NP vs PA vs CNS

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I am considering going for further education. I am an RN w/ a bachelor's degree (non-nursing) and a AA in nursing. I have 6 years experience, 3 years in cardiac acute care (stepdown). I would like information on differences between these degrees and which might be a better fit. I'm married and have a 3 year old daughter. I can't really afford to work only part-time. I have interest in the CNS degree, but was wondering what the job prospects are. I am also wondering what being a PA would be like (I know this is the NP forum). I'm not sure I can handle 4 years of NP school (financially more than anything)

Any advice would be appreciated.

"You can work during NP programs because they are less intensive.. "

You are omitting the fact that NP's must go through four years of RN-BSN school followed by at least a year or two of intensive care or work in an ER level one (in my Daughters case). Then apply and go to NP school. That's a lot of education and essential experience! My Daughter is also still gaining experience while going to NP school.

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Specializes in Public Health.

You are right, pghnursedjg, most PA's, have the same level of study as a BSN - unless the PA continues on to get their Master-level PA degree.(don't know what it's called.) The difference between a nurse and a PA is that PA's learn more technical things like suturing, ordering tests, interpreting tests, etc.

Furthermore, a nurse who is a part-time NP student is gaining experience every workday, which is just as valuable as a more "intensive" curriculum. I would stay far away from a new-grad PA who has no prior hospital experience. I think that an NP - especially a DNP is by far more equipped than a PA(especially Bachelor's degree PA)... don't tell the PA's that. :-) I'm not bias at all ... :-)

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Specializes in Anesthesia, Pain, Emergency Medicine.

So now a musician is telling us the difference between PA and NP. Really?

What you posted is very far from the truth.

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Specializes in SDU, Tele.
You are right, pghnursedjg, most PA's, have the same level of study as a BSN - unless the PA continues on to get their Master-level PA degree.(don't know what it's called.) The difference between a nurse and a PA is that PA's learn more technical things like suturing, ordering tests, interpreting tests, etc.

Furthermore, a nurse who is a part-time NP student is gaining experience every workday, which is just as valuable as a more "intensive" curriculum. I would stay far away from a new-grad PA who has no prior hospital experience. I think that an NP - especially a DNP is by far more equipped than a PA(especially Bachelor's degree PA)... don't tell the PA's that. :-) I'm not bias at all ... :-)

Oh no no no.

Very incorrect, I am sorry.

First of all, getting your certificate, Associates, Bachelor's or Masters in PA Studies is the SAME. They take the same coursework, except Master's may take extra elective rotations (Rural medicine, tropical medicine, subspecialties), but all sit for the EXACT SAME PANCE. Much like how certificate, ASN, and BSN RN's have taken the NCLEX, yet no difference in scope.

And for pete's sake how can you compare the education of a PA and a nurse? Nurses study NURSING, not medicine. PA's study medicine. I never took a whole 16 week class on Electrocardiology like the PA's in my school do. Never did I take nearly 8 credits in just pharmacotherapeutics. Nor did I have 60 hr weeks in a surgical rotation alone. Nope. Nursing care plans make admission notes look like child's play.

Any medical assistant can learn how to suture. PA's diagnose and treat complicated diseases, not just colds or nosebleeds. And I would never call ordering and interpreting tests as "technical", as if its easy. You can't diagnose everything with a CMP and CBC. Knowing what to order is just as important as identifying trends.

And please don't flame me for this, but I don't think the task-oriented job of a med-surg bedside nurse is practicing medicine. Sure, I do wound care, give meds, but after a while it's all just stuff I have to check off on a list.

BTW plenty PA's don't have hospital experience, they worked as medics in the field however, and are excellent medical providers.

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Specializes in Adult Internal Medicine.
Oh no no no. Very incorrect I am sorry. First of all, getting your certificate, Associates, Bachelor's or Masters in PA Studies is the SAME. They take the same coursework, except Master's may take extra elective rotations (Rural medicine, tropical medicine, subspecialties), but all sit for the EXACT SAME PANCE. Much like how certificate, ASN, and BSN RN's have taken the NCLEX, yet no difference in scope. And for pete's sake how can you compare the education of a PA and a nurse? Nurses study NURSING, not medicine. PA's study medicine. I never took a whole 16 week class on Electrocardiology like the PA's in my school do. Never did I take nearly 8 credits in just pharmacotherapeutics. Nor did I have 60 hr weeks in a surgical rotation alone. Nope. Nursing care plans make admission notes look like child's play. Any medical assistant can learn how to suture. PA's diagnose and treat complicated diseases, not just colds or nosebleeds. And I would never call ordering and interpreting tests as "technical", as if its easy. You can't diagnose everything with a CMP and CBC. Knowing what to order is just as important as identifying trends. And please don't flame me for this, but I don't think the task-oriented job of a med-surg bedside nurse is practicing medicine. Sure, I do wound care, give meds, but after a while it's all just stuff I have to check off on a list. BTW plenty PA's don't have hospital experience, they worked as medics in the field however, and are excellent medical providers.[/quote']

Are you comparing PAs to RNs? There is obviously a major difference there.....

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Specializes in SDU, Tele.

I'm replying to Divobari2's post, where, if I am not mistaken, makes it sounds like PA's just "do more technical things" than RNs but have the same level of education. But I just realized he/she is from Germany. I don't know what the PA model is like over there. But here in the US/AU/Canada/NZ/UK it is not like an RN with a few more hands-on skills...

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Specializes in Adult Internal Medicine.
I'm replying to Divobari2's post where, if I am not mistaken, makes it sounds like PA's just "do more technical things" than RNs but have the same level of education. But I just realized he/she is from Germany. I don't know what the PA model is like over there. But here in the US/AU/Canada/NZ/UK it is not like an RN with a few more hands-on skills...[/quote']

Woops sorry I quoted the wrong post!

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Specializes in SDU, Tele.

ah lol its ok!

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Hilarious!!

most PA's were medics??
Nurses study NURSING, not medicine. PA's study medicine. I never took a whole 16 week class on Electrocardiology like the PA's in my school do. Never did I take nearly 8 credits in just pharmacotherapeutics.

Are you a NP?? You seem to be comparing your basic nursing to PA's. Also I wouldn't compare working in a level one Trauma center to Bedside Nursing. I've 35 years experience in Nursing no one can tell me I don't know Medicine. Who do you think actually diagnoses Pt's then spoon feed it to the MD's. that is on the med surg floors, homecare and esp. hospice homecare. You totally missed the boat regarding the Education of a NP vs PA. For instance My Daughters boyfriend went five years to PA school then off to work for a Cardio-pulmonary surgical group. He had absolutely no prior experience before PA educ. He lasted 6 months. I remember when he started, he was like a fish out of water. Extremely stressed. My Daughter went to school for four years for her RN-BSN, then the ER for several years and then the ER halftime plus full time NP program. She will have seven years Education plus ALOT of work experience. She will be much more confident and ready when she graduates. Gradually they will be doing the same thing! Just different Educations. Neither one will be better than the other. I liken it to a MD vs DO. I know DO's that are brain surgeons or highly trained specialists in all areas. The only difference is a NP can have her own practice separate from a MD. Our small town where our Vacation home is has a NP as their only practioner. I would love to see PA's doing the same in underserved and often rural areas. p.s.

~~divobari2 ~~ don't let the mean and insecure people get you down, your on the right track!

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Specializes in SDU, Tele.

No, I am not an NP, I'm an RN.

I don't know how much you read but I was clearly comparing RN's to PA's because DIVOBARI was the first to say they are practically the same thing. I even quoted it. Of course they are not the same thing.

You are completely misinterpreting what I said. I have never said NPs don't practice medicine. Where did I say that? I was only replying to divobari's erroneous comparison to RNs and PAs. I was not comparing NPs to PAs. Clinically they are the same. Did you forget what I wrote earlier, you even liked that post. :)

Kinda funny you are calling me mean and insecure, LOL!

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Not funny at all. Grow up. Your like a barracuda. All over that man. Educate, don't make fun.

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Specializes in SDU, Tele.

Making fun???? Where was I making fun??? I was correcting him, where was I making fun? Are you serious?

I clearly pointed out where he was wrong, I think, fairly. Because one does not think like you does not mean I am being mean. You are the one calling me names. I never call anyone names. I also pointed out where you misinterpreted my posts, and you can't even acknowledge that. Wow.

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