P.A. vs FNP

Aaron-RN · Jun 30, 2008

Hi buffscotty-

First, CONGRATS on passing boards! Second, there are many discussion postings regarding the differences between PAs and NPs - I think a search of the site would give you lots of the information that you are looking for. Good luck beginning your career as an RN!

MikeyJ, RN · Jun 30, 2008

Hey folks. Let me start off by saying I am Scott and I am a brand new R.N. (just passed boards Friday ). It is a ways down the road but I am undecided on Phys. Assistant vs a Family Nurse Practitioner. I truely love ER and trauma medicine. I am just trying to see what the practices are off FNP's Vs. PA's (Salary, practice, who is more oriented towards emergency medicine). Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you all.

I would probably pursue your P.A. if you are interested in Trauma or ER.

However, PA school will require similar pre-req's as medical school, where FNP should require no additional pre-req's. Thus, I would take that into consideration.

shelly304 · Jun 30, 2008

The way I see it PA and FNP are two different animals. An FNP can work alone, free-standing clinic etc., PA cannot. At least not in my state. Since you are already an RN, the logical next step to me would be FNP. Give yourself some time to work as an RN. There a lot of different directions you can take this...after you have been a part of the heart and soul of nursing.

From all of your other posts I have read since you joined allnurses you are" looking" for the future now. As an RN you have not even begun

Good luck to you!!

core0 · Jun 30, 2008

The way I see it PA and FNP are two different animals. An FNP can work alone, free-standing clinic etc., PA cannot. At least not in my state. Since you are already an RN, the logical next step to me would be FNP. Give yourself some time to work as an RN. There a lot of different directions you can take this...after you have been a part of the heart and soul of nursing.
From all of your other posts I have read since you joined allnurses you are" looking" for the future now. As an RN you have not even begun
Good luck to you!!

There are only two states where a PA cannot work alone in a freestanding clinic. I would be curious to see what state you are talking about. There are several good threads about autonomous practice in the NP section.

To the OP there are several threads on this in the NP section:

https://allnurses.com/forums/f34/

If you want to do operative trauma then you are more likely to find a job as a PA than NP in the current market. That being said the use of NPs varies widely state to state and city to city. Also most trauma management is now non-operative and there are many NPs working in trauma services. ACNP is probably the more common NP specialty there. There is also a thread in the NP section on the use of FNPs in the ER. This is somewhat in a state of flux right now (in my opinion) and seems to be moving away from the FNP.

For more information on PAs in EM and trauma I suggest you visit here:

http://www.physicianassistantforum.com/forums/

David Carpenter, PA-C

djc1981 · Jun 30, 2008

I'd suggest you do the Acute Care NP. They can definitely be found in the ER. If you'd like to assist in surgery, you can be certified as a RN first assist program -- this does not require you to be a NP.

buffscotty · Jun 30, 2008

Honestly O.R. isn't for me. I prefer to see patients in the ER and help with diagnosis and medical treatements (sutures, chest tubes ect.) But I have heard of many NP's doing this as well. I think that FNP would be they way I would go (It seems to be the most flexable of the NP degree's).

Multicollinearity, BSN, RN · Jun 30, 2008

With the new DNP requirement on the horizon, it's enough to make a nurse decide to forgo APN status and go PA. I think even with the PA pre-reqs like Organic chem and calculus, it'd still be less total time than the DNP degree.