While they both diagnose medical conditions and treat patients, nurse practitioners and physician assistants have important distinctions. These differences include education and training requirements, job responsibilities, work environments, and areas of specialization.
Nurse Practitioners are skilled clinicians who care for patients by diagnosing and treating medical conditions and illnesses, ordering and interpreting lab work and diagnostic tests, and prescribing medication. Nurse practitioners may work as primary care providers or specialize in a particular area of medicine, such as pediatric health, mental health, or geriatric care.
Nurse practitioners may consult with or work under physicians, but in many states, they can practice independently without physician supervision. Many patients choose to see nurse practitioners rather than physicians for their primary care needs.
Physicians Assistants work under the supervision of physicians to care for patients. They examine and treat patients, order and interpret X-rays, order blood tests and other diagnostic tests, counsel patients on medical care issues, prescribe medication, and perform physical examinations.
Education
While both careers require graduate degrees, other education and training requirements differ between nurse practitioners and physician assistants.
NPs are advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs), who need at least a master’s in nursing with a focus in their area of specialization. They must also pass a national certification examination, earn a registered nurse (RN) license, and have a state APRN license. Some nurse practitioners complete an advanced education with a doctorate of nursing practice (D.N.P.) or a Ph.D.
Physician assistants must have at least a master’s certification from an accredited program. They must also pass the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE) and become licensed, which earns them the Physician Assistant-Certified (PA-C) credential.
Roles
Nurse practitioners receive advanced nursing training and take a holistic approach to their responsibilities, focusing on their patients’ overall health and well-being. NPs’ work typically includes educating and counseling patients on disease prevention and healthy lifestyle choices.
Training for PAs is based on the principles of a medical school education, qualifying these professionals to practice medicine. PAs are an important part of a medical team, and in many states, they are required to have legal agreements with their supervising physicians.
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