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What is the difference between a physician assistant and a nurse practitioner?
Asked by Wanting...But Can't
What is the difference between a physician assistant and a nurse practitioner
A:
Best Answer:
The biggest difference in the type and philosophy of training. NPs go through the whole nursing hierarchy and learn under a nursing model (BSRN to MSRN to NP). Also, various NP schools may train single specialty as well such as a pediatric NP or a GYN NP etc.
PAs are taught under the medical school model. All are taught in primary care and then can specialize after they are finished. More traditionally PAs went into more surgical fields (ortho, cardio thoracic),and the ER etc. In some areas there is a great deal of overlap.
Both are pretty much master's level now. Both have prescriptive privileges. Some places will only hire NPs and some places prefer PAs. The salary overall is similar--some PAs make more and some NPs make more.
You have to explore both (follow one around and contact some & look at their webs as well as their journals) and decide which appeals to you more.
ER PA
Answered by Diane A
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