When it comes to the medical field, no matter what the designation says, every individual working in this field focuses on improving the health of the patients and communities. Nurse Practitioners and physician assistants are two different fields, but they share some similarities in their duties as they both stick to the medical background. They work closely under the supervision of doctors. However, choosing a career path is not a joke, especially when choosing between similar yet different career paths. Here is the blog that gives complete details- Nurse Practitioner vs Physician Assistant.
This is what the article is all about. You need to focus on your interests and skills in the first step to choose between a nurse practitioner or a physician assistant. Before choosing any one of them, you should make sure that you have a clear idea of where these individual career paths will lead you to. You need to know what exactly a nurse practitioner and a physician assistant do, how much they earn individually, and the possible career options. Let’s have an idea of each of them separately.
The nurse practitioner’s prime duties involve taking care of the patients, carrying out miscellaneous activities that doctors don’t get time to perform, counseling the patients, managing their health routine, and performing diagnostic tests. They are hired to ease the doctor’s work a bit. However, they are not completely authorized to carry out treatment procedures without a doctor’s consultation. They help coordinate and organize care-related duties.
Their education qualifications require a master’s degree, which is the minimal requirement. The duration of the course can range from 2 to 3 years. Likewise, a physician assistant (PA) works closely under a physician. In the United States, they are hired to perform diagnostic tests, carry out physical assessments, interpret test results, and primarily assist in surgeries.
They are also not authorized to carry out independent treatment procedures. They need to consult the physician before any decision, and this is where you will find a few similarities and differences between a nurse practitioner and a physician assistant. Even the PAs require a master’s degree, but their course duration varies from up to 27 months to as long as three years.
Similarities Between Nurse Practitioners (NPs) And PAs
- They both have a medical background.
- Both work under the supervision of a doctor or a physician.
- Both have their focus on providing better healthcare services.
- They are not authorized to carry out or execute any treatment independently.
- They carry out follow-up and routine check-up procedures on patients.
- They make sure that the patients are taken good care of.
- They perform the diagnostic tests and interpret the outcomes.
- Both of them need to have a master’s degree.
- They have similar academic subjects such as pharmacology and pathophysiology along with health assessment.
- They have a similar workplace setup. Either it’s a hospital or a personal clinic.
- Both can opt for specializations.
As you can interpret, the day-to-day duties of a nurse practitioner and a PA remain the same. However, physician assistants can also have a general qualification to work in various areas related to medicine. On the other hand, nurse practitioners need to choose a specialty degree of a family practice nurse practitioner or mental health-oriented nurse practitioner. To work further in other fields, they also need to undergo specific training and pursue certification courses.
Differences Between NPs And PAs
Although they have so many similarities, the difference lies in both the position in terms of authority they have for certain responsibilities. This difference is certainly based on the state you are working in. A few states allow nurse practitioners to carry out certain duties without the doctor’s supervision, while the rest of the states expect them to work under the doctors.
In some states, NPs can have the authority to carry out prescriptive work in collaboration with physicians. Talking about educational differences, While they both have to start with a Bachelor’s degree, NPs pursue a master’s in nursing, and PAs fetch a master’s in physician assistance. They both can further pursue doctoral degrees to enhance their skills and knowledge.
Nurse practitioners need to have a license in their master’s program, and they are required to maintain the licensure in their duration of practice. In contrast, physician assistants are asked for experience in the medical field, such as paramedics, emergency medical procedures, etc.
To apply for higher qualifications and even for practice as a professional. There are differences in the certification courses as well. Nurse practitioner certification courses are more specific than PAs. Experience is asked almost everywhere. The difference lies in the number of hours of practice which can vary from state to state and country to country.
How to Decide Between The Two Career Paths?– Nurse Practitioner vs Physician Assistant
Deciding between the two career paths can be confusing. But, you should consider the factors such as salary outlook, career options, educational qualifications, duration and requirements, duties, skills, and, lastly, your interest. The place and state you prefer to work in can also be a major factor influencing your decision. As a nurse practitioner, a license is essential. You need to earn a license before completing the program. On the other hand, you need to have work experience in the field or relevant field for PA programs. So, these are the criteria you can think about easing your decision.
The nurses often choose the NP path, but they eventually switch to the PA route and vice versa. So, switching career paths from being a nurse practitioner to a physician assistant and vice versa is common these days. This switch makes it possible that no matter what you choose, you would like to land in the field of your interest, and these two career paths provide you with the flexibility to do it.
If you are looking forward to a much-specialized field, then a nurse practitioner is a better career choice for you. Do you want to have authority in certain duties? You can have it if you go for the NP program. Some states may allow PA to have little authority in small duties as well. The PA program focuses more on general practice.
No matter what you choose, you need to have flexibility in your work as both career paths come with healthcare duties. You can be asked to stay for night shifts as well. Most of the work is full-time. You might have to work on weekends and holidays as per the duty calls.
Salary Outlook– Nurse Practitioner vs Physician Assistant
Both the professions have a good salary outlook. According to the latest report of BLS, the annual salary of NPs was around $117,670, and that of a physician assistant was around $115,390 in the year 2020. Salary can vary with the workplace. PAs are paid well in outpatient care centers, whereas NPs are paid the highest in-state or private hospitals. The opportunities are growing with time. Both are fast-growing sectors.
Annual job growth of 31% is expected from the year 2019-29 for PAs, whereas, for NPs, the 45% job growth is expected in the same duration. Salary also varies from place to place. California offers a job with the highest pay to NPs. However, the nurse practitioners have maximum job opportunities in Mississippi and Tennessee. In contrast, New York has maximum job opportunities for physician assistants, although they are the highest paid in Alaska.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Which profession is ranked higher, a PA or a NP?
Both professions have their pros and cons. Both are unique in their own ways. Both are related to the healthcare sector, so neither of the two professions can be ranked higher. However, you can get ample opportunities to learn and grow in both fields. Talking about the background, NP is more specialized, and PA is more general.
- The key difference between an NP and a PA?
Though most daily duties are similar, the difference lies in the authority one carries in their work in certain aspects. For example, NP may work independently without the direct supervision of a doctor in some states. On the other hand, PAs are expected to work under the supervision of a physician.
- Which of the two earns more money?
As stated before, the salary outlook varies with various factors. One of which is the state you apply to. Talking in a general aspect, nurse practitioners earn slightly more than a physician assistant. However, it varies accordingly with skills and experience.
- How much time do I need to invest to become a nurse practitioner?
NPs and PAs need to have a Bachelor’s degree. However, it takes a little longer to become a physician assistant as their master’s program duration is around 27 months, and they are asked to show clinical experience of at least 2000 hours. Whereas the master’s program in NP lasts for 24 months, and they need less clinical experience.
Conclusion
If you are looking forward to serving as a healthcare professional and your ultimate aim is to take care of people’s health, you can choose any of the two career routes regardless of the slight differences. However, you can research more specifically about the two paths and contemplate where you fit well. Money should never be the ultimate goal. Instead, be loyal to your duties, and you will thrive in whatever field you choose.
