If you're a nurse practitioner or a physician assistant, have you ever thought about what it would be like to switch careers? Maybe you're wondering if there's more to life than being a nurse practitioner or a physician assistant. 

Or maybe you're thinking about making a switch because you've thought it's time for something new. Whatever the case may be, there are a lot of factors to consider when deciding whether or not to make this kind of career move.

The first and most obvious question is: What am I going to do with my life if I leave my current career path? If this is something that's been on your mind, then keep reading! 

Duties of Nurse Practitioner 

Nurse practitioner duties include:  

• Conducting comprehensive health assessments, developing nursing diagnoses, and devising treatment plans.
• Patient education by listening to patients' concerns, identifying learning needs, and working with other health care providers to develop a plan for addressing them.  
• Developing and implementing preventive care programs for patients with chronic conditions such as diabetes or heart disease, including providing education on lifestyle changes that can help improve their condition.
• Ordering diagnostic tests and referring patients to other health care providers when needed.

What Is a Physician Assistant?

A physician assistant (PA) is a healthcare professional who works under the supervision of a licensed physician. PAs are trained to perform many of the same duties as doctors, including making diagnoses, ordering and interpreting tests, and prescribing medications.

PAs work in all areas of medicine, including primary care, emergency medicine, and surgery. They may also provide immunizations and other preventive health services.

PAs often work in team settings with other healthcare professionals such as nurse practitioners (NPs), physicians' assistants, and registered nurses (RNs).

Duties of Physician Assistant 

If you’re thinking of going into this field, you should know that physician assistants are required to work under the supervision of a physician. 

They can perform many of the same duties as nurse practitioners and other healthcare professionals. Still, they cannot prescribe medications without having a collaborative agreement with the prescribing physician or DO.

Also Read: How To Become A Mental Health Nurse Practitioner?

Key Differences Between Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants 

You may be wondering, “What’s the difference between a nurse practitioner and a physician assistant?”

1. Salary

Well, let us tell you. The first thing that stands out is the salary. Physician assistants make more money than their nurse practitioner counterparts. The median annual wage for a physician assistant was $121,530 in 2021, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). 

In comparison, NPs made just over $120,680 on average during this same period—a difference of about $1 per year!

2. Education Requirements 

The education requirements are also different between these two professions: while both require an advanced degree (typically a master's) from an accredited school of nursing or health sciences program, only a PA can obtain certification through one state agency in order to practice legally for ten years as such; whereas NP's must be recertified after every two years before being able to work independently under their own license—a process which can take upwards of five years after completing your degree! 

Both degrees are academic programs that require classes in medical terminology, anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, and more.

They also require students to take the clinical experience as part of their coursework – either through rotations at local hospitals or shadowing another healthcare professional like an RN or physician assistant before graduation. The length of these programs varies depending on whether they're done online or not.

NP vs. PA Scope of Practice

If you want to be a nurse practitioner, you'll need to get your bachelor's degree in nursing and then apply to a Nurse Practitioner program. You'll have to complete that program before you can go on for further education or certification as a physician assistant.

The scope of practice for both professions is similar—the main difference between the two is that NPs can prescribe medication, while PAs cannot.

However, PAs do have more autonomy with regard to their client interactions and patient care management than NPs do because they are supervised more closely by physicians than NPs are by other nurses.

Also Read: How Many Hours Do Nurses Work?

Nurse Practitioner Vs. Physician Assistant Work Environments

1. PAs Work Environment 

Physician assistants work in a variety of settings, but can also practice in an academic setting.

PA may be employed by hospitals or health care systems as part of the clinical staff. They can help manage patients' care at the point of service and act as the main provider for specific procedures or treatments. 

In this capacity, PA's often function like NPs do; however, they do not have independent decision-making abilities that would qualify them to practice without physician supervision.

2. NP's Work Environment 

Nurse practitioners work in various settings, including hospitals, clinics, doctor's offices, and nursing homes. The majority are employed by hospitals and clinics to provide primary care services to patients, but some work independently or for physicians.  

Nurse practitioners may be hired on a full-time or part-time basis. Full-time positions usually include benefits such as health insurance, paid time off, and retirement plans. 

Part-time positions are often less desirable because they offer fewer benefits and only allow you to work a certain number of hours each week. Nurse practitioners who work independently will have greater flexibility in scheduling their time and working remotely on occasion.

NP vs. PA Career Outlook

The Nurses Practitioner profession is expected to grow at a faster rate than other healthcare professions. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that employment in this field will increase by 45% between 2030, which is faster than the average growth rate of all occupations, including physician assistants, which is expected to grow by 31%

What Should I Choose As My Career?

The first thing to consider when deciding between a physician assistant career and a nurse practitioner career is what you want to do.

If you love working with patients, are passionate about helping people, and want to earn a living doing something that makes a difference in the world, then either choice can be rewarding.

However, if you're looking for a more traditional office setting, then a physician assistant might be better suited for you. Nurse practitioners often work in rural areas or other areas where there aren't many physicians available. This means that they may have to travel farther from home than PAs do.

In addition, PAs and NPs both usually work with more complex cases. They also often provide more medical care on an ongoing basis.

Also Read: 9 Tips For New Nurses To Build Confidence

It's A Wrap!

Now, you know what the difference between a Nurse Practitioner and a Physician Assistant is.

You also know their education requirements, salary ranges, and job prospects.

So what's next?

The next step is to think about how these careers fit into your life goals and interests. Do you want to work with people, or do you prefer working on your own? Do you want to work in a hospital, or would you rather work in an office setting? Are there any other factors that will improve your chances of success in either of these careers?

Once you've answered these questions, it will be easy for you to choose which path is right for you!

FAQs

Is a Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant Better?

Nurse practitioners and physician assistants both play an essential role in patient care, but they have different focuses.

Nurse practitioners are medical professionals who can diagnose, treat, and prescribe medications for patients. They are registered nurses who have completed a master's degree program and clinical training. 

Physician assistants are also registered nurses who have completed a two-year program of study in a graduate school or vocational school that focuses on medical education. 

PAs can perform many of the same duties as NPs, but don't have the authority to prescribe medications independently.

Do Nurse Practitioners Make More than Physician Assistants?

No, a nurse practitioner does not make more than a physician assistant. This is because physician assistants have more training, and they often have to do more work than an NP.

What can a PA do that an NP cannot?

A physician assistant can diagnose and treat patients, prescribe medications, and perform many of the same tasks as a doctor. NPs can also do these things, but they are limited by state laws to performing specific tasks like prescribing medication.

Can PAs intubate?

Yes! All PAs are trained to intubate. In fact, they're trained to do it more than once.

Is a PA higher than an RN?

A PA has more training and education than a registered nurse (RN) and can perform more advanced duties. While both are in the medical field and work together, PAs can often prescribe medications and order tests, while RNs generally cannot