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Difference Between NP and PA

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stethoscopeNP vs PA

Even if you’re not part of the medical community, it still pays to learn about the basics of terms like PA, NP, RN and the like. This is especially true if you have a relative or friend or you yourself are in the hospital ‘“ because these are the professionals who will help you through your healing process. You may already be familiar with the role of an RN or a Registered Nurse but what about NPs and PAs? This is exactly what we will try to discover here.

First, what do the acronyms stand for? NP is what nurse practitioners are called while PAs are Physician Assistants. How exactly do their jobs differ from that of a typical nurse? Basically, all of them have the same goal of examining and treating patients while assisting doctors at the same time. Where they differ is the scope of service provided, as well as the educational requirements that each job has.

Duties of PA

  • Work under the supervision of a physician or surgeon
  • Review patients’ medical histories
  • Do physical exams to check patients’ health
  • Order and interpret diagnostic tests, such as x rays or blood tests
  • Make preliminary diagnoses concerning a patient’s injury or illness
  • Provide treatment, such as setting broken bones and giving immunizations
  • Counsel patients and their families; for example, answering questions about how to care for a child with asthma
  • Prescribe medicine, when needed
  • Record a patient’s progress
  • Complete insurance paperwork

    A PAs duties and the extent they must by supervised by the physicians varies from state to state.

Duties of NP

  • Record patients’ medical histories and symptoms
  • Give patients medicines and treatments
  • Set up plans for patients’ care or contribute to existing plans
  • Observe patients and record the observations
  • Consult with doctors and other healthcare professionals
  • Operate and monitor medical equipment
  • Help perform diagnostic tests and analyze results
  • Teach patients and their families how to manage their illnesses or injuries
  • Explain what to do at home after treatment

In 2010 median salary of PAs in the US is $86 410 while NPs earned a median salary of $64 690 [1].

Education.

PAs typically need a Master’s degree but it differs from state to state. An accredited educational program for PAs must be completed to become one. All states require PAs to be licensed.

NPs must also be licensed. NPs must have atleast a master’s degree.

Whether a patient is treated by a PA or an NP, patients will still have the same level of care  especially since both have the proper training and educational requirement to perform their duties in the health care industry.

[1] http://www.bls.gov/ooh/Healthcare/Physician-assistants.htm
[2] http://www.bls.gov/ooh/Healthcare/Registered-nurses.htm#tab-1


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