What is a nurse practitioner (NP)?

Nurse practitioners have more training than a registered nurse (RN) but less training than a doctor, although they have similar responsibilities. They can examine, diagnose and even provide prescriptions to patients. NPs are licensed RNs who are certified by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners and can provide primary or specialized care, including:

• Family Care. They provide primary care to patients of all ages, including entire families, and they develop long-term relationships with their patients.
• Acute Care. These nurses see patients when they’re admitted, sick or have been through trauma or surgery.
• Neonatal. Along with neonatologists, neonatal nurse practitioners care for premature or sick infants.
• Emergency. These nurses diagnose and manage patients with illnesses and injuries that need immediate attention.
• Oncology. Oncology nurses care for cancer patients currently undergoing treatment.

What is a physician assistant (PA)?

Physician assistants are collaborative medical professionals who can diagnose, treat, and prescribe medication and treatment, much like a doctor can. The difference is that while a doctor will spend nearly a decade choosing a specialization, PAs are versatile enough to work within different specializations throughout their career. They provide support to the doctor and the patient, and they can even fill in for the doctor when necessary.

PA vs NP: similarities and differences

If you were to make a column of physician assistant vs nurse practitioner duties, you’d be pleased to see that both professions are more similar than they are different. While both professionals can go through the process of diagnosing and treating illnesses, the key difference is that nurse practitioners choose a specialization based on a population of patients.

For example, there are some practitioners who specialize in women’s health or in psychiatry. Their objective is to provide education and care to those particular groups of patients. By contrast, PAs are trained in general medicine to act in the capacity of a physician.

Education requirements

In addition to passing the NCLEX-RN license and having a bachelor’s in nursing from an accredited institution, Nurse practitioners must have a graduate degree in nursing, MSN, or a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP). On top of formal education, they need to be a Certified Nurse Practitioner (CNP), which requires passing a national exam. They also need hundreds of clinical hours and continuing education credits to recertify every five years.

To be a PA, candidates need an MS in Physician Assistant Studies from a properly accredited program. This degree requires a minimum of 2,000 hours of clinical practice prior to graduation. All PAs must pass the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE) and from there, they can receive their state license. PAs are required to recertify with continuing education credits, which vary from state to state, and must take a recertification exam every six to 10 years to stay active.

Hiring process

The interview and hiring processes for both professionals need to be customized and may require a few rounds. Once you’ve decided which type of healthcare professional is a good fit, consider the level of experience you require.

You can find newly qualified candidates from training programs. Not only do they command lower starting salaries, but they are also malleable enough to be mentored and trained in a specific practice style.

On the other hand, offices may require someone with more experience who can easily step into the role of a lead should the physician be out of the office for an extended period of time. In that case, it’s a good idea to enlist the help of staff to help formulate questions and to be directly involved in the interview process.

Once you’ve found the right candidate, extend the job offer with the physician’s contract, as well as the scope of practice, which is the list of activities the professional is allowed to perform. All documents must comply with local and state laws and regulations regarding this type of medical provider.

Nurse practitioner vs physician assistant FAQs

Is a physician assistant above a nurse practitioner?

Neither is above the other because they have different educational paths, qualifications and responsibilities. They also work in different specialties but can wind up working together on the same medical team.

What makes a PA different from an NP?

Physician assistants are trained to work interdependently with medical doctors because their training is based on the medical model. NP training is based on the nursing model. Physician assistants can assist in surgical procedures, while only surgical NPs have that privilege. Unlike nurse practitioners, PAs don’t have to choose a specific medical specialization. They can work in different medical disciplines, making them more flexible than NPs.

Does a nurse practitioner have to work under a doctor?

Nurse practitioners don’t have to work under the supervision of a doctor in 25 states. This means they can open up their own practice and see patients.