How to Understand the Difference Between a Nurse Practitioner and a Physician Assisstant

Step-by-Step Guide

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   Step 1: Understand that both are considered health care practitioners

   While there are some additional training programs PA's may choose to take to become more well versed in a specialty, they do not need additional training to specialize. , In some places, nurse practitioners do not need physician supervision. , If a NP wants to switch specialties, he or she would have to undergo additional training.
   
   Family nurse practitioners have the broadest set of options, and often work in family doctor's offices and urgent care clinics, seeing a wide variety of patients. , They can not perform surgery (beyond very minor procedures and suturing), and some who do not have DEA numbers can not prescribe certain types of medications.
   
   However, they are trained to know when the patient's condition warrants care outside their scope of practice and will call for additional help as needed. ,
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   Step 2: and can diagnose and treat conditions

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   Step 3: prescribe medications

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   Step 4: and manage patients' care

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   Step 5: usually under the supervision of a physician.

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   Step 6: Understand that physician assistants have completed a course of training

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   Step 7: usually either a bachelor's or master's degree

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   Step 8: and can diagnose and treat conditions

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   Step 9: prescribe medications

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    Step 10: and manage patient's care under the supervision of a physician.

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    Step 11: Understand that physician assistants undergo general and broad medical training

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    Step 12: allowing them to work in any health care setting or specialty of their choice.

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    Step 13: Understand that nurse practitioners are

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    Step 14: as the name suggests

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    Step 15: registered nurses who have undergone additional training

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    Step 16: at minimal

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    Step 17: a master's degree

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    Step 18: to be able to diagnose and treat conditions

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    Step 19: prescribe medications

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    Step 20: and manage patients' care under the supervision of a physician.

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    Step 21: Understand that nurse practitioner training can be more specific than PA training in that NPs are trained as pediatric NPs

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    Step 22: family NPs

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    Step 23: acute care NPs

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    Step 24: Understand that while they function autonomously in many cases

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    Step 25: there are some procedures they can not do.

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    Step 26: Know that NPs and PAs do not earn as much as physicians in most cases

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    Step 27: but their salaries are excellent and both are growing careers with bright futures.

Detailed Guide

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