what made you choose NP over PA?

MissHolland · Feb 6, 2012

Nursing model of care over the medical model. They are fundamentally different. I learned a lot about the history of these models from their inception to present. There's no doubt that I identify with and want to be trained as a nurse through nursing curriculum and the core values of the nursing model of care. No brainer for me. :redbeathe

aggie313 · Feb 6, 2012

PA schools required paid healthcare exp and I only had volunteer exp so that left me with the NP route.

dedicatedone · Feb 6, 2012

I agree with the two posts above me. Additionally, in California (not sure on other states) PA's require an MD to be onsite to practice where NP's do not. NP's are still required to be overseen by an MD though. That was not a major factor in deciding between the two but one I took into consideration.

hopefulnurse24 · Feb 6, 2012

i know this has been discussed before...i know that there are many facts that go into this decision. i am more interested, though, why YOU chose to pursue nursing instead of a career as a physician assistant, especially because so many of us are applying to the direct-entry programs and really could have gone either way.
:)

Being a nurse practitioner allows you to specialize, and learn as much as possible about the specialty to you want to work in, also - whereas PA school just gives you a general overview of all of the specialties while you're in school, and then you get a job in a speciality you like and you have to receive on the job training for it. I'm more comfortable working as a nurse practitioner because of this.

Also, a lot of the direct entry programs do not require anything more than intro to chemistry, and especially not organic chemistry or biochem like a lot of PA programs do =]

myelin · Feb 6, 2012

For my specialty (psych), NP makes far more sense over PA. I am primarily interested in my specailty, so I want my education tailored towards my interests, as opposed to the generalist model that PA schools offer. In a psych NP program I will take classes on providing therapy, psychopharm, developmental psychopathology and diagnosis, etc. These are classes that I don't believe PAs take, or if they do, they're much more abbreviated. I don't think PAs can provide psychotherapy. Also, NPs have a lot more independence. It just depends on your interests. If I wanted to do surgery or emergency medicine, I'd go PA (or MD/DO).

danceluver · Feb 10, 2012

I agree with Hopefulnurse24, You can get a more specialized education if you know what specialty you want, no healthcare experience required, and the fact that nurses are celebrated, supported and recognized worldwide is what encouraged me to pursue this route :) However, if I wanted to work specifically in a surgical specialty (no RN experience, direct entry applicant), then I would have gone PA.

PMFB-RN, RN · Feb 11, 2012

I agree with the two posts above me. Additionally, in California (not sure on other states) PA's require an MD to be onsite to practice where NP's do not. NP's are still required to be overseen by an MD though. That was not a major factor in deciding between the two but one I took into consideration.

*** Actually that is not true at all, even in California. There are plenty of PAs working with no physician on site in all states, including Ca. The supervision does not need to be in person in any state. I did a travel contract in a Ca ICU and the PA that covered the ICU on night shift had a supervising physician that was a thousand miles away in an EICU.

dedicatedone · Feb 13, 2012

Really? From speaking with several NP's and PA's I shadowed, I was informed of this requirement. I will clarify but that is how their facilities are run.

Possibly it is a facility rule and not a state law.

Carrielp · Nov 30, 2017

Really interested in this topic. Already have a bachelors degree (how ever my bach deg is not in Nursing), but can't seem to decide whether to go to nursing school (to go for a few more years to get my NP- thought of FNP, Neonatal NP, or CRNA), or to go to PA school. I think I want to be involved in surgery in some capacity, but not exactly to the extent that I would be the attending physician (waaaayyyy toooo much school involved) (not to mention, it seems like its also way too much responsibility).

Either way, thinking of either NP or PA. How would they differ in their surgical tasks (no matter how basic or complex)? Might they both get to suture or close, or remove staples? Could they both assist? What kind of minor surgery could either one do?

Thanks in advance