NP or PA

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Hi, I am currently trying to decide if going into PA school or nursing school with anticipation of becoming an NP is right for me. I need to be able to work a little bit through school and my GPA is not where it should be for PA school. However, it does meet requirements. My question for you folks is, what is the difference in scope of practice and abilities between a PA and an NP in the ICU/ER? Thank you for any insight you can give me!!

Ben

The age old fight x vs. y and is bound to incite an argument of the PA vs. NP. You are posting on a nurses forum so most likely everyone will tell you go the NP route. In reality as it stands now it does not really matter. They have almost the same practice rights. Now looking down the road NP's have a greater legislation behind them so maybe (or maybe not) they will have a greater responsibility down the road.

As a practicing physician I would take an experienced PA over an unexperienced NP. Same I would take an experienced NP over an unexperienced PA. Straight out of school I am not sure it really matters. In the ER I work in both NP's and PA's staff the urgent care and I sign off on their charts. The freedom I let them have is irrelevant of their degree and more so how much I trust them to make the right decisions.

If you want to work during school NP might be the way to go. I mean that you get your RN before your NP and could have the ability to work as a nurse while you pursue your NP. As a PA you might get a degree in Biology and very limited opportunities with that. In the long run the scope is about the same, at least as it is right now.

Thank you for the insight. It do feel like this is a subjective question, but I want to make the right decision. As of right now, I start nursing school at the end of the summer. I already have a BS in exercise science. I like the possibility of become a Anesthesia nurse too.

Specializes in Hospice.

Completely subjective....

Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

Thread has been moved to our Advanced Practice Nursing forum.

Specializes in Adult Internal Medicine.

You have a lot of research to do; take the time to do that research yourself and make your own opinion rather than have strangers tell you your opinion. You are making a big financial and personal investment in your future, take the time to research it and understand it.

Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

I work with a couple of PAs and respect them immensely. I was surprised to learn they have to take an exam every nine years to renew their license to practice as a PA. Nurse practitioners do not have to do that. One of the ones I work with has been a PA for 30 years. He works in bariatrics. The exam is in family practice, including peds. He is beyond stressed at having to take this test.

Specializes in Hospice.
I work with a couple of PAs and respect them immensely. I was surprised to learn they have to take an exam every nine years to renew their license to practice as a PA. Nurse practitioners do not have to do that. One of the ones I work with has been a PA for 30 years. He works in bariatrics. The exam is in family practice, including peds. He is beyond stressed at having to take this test.

I believe not pas and Physicians all take a test every 10 years??? Nps can choose to test every 5 but the majority choose to renew through ceu and practice hours

Specializes in CTICU.

Having to recertify by exam is not a negative - it forces you to read and get up to date on things outside your daily specialty.

I am an NP but if I had to do it again, and I didn't go to med school, I'd do PA - if ONLY because they are able to change specialties simply by getting a new job. Nursing loves letters after their names so much they have over specialized and shot themselves in the foot - as an ACNP I can see adults >16yo in my state. So although I work cardiac surgery, if I wanted to go work at a children's hospital in cardiac surgery, I'd have to go back for a post-masters certificate in pediatric acute care. Basically any lateral move to a new patient population requires another degree or certificate - it's really dumb. Similarly, now that I have a kid, if I wanted to go part time outpatient work, I'd have to go back to school to get an FNP certificate. So in terms of professional options, especially if I wanted to have children, I'd do PA.

If I wanted to work in surgery/OR - I'd definitely do PA instead of NP.

Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.
I am an NP but if I had to do it again, and I didn't go to med school, I'd do PA - if ONLY because they are able to change specialties simply by getting a new job.

Just like an RN! No reason at all an RN can't work LTC one day, ICU the next, and L&D the day after. I'm sure someone has done it. That does seem to be a pretty big plus on the PA side.

In the small, rural critical access hospital in my area we have a fair number of NPs working solo in the ER at night, but no PAs doing so that I am aware of. I wonder if there is a legal reason for this, or if it's just the way it worked out?

Specializes in Critical Care, Emergency, Education, Informatics.

One other thing to think about is PA school is full time. 2 years. NP school is usually partime 2-3 years. You also have to decide on MSN or DNP for NP and choose a specialty.

There are probably just as many PA's working solo in ED as NPs. It depends on were you are.

Specializes in Pediatric Critical Care.
So although I work cardiac surgery, if I wanted to go work at a children's hospital in cardiac surgery, I'd have to go back for a post-masters certificate in pediatric acute care.

To be fair, children's and adult cardiac surgery are miles apart in terms of what you need to know. That's why adult cardiac surgeons generally don't take care of adults with congenital heart defect needs.

As an RN, I certainly couldn't go work in an adult cardiac unit without a lot of new learning - hopefully a residency program or something like that.

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