I am considering going back to school to become a nurse practitioner (a Masters program that allows non-nurses to get their RN and then MSN) or going to a Physicians Assistant program, also a Masters. I think I can get into the NP program but iffy on my chances of getting into the PA program. Does anybody have advice on which direction I should choose and why? I am looking at Wisconsin's Marquette's Graduate School of Nursing and a PA program in Illinois at Rosalind Franklin University. Anybody familiar with either of those programs? I see a lot of jobs overlapping for PA or NP but I want to be respected by MD's/DO's and I am not sure how they feel about NP's over PA's. Thanks for your input.
(By the way, my over GPA is a 3.1 and my science GPA is a 3.3) I have not taken the GRE yet.
2007-06-07 12:56:15 · 5 answers · asked by skowalski04 2 in Business & Finance ➔ Careers & Employment ➔ Health Care
Yes, there is some overlap in jobs, although PAs typically have more surgical jobs, ER, trauma, ortho; while NPs often are peds, OB/GYN, geriatrics; both are family practice. The decision is what you want & how you want to get there. PAs are taught on the medical model in a mini-medical school as it may be; and nurses are taught in the nursing model at a nursing school. If you are good at your job, no matter if you are a PA or a NP, you will be respected--you usually get judged in medicine upon individual competence not on your category. Both can get jobs in any state in the US and can also get jobs that are non-clinical, as well as clinic & hospital jobs. Salaries are relatively equal, although in California PAs make a little more. Both can prescribe medications. I would consider talking to one of each and possibly following them around for a day.
2007-06-08 07:33:05 · answer #1 · answered by Diane A 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Physician Assistants are among the most high-growth jobs in the US, and their salaries average around 90K and assistants specializing in areas such as neurosurgery can make up to 150K. Nursing is also high growth, but not so much as PAs. The incomes are also less. As a physician assistant, you'd have physicians at hospitals seeking PAs (they actually put up listings online looking for them!), and nurses are always wanted by hospitals!
2016-04-01 08:49:10 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think they are equally great. I think though you can use your NP more because of the need for nurses - but it's just my two cents of being loyal to my "team".. I know a few PA's and always think it's also a great field.
2007-06-07 13:12:58 · answer #3 · answered by kelly e 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Its completely up to you. If you like to more around a lot, and want to have more opportunities to move forward in your career, a nurse practitioner is probably better. If you want to be able to settle down in one place and have more job security, then a physicians assistant is better. How do you see your future?
2007-06-07 13:08:21 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
An Nurse Practitioner makes MUCH, MUCH, MUCH more money than an assistant. A medical assistant usually makes less than $12 an hour, at lest here in Washington state.
2007-06-07 13:13:41 · answer #5 · answered by Ryan's mom 7 · 1⤊ 6⤋