A few questions :)

[myoung]

I am going to be graduating with a degree in Biology in 3 semesters and am looking at different career options. I plan to apply to either the NP program (we have a 3 year BSN-NP program here) or the PA school.

I am having a hard time though finding info online about job growth and outlook for the NP profession (maybe I just don't know where to look). Someone told me it was an oversaturated market with them but someone else will tell me they are in great demand and will be growing....I have no idea what to think at this point.

From what I see both NP and PA pay about the same.

I realize that PA's and NP's practice differently, but are in a lot of ways alike. It is hard to find good unbiased info about either one though, some of the PA boards I have visited don't think much of NP's and vice versa.

I have read a lot of the posts on here and learned a great deal, but can any of you list the benifits of a NP over a PA or maybe why you choose NP over PA if that was a decision for you.

Just any info you think someone considering both fields would like to know. Here where I live I belive both PA's and NP's are lisenced and not just certified. I plan on shadowing both as well sometime soon as well.

Thanks

[CatskillNP]

If you're not from a nursing background, go the PA route, they'll teach you how to be little doctors. NP's are not little doctors. They are nurses with advanced education in assessment, diagnosis and treatment of all ages of patients. We bring to this career not the opportunity to make money, but the opportunity to bring nursing values to more patients. Become a PA. Scott, NP

[FLCRNA2B]

Myoung, I think you have valid concerns. You want to be sure the field you get into has job security. I too have been considering ARNP and have the same concerns as you.

[CraigB-RN, MSN, RN]

If you're not from a nursing background, go the PA route, they'll teach you how to be little doctors. NP's are not little doctors. They are nurses with advanced education in assessment, diagnosis and treatment of all ages of patients. We bring to this career not the opportunity to make money, but the opportunity to bring nursing values to more patients. Become a PA. Scott, NP

Hmm from most of the post around here it's all about money.

[lalaxton]

My 2 cents. I became an NP because I was already a nurse and it made no sense to me to go the PA route. I may have seriously considered the PA route had I been in your position but it's hard to tell. Job opportunities vary widely for both professions depending on specialty and location. My advice is to investigate the demand in the area where you would like to practice and try to arrange to shadow both an NP and a PA and see which way you would like to go.

Good Luck!

[Cardiology EP NP]

I was actually in your same boat about 8 months ago or so. I had applied to PA school and interviewed, however I was not too impressed with the facilities at the school. I decided on entering a masters entry program for nursing and pursuing further graduate work from there.

I had done some research on the PA/NP job market and what I found was very interesting. I am only speaking in terms of the CHICAGOLAND area though. I found that the majority of hospitals around here don't hire PAs. They hire NPs for specialities all across the board. PAs mainly work for physicians. NPs, I believe, in chicago anyway, have a few more options. They can work in doctors offices, clinics, and hospitals. The PA job market in chicago is extremely saturated at the moment so I"m really glad I'm doing nursing. Plus, I have worked in a hospital for a number of years and am very accustomed to it. I work at a large teaching hospital on a cardiac step down unit and all we have here are NPs, no PAs.

I would say, do some research in your neck of the woods. I was told by the PA director at the school I interviewed at that PA opportunities are in abundance in the southern states, Atlanta, Texas, etc. I wasn't willing to move though.

All the best to you.