nurse practitioner or PA?

I am in a dilemma. I am 42 and looking for a new career. I currently work in a hospital as a Nuclear Med Tech but that is not going anywhere. I always wanted to be a PA but the schooling seemed so rigorous. I have three kids and the curriculum at both NJ schools looks like I would not see them basically for three years. My other thought is to go the nursing route. I have a BA and could get an RN in two years going at night while keeping my day job. I could then complete my NP degree part time . The only real drawback to this plan is that I really do not want to do bedside nursing. I want to diagnose and treat people but not clean up vomit or give sponge bathes. Are NP and PA's interchangeable? Which way should I go?

I'm facing a similar dilemma. PA or NP? PA is far more exciting because you're being trained to be a clinician. NP training can get me there for much less money but much longer time. Regrettably, it is two dreadful years of RN training I wouldn't enjoy. When I compare the curriculum of NP and PA programs, I cannot understand how NP's become clinicians. The NP programs doesn't appear to be based upon sciences. If one simply wants a good paying job at the end but doesn't care about the journey, NP is fine. I'm still not sure I can give up so much valuable time on learning "nursing diagnosis" and "nursing plans."

Go to PA school! If you have a bachelors degree and the required classes you should have no problem getting in. The programs are very rigorous, and time consuming, but in the end the job opportunities are great. The NP programs are based on a nursing model not the clinical model like medical students go through. I don't know how close you are to New York, but I think that there are a couple of programs that are just over two years. Good luck with your endevors

Jeff you are absolutely correct about NP programs. The nurses have a very strong lobby which has allowed the NP to practice autonomously in 23 states. They even had prescriptive rights before PA's. Take the time and go to PA school, you'll be glad you did

c hayes in Denton, Texas said: Jeff you are absolutely correct about NP programs. The nurses have a very strong lobby which has allowed the NP to practice autonomously in 23 states. They even had prescriptive rights before PA's. Take the time and go to PA school, you'll be glad you did

Hello as a soon to be graduate of NP school I believe that my 10 years as a nurse has helped me be a better clinician. Do PA have enough clinical experience to be able to make critical decisions? I am not sure, but have seen some very good PA. IF you are not a nurse right now, I agree that going to get your B.S. in nursing and then off to get your master's is a long road. NP are a powerful body when they unite. The AMA on the other hand is bigger and has more financial resources to call upon. I like to think that NP and PA are 2 providers that are available for access to medical care. In the US the physician population is aging rapidly and medical school enrollment is not enough to take care of all of our medical needs as a country. Therefore PA/NP are great avenues to enhance access to medical care.
Good luck in your decision.
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Hello,

I think both areas are needed to improve health care to all. NP's have are moving to a doctoratal degree which you may or may not be interested in. If you are interested in independent or collaborative practice I would go the NP route.

I am a nurse and I talked to two NP's and asked them what route they would take if they were to do it all over again and both of them said PA. They acknowledged the fact that PA's education style is more intense. Do PA.

nursing school is not a waste of time and the nurses treat the human response to disease where doctors and pa diagnoise it. a np trained on a nursing model recieves very vigourus training and nursing school is not a waste of time if you want the automy that pa's don't have to perscribe or work on their own. what you can do is get your ba in nursing and your ma in PA. most PA programs are changing from BA to MA anyway and you need a certain amount of hours medical exprience to apply anyway.

I would have to disagree with the above. Docs/PA's/NP's diagnose IN ORDER TO treat disease, and nurses carry out the order of the Doctor/PA/NP, and assess the response to treatment. If you want 100 percent autonomy, become a doctor. Being an autonomous PA/NP demands that you have significant healthcare experience before matriculation. I know of PA's who have close to 100 percent autonomy, working solo in rural and urban areas. It all depends on the amount of trust between the supervising physician and the PA.

NP's and PA's are not interchangeable. Take a look at the cirriculum; there are huge differences. NP's in essence practice advanced nursing (which includes the ability to diagnose, treat, prescribe), and PA's practice medicine (working as a team with doctors). One is no better than the other. It really depends on the type of education and career you want. Good luck!

Do you think a PA with certification in Nuclear Med could be an asset to certain physicians? I am a recent grad of Nuclear Med and we all know that there are no jobs. So Im seeking further education, finishing up my bachelors in the Spring. I think that a PA with a Nuclear Certification would be a great asset to a Cardiology office. I do not want my Nuclear schooling to go to waste, but I also dont want to work some dead end job after all this work. What do you think?

Hey Rocky,

What school did you graduated from? I am a nuc med tech in NJ also. Are they still pumping out alot of students. It ridiculous. They should close at least two of the schools instead of promising potential students that there will be jobs available upon graduation. I am lucky to have a job in the field but I have been going back and forth about applying to PA school. The work in the nuclear field is dwindling down for sure.

I graduated from the UMDNJ program. When I went into the program the market was relatively good and program director said there was a relatively good chance of getting a job upon completion. I did have one interview for a job in the city, but I didn't have enough "experience". I will never get that experience with the way the market is. This is why Im thinking about PA school. It allows me to maintain a career in the healthcare field, with the possibility of keeping my Nuclear Certification in tact and valuable.

Yeah, that is a huge problem now for new graduates. Hospitals and doctors can have their pick of techs so if you don't have any experience , you have virtually no chance of getting a job in the current market.

I graduated from Muhlenberg and faced the same situation as you a few years ago. The job market started tanking by the time I graduated. Luckily, I found a part time job ( all I wanted at the time) when I graduated but with the workload decreasing, I sometimes don't get in all the hours I want.

I always wanted to go for PA but was intimidated by the amount of schooling required. I have three kids so three years seemed like too bit of a sacrifice. In retrospect, I would have been done by now had I started several years ago. Now I would have to give up my job and be without an income for three years. I just don't think I could stomach nursing. I work with many nurses and most of them are not happy.

Good Luck

Is it possible to "take a break" from being a PA? Is it possible to keep certification, or renew certification after expiration, after a couple of years of not practicing as a PA?
Also, how long would you say it takes to pay off the debt from PA school after graduation?

I have been seriously thinking about going the PA route. I've been doing a lot of research, but I just watched a video that described PA's as "performing routine, non-diagnostic medical tasks." None of my the other PA profiles I've read make it seem so bland. I know a PA is not going to be identical to a doctor, but aren't PA's able to diagnose?

Kriz, it sounds like the job description of a MEDICAL ASSISTANT, not a Physician Assistant. PAs diagnose, treat, read and interpret labs and tests, assist in surgeries, and prescribe medications. This description is just plain incorrect. I would suggest going to the AAPA website. There is a detailed description of the job of a PA there. Good luck!

chiaroscuro in Atlanta, Georgia said: Kriz, it sounds like the job description of a MEDICAL ASSISTANT, not a Physician Assistant. PAs diagnose, treat, read and interpret labs and tests, assist in surgeries, and prescribe medications. This description is just plain incorrect. I would suggest going to the AAPA website. There is a detailed description of the job of a PA there. Good luck!

PAs do diagnose, treat, interpret labs and tests, perform invasive procedures, etc. Some descriptions can be technical in nature, outdated and vague. Also, as the PA is working under the authority and supervision of the physician, the physician can be interpreted as the one technically responsible for the diagnosis - even though they may not even be physically there or directly involved with the care at that time. But, this is antiquated regulatory or institutional language.

In all practical purposes PAs do diagnose and treat.

With regards to NPs, be careful of the misleading language of independent practice. NPs may practice nursing independently. This is most often counseling, education, and care coordination. However, for medical care, this must be performed with a formal collaborative agreement with a physician. In reality, the overwhelming majority of NPs who provide direct patient care are interchangeable with the PAs in the same setting. The advantage to PAs is the greater amount of training in the medical model and the flexibility of working in different specialties and settings.

The independent practice NP talk is most often used by nursing educators who are selling their programs. My NP wife and RN mother, sister-in-law, and cousins feel nursing should focus on RNs and the best midlevel role is PA.

1st goto the AAPA.org and read the information there.
2nd find PAs from different disciplines that interest you and see if they will permit you to shadow them on various occasions.
3rd Make sure that you have got all of your pre-reqs out of the way. If not, start knocking them out. 1. admissions folks will look at the most recent school work to see if you up for the academic challenge 2. the pre-reqs are there to give you a solid foundation for material yet to learn in PA school and beyond. Really knowing your physiology and micro will be invaluable.

Once you start back in on classes and find a school or two that interest you, make an appointment to tour the school and meet with the admissions. The people letting you in are in the best position to advise you. Don't just go with what you think will be good and/ or what other well meaning individuals trying to advise you.

In terms of medical experience, try to work anywhere that will let you get hands on care and experience with meds. Look for jobs that will give you exposure to areas of interest. If you can only work in one area due to $ or other considerations, look for a community clinic.

SOUTH DAKOTA:

PRIMARY CARE PA: Busy primary care facility. Underserved region. Great benefits, retirement package, 401k.

NORTH DAKOTA:

PRIMARY CARE PA: Facility is looking for a primary care PA. Full time position with Great Pay and Benefits, retirement package, 401k.

OREGON: PORTLAND, OREGON

EMERGENCY ROOM PA: Underserved region PA to work in the Emergency Room. Full time position with Great Pay and Benefits, retirement package, 401k.

alicay4 in Longmont, Colorado said: Is it possible to "take a break" from being a PA? Is it possible to keep certification, or renew certification after expiration, after a couple of years of not practicing as a PA?
Also, how long would you say it takes to pay off the debt from PA school after graduation?

So do NPs have to do a recertification exam every six years or 100 hours of continuous education every two years? because I am still early in life but am trying to decide which route to take, PA or NP.
Advice? more pros and cons?

I am a FNP with 25 years of nursing combined with 11 years as an NP. I would highly recommend if you go the NP route, to work as an RN for at least a few years before becoming an NP. You gain valuable patient skills doing this. Unfortunately, the PA programs don't value this. Having said that, I am starting work in a PA-owned family practice clinic in a couple of weeks. So, I truly believe we can work together well.

As far as re-certification goes, I have to have at least 1000 work hours, and 75-150 hours of CME for my boards. For my state, I have to have 50 hours/year of education.

Many PAs seem to have a chip on their shoulders, like they resent not having the last say, especially if they've been practicing for a while and have to work under a new doc.

I am currently a highschool senior and I have completed all of my nursing prerequisites through concurrent enrollment. I am trying to decide what route to take after nursing school. I am very dedicated so I cant decide if I should just go the extra mile to medical school or settle for NP or PA. I really want to work with kids and I do not want to become a NP or PA and feel like I am doing the same work as a MD but less pay. What are the advantages/disadvantages to each title and what are the average salaries? Thank you to any and all responses/opinions!

WOW...Jeff you sentiments sound a little harsh. You know I was in the same dilemma for quite some time. I was very optimistic about my chances of getting into PA school. Well once I got my all my pre-req done, secured my BA degree. Which I got in Psychology, if figured it would provide a little diversity in the applicant pool. Well I took the GRE achieve a good score, my overall GPA was like a 3.3 and science were a little higher than this. Well I applied and didn't get in. I was so shocked. Then I started think ok I am a older student what should I do now. Reality set in that I am an older student and I need to get moving. Well a nurse took me under his wing and gave me the skinny on both jobs. He layed out the pro's and con's. Then I started to see that as an NP I can work autonomsly in most settings. I won't be depended on a providers licenses and having that extra bed side manner will only make a better clinician. True NP's are based after a nursing model rather than a md model, but a lot of the classes overlap. NP's make really good money. I have a friend that works in Pre-Op as a NP her salary is just under 100K, straight out of school. The we have some that work in the clinic's who's salary is 120K. So when you ask me about the difference is the money, I would say there really isn't much. As far as marketable, you will always have a job. Plus while in NP school you can work as a floor nurse. Again giving you that extra training to be really good at what you do.

I don't think the training is a mundane as what one would think, I believe you will enjoy the journey the entire way. All while working and making money. I think you should look a little bit more into the NP profession before you just rule it out, totally. You might be suprised.

duke grad PA-C in Durham, North Carolina said: 1st goto the AAPA.org and read the information there.
2nd find PAs from different disciplines that interest you and see if they will permit you to shadow them on various occasions.
3rd Make sure that you have got all of your pre-reqs out of the way. If not, start knocking them out. 1. admissions folks will look at the most recent school work to see if you up for the academic challenge 2. the pre-reqs are there to give you a solid foundation for material yet to learn in PA school and beyond. Really knowing your physiology and micro will be invaluable.

Once you start back in on classes and find a school or two that interest you, make an appointment to tour the school and meet with the admissions. The people letting you in are in the best position to advise you. Don't just go with what you think will be good and/ or what other well meaning individuals trying to advise you.

In terms of medical experience, try to work anywhere that will let you get hands on care and experience with meds. Look for jobs that will give you exposure to areas of interest. If you can only work in one area due to $ or other considerations, look for a community clinic.

Which area of medicine do you work in ? What is the salary range for ER PA?

does anyone know the re-certification differences between a PA and a NP? I know that a PA has to be recertified every 6 years with an exam, and complete 100 CME hours every 2 years..but I haven't been able to find anything out about this topic for a NP??

50 years old - pharma sales is so unstable these days. Trying to determine all that is involved in pursuing my RN and then going onward. It requires putting it all on the line. I think nursing is a lot more than just dealing with bodily fluids and it will set me up for NP it all is a good fit. Thoughts?