NP school vs. PA school

Specialties NP

Published

I'm in the process of exploring PA and NP programs. Has anyone else noticed that PA schools seem to be much more rigorous academically than most NP programs? Why should NP students take nursing theory? How does that help with seeing 30 pts? Why not offer more clinically significant courses?

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Specializes in ACNP-BC, Adult Critical Care, Cardiology.

PA schools tend to have a uniform admission requirement across the board. NP schools, because they are based in schools and colleges of nursing vary in admission criteria depending on the specific schools. What I've observed in my state is that some NP schools are harder to get into than others. The reputable programs tend to keep a fairly rigorous entry requirement and the lesser known schools do not. There are also a lot more NP schools to choose from compared to PA schools making the supply-and-demand ratio more comptetitive in favor of PA schools.

Nursing theory is included in NP schools because our training is rooted in the nursing profession even though we are presented with the medical model in guiding our practice. In my program, we only had 3 credits of nursing theory so I didn't think that was that bad at all. Nursing theory does seem abstract and far-fetched at times, even common-sensical to some. However, it is unique to our profession and without causing a stir among those who disagree with nursing theory, I think we shouldn't lambaste it too much as it can guide our understanding of the whole human person as a patient.

Anyway, if you are seriously averse to having classes in nursing theory, it is perfectly OK to pursue the PA route.

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I think that difficulty of entrance into a program has more to do with supply and demand rather than the academic rigor of the program. It seems that the systems approach to medical education does a much better job than a disease or population approach.

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Specializes in Education, FP, LNC, Forensics, ED, OB.

Hello, mark2climb and welcome to allnurses.com

There is MUCH discussion in these threads regarding the differences/similarities of the NP and PA, including clinical as well:

https://allnurses.com/forums/f34/difference-between-np-pa-164046.html

https://allnurses.com/forums/f34/clinical-differences-nps-pas-83016.html

We hope you enjoy the site and good luck with your decision(s).

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