What are the differences between physician assistants and nurse practitioners?

Question

Can anyone tell me what they do, how the salary differs, how demanding the job is, any good California schools for PA/NPs...etc

Answer 1

Career: Advanced-Practice Nurses
You wake up one morning with awful flu symptoms and call your doctor. Unfortunately, she’s out of town, but the nurse practitioner (NP) is available instead. The NP examines you, cultures your throat, writes a prescription, and sends you on your way to recovery.

Today’s advanced-practice nurses (including NPs) perform tasks once reserved for medical doctors. They assist other medical professionals and manage patient care. And some specialize in fields such as pediatrics (working with children and teens) and oncology (working with cancer patients).

Advanced-practice nurses diagnose and treat illnesses and provide health care. Most are also certified to prescribe medication.

“I can't call the doctors at the hospital for every decision I need to make. I was hired to make these decisions by myself.”

Joan, Nurse Practitioner

Are You Ready To...?
Take an extra two or three years of postgraduate study to specialize
Pass a specialty test in addition to the National Council Licensure Exam
Examine and counsel patients
Diagnose health problems
Write prescriptions
Observe rigid guidelines to protect yourself and others against disease and work-related dangers
Possibly start your own practice
It Helps to Be...
Caring, sympathetic, detail-oriented, and able to make quick, logical decisions. You must be able to cope with emergencies, stress, and suffering -- and remain levelheaded all the while. You'll encourage patients to get well and, sometimes, help them to let go.

Make High School Count
Take plenty of challenging math and science courses all through high school.
Enhance your communication skills through English composition, drama, and speech classes.
Study a foreign language so you’ll be able to reach out and communicate with different communities and patients.
Volunteer at a health clinic, a hospital, a women’s clinic, or an eldercare facility.
Did You Know?
Certified registered nurse anesthetists are advanced-practice nurses who give patients medication before surgery to prevent pain.
Outlook
Government economists expect job growth for registered nurses, including advanced-practice nurses, to be much faster than the average for all careers through 2014. A continued nursing shortage combined with the number of nurses nearing retirement should result in many job openings.

Thanks to new technology, nurses will be providing patients with improved medical treatments and preventive care. More jobs will be available outside of hospitals as medical procedures and treatments are increasingly done in doctors' offices to cut costs.

Compensation
In its 2003 salary survey, the journal ADVANCE for Nurse Practitioners found that the average annual salary of full-time nurse practitioners was $69,203. Nurse practitioners with their own practices earn the most at $94,313.

Average annual salaries by specialty are listed below:


Emergency: $80,697
Neonatal: $73,796
Gerontology: $70,507
Surgery: $69,506
Mental health: $68,628
Pediatric: $67,303
Family practice: $66,276
Obstetrics/gynecology: $65,963






Career: Physician Assistants
You won’t have a “Dr.” in front of your name as a physician assistant (PA). But it’s the next best thing to being there. As a PA, you’ll do much of what doctors do, from giving checkups and diagnosing illness to prescribing medication. While technically you’ll be under a doctor’s supervision, you’ll work very independently most of the time.

If you’re passionate about health care and have the personality and desire to be out there on the front lines, becoming a physician assistant may be just the path for you.

Physician assistants practice medicine under a doctor's supervision, doing almost everything that doctors do.

Did You Know?
It takes almost as long to become a PA as it does to become a physician. The average PA program takes 111 weeks to complete; medical school takes 155 weeks.
Are You Ready To...?
Examine and treat patients
Diagnose illness
Prescribe medication
Work under a doctor’s supervision
Continue studying throughout your career
It Helps to Be...
A science whiz who likes school -- you’ll be there for quite a while. An ability to work on your own with confidence is also critical.

Make High School Count
Let science be your guide. Building a solid foundation in challenging biology, chemistry, and physics courses will put you ahead of the game when you start college.
Take speech. Being able to communicate clearly with patients and coworkers is an important part of a PA’s job.
Enroll in a university health sciences summer program for high school students or compete for a free place in your state’s Governor’s School for the sciences.
Volunteer with the local hospital or another health care provider to see if this is really the life for you.
Become a peer counselor at your school.
Did You Know?
PAs can prescribe medications in forty-seven states and the District of Columbia.
Outlook
Government economists expect physician assisting to be the fourth-fastest-growing field through 2014.

The most opportunities will be found in rural and inner-city clinics, which have trouble attracting physicians.

Compensation
The average yearly income for physician assistants in 2005 was $71,070, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.


California PA programs - http://www.aapa.org/pgmview.php3?state=CA

California NP programs - http://www.rn.ca.gov/schools/apprgms.htm

Answer 2

Essentially the same. There are some minor differences, such as the percentage of charts (patients) that must be audited by the doctor. Realize this, that by-and-large, PA's have a higher salary than NP's, and for no apparent reason other that the title (look it up). For me, I would think that NP's would be more experienced since they have more practical experience with patients even before they matriculate graduate school. (I was a nurse, I have no bias toward either - Now as a physician, I would simply hire the more qualified). If NP or PA is your goal, I would probably do whatever is shorter, depending on your ultimate career goal. I would encourage you to talk to each before making your decision.

Answer 3

The only difference is pa's can write perscriptions for narcotics and NP's cannot.

Answer 4

This website gives all the details you could want on both jobs and everything that they entail.

http://aappolicy.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/pediatrics;103/5/1050

Answer 5

Physician assistant

Salary: $66,788 - $114,204

Job Description for Physician Assistant (PA)
A Physician Assistant (PA) is a skilled mid-level medical provider that works under the supervision of a physician to assess, diagnose and treat and follow a variety of common ailments and conditions, generally in a primary care setting. PAs complete physical exams, and may order and interpret laboratory, radiologic and other diagnostic tests as needed to diagnose and treat a patient in conjunction with the physician. PAs may also order medications and other therapeutic procedures as needed. PAs serve to educate patient and promote health. Some PAs also serve as first-assistants to the supervising physician during surgical and medical procedures. PAs work in a variety of settings, including physician offices, hospitals, prisons, and assisted living facilities. Office-based PAs generally maintain bank hours. Other PA’s may have rotating schedules, including weekends, holidays, and on-call time. PAs normally work indoors under fast-paced conditions. Exposure to hazardous materials and bodily fluids may occur. Time management is a key skill for any PA. To become a PA requires a minimum of a master’s degree, state licensing, and passing a national certification exam administered by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA). PA program entry requirements vary by school, but generally require a 4 year degree, volunteer experience, and GRE exam scores. With changes in the health care environment, PAs are an integral part of creating access to health care, and can expect increased job opportunities.
Physician Assistant (PA) Tasks
Order and interpret test results and recommend treatment of patients.
Conduct complete physicals, provide treatment and counsel patients.
Prescribe therapy or medication with physician approval.
Administer therapeutic procedures.
Provide physicians with assistance during surgery or complicated medical procedures.

See http://bitly.com/XKZYLR

Nurse Practitioner

Salary: $63,260 - $107,796

Job Description for Nurse Practitioner (NP)

An advanced registered nurse practitioner (ARNP) is a registered nurse who holds a master's degree in nursing. To become a nurse practitioner requires a minimum of 6 years of education, part of which includes hands-on didactic training. A national certification exam in the ARNP's specialty area must be passed, and state licensing must be obtained before a nurse practitioner may legally practice. Specialty areas available to the ARNP include but are not limited to: acute care, psychiatry, pediatric and women's health nursing. ARNPs generally work under a supervising physician; however, some states allow ARNPs to work independently. The work of a nurse practitioner generally includes performing a health assessment, diagnosing health disorders, prescribing medications as indicated, and following and managing patients over a life span. ARNPs complete physical exams and may order and interpret laboratory, radiologic and other diagnostic tests as needed to diagnose and treat a patient in conjunction with the physician. ARNPs may also order medications and other therapeutic procedures as needed. ARNPs serve to educate patients and promote health. Some nurse practitioners also serve as first assistants to the supervising physician during surgical and medical procedures. Nurse practitioners may work with a variety of patient populations, including pediatric, adult and elderly clients. Practice settings can include inpatient and outpatient health clinics, hospitals, jails and prisons, and private practice offices. Working conditions can include contact with contagious diseases and bodily fluids. Working hours are generally weekdays, but may include nights, weekends and holidays, as needed. With the increased access to medical care, the role of the nurse practitioner as a provider has increased.

Nurse Practitioner (NP) Tasks
Order and interpret test results and recommend treatment of patients.
Conduct complete physicals, provide treatment and counsel patients.
Prescribe therapy or medication with physician approval.
Administer therapeutic procedures.
Provide physicians with assistance during surgery or complicated medical procedures.

See http://bitly.com/XJHqM9