Nurse Practitioner vs Physician Assistant

Debunking the myth that Physician Assistants can do more than Nurse Practitioners Nurses General Nursing Article

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CraigB-RN, MSN, RN

1,224 Posts

Specializes in Critical Care, Emergency, Education, Informatics.

When looking at choosing NP or PA, you need to look at what common and not what's possible.

Yes you find NP working as first assistants In the OR but if you looked at the number, although it happens, it's not as common.

There are placed that don't allow FNP's to work in inpatient medicine, because it's not included as part of their initial education. Now that is a small percentage, but it is something you need to keep in mind when making that decision.

Two of the Children's hospitals I've been affiliated with required their FNP to get their pediatric acute care in order to continue to work.

In one facility the FNP's that wanted to maintain their ability to take care of inpatients, were required to get their ACNP. and in one case they were required to get geriatric ACNP.

The prime take away from this thread, it to take it all with a grain of salt and do your own homework. There are many variables that you will need to take into account. Things are going to be different in rural KS than in urban Texas or even different between NY city and update NY.

To most though the biggest difference is can you afford to take 2 years off to go to PA school full time, if not then a part time NP program may be the best choice.

To keep things in perspective. I'm not an NP, but I first assist, I put in chest tubes, A-Lines & central lines. But I work in a different environment than most RN's. Sometimes it's where you are more than who you are.

Specializes in OR 35 years; crosstrained ER/ICU/PACU.

The OR for the hospitAl system where I work doesn't employ RNP's to assist; we have surgical technicians for that. HOWEVER, there are several surgeons who do employ RNP's in their own practice, who then can become credentialed by hospitals the surgeon has privileges in. The surgeon has his/her own RNP assist, while the hospital surg tech "scrubs" the case. The RNP usually starts getting the patient draped with the scrub tech, the after the deep closure is completed, often does the skin closure while the surgeon drops out to go speak to the family members. The RNP will have already written post-op prescriptions, & have gone over post-op instructions as well. Bear in mind, there are some procedures that require a 2nd surgeon to assist, per hospital policy, although I have seen the RNP still scrub in (gets a little crowded sometimes!) & help out by holding detractors, then when it's time to close, the 2nd surgeon can drop out, leaving the RNP to assist. This is one way to get to assist in surgery; I see it about 50-50 as far as PA & RNP utilization as first assists by surgeons in their practice.

Guest957596

343 Posts

Specializes in BSN, RN-BC, NREMT, EMT-P, TCRN.

I've always wanted to be a Space Shuttle Door Gunner. LOL!

Specializes in ICU.

PA's need to recertify every 6 years (it will be changing to every 10yrs)...

Specializes in ICU.

Correct... as an ACNP I perform the same (if not more) procedures as a PA. Keep in mind we are referring to an ACNP, not an FNP. An FNP does not get the same training.

That would be one of the defining differences between a PA and an NP... NP's are (becoming) very specialized in their practice.

Mhays

190 Posts

I like both very much. I have seen both in action before on the hospital floor and nursing home/rehab floor and I have also had both physician assistants and nurse practitioners as medical staff for myself. I feel that both of them are extremely beneficial and they are great because they both bring a lot of medical expertise to the table. I love both physician assistants and nurse practitioners.

Mhays

190 Posts

I have had great physician assistants and nurse practitioners who both have helped me so much. I belong to an HMO as my healthcare and sometimes my doctor is not available. So, they ask me if I would like to see a physician assistant or a nurse practitioner and I told them that I can see either one. They are both fine and I respect both of them. In fact, I saw a physician assistant for many years and she helped me so much; so they both are qualified, but they just have different names.

Mhays

190 Posts

I had both a physician assistant and a nurse practitioner before and they both were very good. I really enjoyed having both of them as my 'doctor.' I remember one of my friends from nursing school really wanted to be a nurse practitioner and she went through all of the nursing school steps to get there. She became a CNA, and LPN, an RN, and then got her masters into NP. She is very happy now. I also knew a friend in nursing school that was interested in mid-wife nursing for OBGYN. She got into that aspect and likes it as well. So, as long as people are happy in whatever they are doing, then that is fine to be whatever you want to be.

Mhays

190 Posts

The difference between nurse practitioner and physician assistant are the following:

1. The school that both attend are different.

2. Nurse practitioners learn more about the nursing process.

3. Physician assistants learn more about the process of a doctor.

marcellahays1

17 Posts

I like both nurse practitioners and physician assistants. They are both really good. It is really hard to pick one from the other because I have had really good things from both practitioners. I have enjoyed being treated by both and they are both very knowledgeable. I think that they both are very important in the medical team of professionals.

thiaeyemd

1 Post

Sounds like the same turf battle that doctors tried to wage against nurse practitioners...Hahahahaha seems like people are the same no matter what!

Tamster66

3 Posts

Also differs by state.......i work as an RN in MO and MO is one of the most restrictive states for NPs