NP vs PA vs CNS

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I am considering going for further education. I am an RN w/ a bachelor's degree (non-nursing) and a AA in nursing. I have 6 years experience, 3 years in cardiac acute care (stepdown). I would like information on differences between these degrees and which might be a better fit. I'm married and have a 3 year old daughter. I can't really afford to work only part-time. I have interest in the CNS degree, but was wondering what the job prospects are. I am also wondering what being a PA would be like (I know this is the NP forum). I'm not sure I can handle 4 years of NP school (financially more than anything)

Any advice would be appreciated.

Hello.

I do not only enjoy working with their children but also have experience working with them and aim to specialize/focus in peds. Though for the most part, most PA schools have similar pre-requisites some require more courses than others. Currently, I am debating between PA and NP myself and would like some input on the difference between the two.

Specializes in Vascular Neurology and Neurocritical Care.

The reason PA school has class such as these (biochem or anatomy, etc) is because you need not have any previous medical degree prior to entry. Furthermore, let's not get too hung up on course titles. True, NP school may not have titles like "immunology" etc that make it sound "more science based" like PA school is supposed as is claimed by some. Because I will assure you that my Acute care NP program covered the same material despite the courses being called "Acute Care 1" "Acute Care 2".

That's why I hate these NP vs. PA vs. whatever threads because even though the OP usually never means to start a pissing match there's always those few individuals who take the time to tout the superiority of one profession over the other.

Both educational models are adequate, else there wouldn't be all these research studies showing the excellent outcomes for both PAs and NPs when compared to physicians.

Now let's please just address the OP's question.

Specializes in CTICU.

I realize this is an older thread, but it just came up at work a few days ago. Although I've been a nurse for almost 20 yrs and an ACNP for 3 yrs, I would advise other nurses who are going back to school to do PA. Why? I supervise 6 APPs and we all do the SAME job. Yeah yeah, "NPs are more wholistic blah blah" - no. We do the exact same job, every day, with the same population of patients. We get the same pay scales. We get the same interaction and respect from our Attendings. Yes, there are some things I know that some of my PA colleagues don't, but that's from 20yrs of nursing, not from 3yrs of "NP'ing".

However here is where PA is attractive to me - I just had a baby. I would love to go part time, but all my experience is acute, in hospital post surgical care. There are very few part time positions for that. Most involve weekends and holidays. If I want to go to ER, or urgent care, or pediatric cardiac surgery, or primary care, etc... I have to go back to school. I have completed 11 years of university to date. I have a postgraduate diploma, a bachelors degree, and two masters degrees, as well as 5 specialty certifications. I have an alphabet soup after my name (RN, MNP, MSN, CCRN-CSC-CMC, CCTC, ACNP-BC). I don't want to go back to school to have to "unspecialize". Nursing does itself no favors with the obsession with subspecialty training and letters after your name. Bottom line is that a new grad PA has many more options for work location than I do, despite my experience.

From a purely lifestyle aspect, PA is more cost effective and portable, so if I had to choose again, I'd do it over NP.

Ghillbert,

Just curious.. Do you regret not going for your FNP and instead getting your ACNP?

The reason I ask is because as a FNP you would have the "generalist path" where you could treat all ages. It seems you desire that instead, but do not want to go back for FNP post masters.

In the near future I have to choose between the two paths and I have wondered about job availability. It would seem the FNP would have greater opportunities based on the lifespan they can treat.

Specializes in CTICU.

No I don't regret not getting FNP, it was never a consideration for me because I do not really like primary care and would not want to be stuck in outpatient area. My background is surgical areas and critical care so ACNP is the perfect fit - if you have to choose. My point is that PA's don't have to choose.

Edit: It depends on your market and area also. Some places are moving towards requiring ACNP for inpatient acute care and phasing out FNPs. This may be actual or anecdotal, but supposedly the consensus model is moving towards this. If this doesn't apply to your area, sure, get an FNP and work wherever you want. I wouldn't personally want to be prepared as an FNP and then try to work in, for example, pediatric cardiac intensive care. It's just not designed for that.

That makes perfect sense. Thank you for the feedback.. It is helpful.

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