A Physician Assistant (PA) is a highly trained and skilled licensed professional who acts as an extension, or agent, of a physician. A PA can provide evaluation, education, and other health care services based on patient needs. They can assist surgeons in the operating room and can perform minor procedures in all clinical settings, such as ambulatory care and the hospital. According to the American Academy of Physician Assistants, PA's practice in every state and in every clinical setting. Show Some of the medical services provided by a PA include, but are not limited, to:
To become a PA, one must attend a specialized school that is associated with a medical school, which includes both classroom and clinical time. Most PA students have an associate's degree or bachelor's degree prior to entering PA training. Some PA schools require prior medical work experience in order to be accepted. Clinical time involves numerous hours of internship in multiple clinical settings such as family practice, pediatrics, surgery, emergency department, internal medicine, orthopaedics, neurosurgery, etc. PA's must complete around 2,000 clinical hours prior to sitting for a licensing exam through the Physician Assistant Board, which is regulated in each state. RELATED: Does a Nurse Always Have to Follow a Doctor's Orders? The scope of practice for a PA is as broad as the supervising physician who oversees the PA. Each PA must have a written Delegation of Service Agreement signed by each supervising physician the PA works for in the clinical setting. The PA is only allowed to perform care related to the specialty of the supervising physician. For example, a PA who has an internal medicine physician as the supervising physician cannot provide care to pediatric patients. The PA scope of practice is a mirror of the supervising physician, who is responsible for the care provided by the PA. As the PA is acting as an agent of the physician, the nurse must follow the patient-specific orders written by the PA. All PA orders must be patient-specific; therefore a PA cannot sign standardized procedures for a nurse to follow. Most states require a supervising physician to co-sign a percentage of the charts and orders written by the PA. Other agencies such as Medicare may require all charts and orders to be co-signed by the supervising physician. By co-signing a chart or order, the supervising physician is attesting that they agree with the plan and have oversight for the PA's care of the patient. RELATED: NP vs PA Featured Nursing Programs
Amanda Bucceri Androus, RN, BSN Amanda Bucceri Androus is a Registered Nurse from Sacramento, California. She graduated from California State University, Sacramento in 2000 with a bachelor's degree in nursing. She began her career working night shifts on a pediatric/ med-surg unit for six years, later transferring to a telemetry unit where she worked for four more years. She currently works as a charge nurse in a busy outpatient primary care department. In her spare time she likes to read, travel, write, and spend time with her husband and two children.  Related Articles
There are several differences between nurse practitioners (NPs) and physician assistants (PAs). Let’s look at NP vs PA: TrainingNurse practitioners are advanced-practice nurses who have either a master's degree or doctoral degree in nursing and have completed an accredited NP program. They choose a specialty track based on their population foci in their course of study. For example, they can select pediatrics, adult/ gerontology, psychiatry, women’s health, etc. A specific number supervised of clinical hours is required to graduate and for licensure. Some NPs even choose to continue in a residency program to further their clinical experience. Specialty certification in their specialty is required as well to be able to practice. Learn more about the various NP specialties. Physician assistants must complete a minimum of a bachelor's degree to enroll in a PA program. Physician assistant programs are competitive, so getting an early start in prerequisite work is crucial. A master's degree is awarded after completion of the PA program. PAs are trained in general medicine but can specialize later. Physician assistants must also complete a set number of clinical hours to graduate, and general certification is also required. Both NP and PA programs can take 2-3 years to complete. Scope of PracticeBoth nurse practitioners and physician assistants have a clear scope of practice. Physician assistants must work in collaboration with a physician and prescribe under a physician. NPs, in some states, can practice independently. They can even open their own NP-run clinics. However, individual state regulations define specific scope of practice for each role. For example, some states allow NPs to prescribe controlled substances, and some do not. For both practitioners, state laws are becoming more relaxed as the United States faces a nation-wide physician shortage. RELATED:
Practice StylePerhaps one of the most significant differences between NPs and PAs is their practice style and approach to patient care. Nurse Practitioners are trained first as nurses, following the nursing model of care. They approach patients holistically and practice patient-centered care. Physician assistants are medically trained, following a medical model of care. They focus on disease processes and how to treat. Practice SettingsSince most PAs work in collaboration with a physician, they tend to work in clinics, hospitals, and nursing facilities. They don't necessarily need a physician on-site, but a physician should be accessible by phone or other communication. Nurse practitioners also work in clinics, hospitals, and nursing facilities. However, depending on the state in which they practice, they can even own and operate an NP-run clinic. Both NPs and PAs can work in a specialty area of choice; for example, emergency rooms or surgery clinics. SalaryNPs and PAs have similar pay grades. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, NPs earn a median salary of $107,460 per year. PAs earn a median salary of $104,480 annually. Income can vary depending on the state, city, and organization of employment. Read our guide to NP salary. Job OutlookBoth NPs and PAs have a promising career outlook. The job outlook for NPs (and other advanced-practice nurses) is expected to rise 31% through 2026, while the PA job outlook is expected to grow 37%. This is due to an increase in demand for healthcare services as a result of an aging baby-boomer population, an emphasis on preventive health, and healthcare legislation. Additionally, the US is experiencing a nation-wide physician shortage. This shortage, along with increased demand, results in more opportunity for mid-level providers such as nurse practitioners and physician assistants. Summary Both nurse practitioners and physician assistants are essential to the healthcare team. These providers ensure that the healthcare needs are met at a time when access to physicians can be challenging. Both require strict training and are governed by state regulations. The most significant difference is the approach to patient care and level of independent practice. Featured Nursing Programs
Amanda Bucceri Androus, RN, BSN Amanda Bucceri Androus is a Registered Nurse from Sacramento, California. She graduated from California State University, Sacramento in 2000 with a bachelor's degree in nursing. She began her career working night shifts on a pediatric/ med-surg unit for six years, later transferring to a telemetry unit where she worked for four more years. She currently works as a charge nurse in a busy outpatient primary care department. In her spare time she likes to read, travel, write, and spend time with her husband and two children. Related Articles
Is PA similar to NP?Nurse practitioners and physician assistants are advanced healthcare practitioners with similar responsibilities, such as diagnosing illnesses and prescribing medications. However, their training and paths toward certification differ in significant ways.
Can a nurse practitioner practice without a doctor in PA?(The Center Square) – Though a majority of states allow nurse practitioners full authority to deliver care, Pennsylvania still requires oversight from a physician.
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Physician assistant to nurse practitioner bridge program
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