In our ever growing health care industry the real challenge lies in deciding the path you wish to pursue. The more knowledge you have about the different specialties, the more prepared you will be to make the proper choice for yourself. The difference between PA, Physicians Assistant, and NP, Nurse Practitioner can be one of these forks in the road. The two jobs have many similarities but are quite different career paths.
Nurse Practitioners go to nursing school. They earn a bachelor's degree and a master's degree and in some cases a doctoral degree. Their approach is a patient-centered view of care. They have a nursing approach and in addition to treatment and diagnosis they also address health education, disease prevention and offer counseling to help the patient improve their lifestyle. Nurse Practitioners often are schooled in specific fields where their interest may lie, such as pediatrics, psychiatric, women's health or geriatrics. In a recent census it was found that approximately 86% of Nurse Practitioners work in primary care and therefore take a more general approach to their education.
The Physicians Assistant goes to medical school and will attain the same level of education, from bachelor's degree to a master's degree. Their approach is through medical school education and takes a more disease-centered model. This means that assessment, diagnosis and treatment are based on biological elements. PA's must be re-certified every six years and must pursue continuing medical education every two years.
Many of the same responsibilities are shared by the PA and NP. Both can make diagnoses, order diagnostic tests, write prescriptions, develop treatment plans. This can vary depending on state laws and the regulations of the medical facilities in which they are working. Key differences can be seen in the work environment as NPs are afforded greater independence and do not normally require supervision. However, this too can vary depending on the NP's certification and level of education, as well as state laws. Many Nurse Practitioners work in primary care in physician's offices, community based primary care settings and outpatient clinics.
PA's do not have to enter a residency program but they must work under a physician's authority. The Physician's Assistant duties really depend on the facility in which they work. Since their education is more generalized the PA will often find work in general surgery, emergency medicine and orthopedics.
Flexibility is one of the main perks of choosing the NP path as they are usually not under direct supervision of another healthcare provider so they can have more control over their scheduling. PA's on the other hand must work under the supervision of a physician and may have to do on call duty as well.
The career outlook for both of these specialties is very good. Both can provide plenty of opportunity for growth. The NP or PA will be able to work in any type of medical facility and are also in high demand in the Travel Healthcare field where the jobs are expected to grow at a rate of over 30% until at least 2024. Maybe it's time for you to get started!
Mary Crawford, HealthCare Employment Network
