Is there really much of a difference between NP and a PA?

[nurse2bnoob101]

Talked to my coworkers who are nurse and one of them mentioned he would do PA instead of NP which I thought was interesting. He mentioned the difference in schooling, but the job itself is relatively similar. Was wondering why someone would make such a choice? One thing that appeals to me is the ability to go into different specialties easily as a PA. Does NP have that flexibility? I heard that getting your FNP will open much more doors, but does going into different specialties would be easier as well?

[Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN]

Those I know who have discussed it said they were "over the nursing model," where PAs are educated in the medical model

[PeakRN]

This is going to vary from state to state, but there are a few differences.

NPs generally have a more independent practice than PAs. NPs are still under a nursing model of care with medical training whereas PAs are under a medical practice model. PAs get more training in surgical specialties than NPs. PAs are given a more general education, NPs are trained more in their specialties (think FNP, PNP, NNP, AGNP, CRNA [yeah, I known, not technically an NP] and acute care vs primary care).

I have met a few nurses who elected to go to PA school instead of NP school, but they typically wanted to work in surgical specialties or were more procedure oriented.