: Differences Between Salary and Benefits,” 5 Sept. 2019: [↩]