Should i see a nurse practitioner or physician assistant

Considering a career as an nurse practitioner or physician assistant? Here are the similarities and differences between the two occupations.

What’s the difference between a Nurse Practitioner and Physician Assistant?

The most commonly asked question among students interested in pursuing a health care career is "What’s the difference between a Nurse Practitioner (NP) and Physician Assistant (PA)?" A career in the health care field can be extremely rewarding, but getting there requires several years of classes, training and learning. This kind of commitment means you need to be aware of your options.

Here are three differences to consider:

1. Both fields pursue (different) higher education and examinations

When nurses advance from a bachelor's to a master's or doctoral degree and complete an exam, they receive a nurse practitioner certification. Physician assistants also need to complete their master's degree and follow their own certification process, the Physician Assistant National Certification Exam (PANCE).

Both parties need to retest every few years in order to maintain their certification:

• Nurse practitioners need to re-certify every five years, but can also re-certify by meeting the clinical practice and continuing education (CE) requirements. In most states, that's 1,000 clinical hours and 75 continuing education hours.
• Physician assistants need to re-certify every 10 years and have 100 continuing medical education credits.

2. Most physician assistants practice medicine autonomously

In most states, upon completion of their education and certification process, physician assistants work with a physician under a collaborative agreement, but their day-to-day work usually does not require any direct MD oversight. Physician assistants often operate independent PA-led clinics, and their physician interaction is usually limited to a few monthly on-site visits.

While about half of the states now grant nurse practitioners freedom to practice and prescribe independently without having any collaborative agreement with an MD, many states still require nurse practitioners to maintain collaborative agreements with physicians and are not considered independent practitioners.

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3. Nurse practitioners are more patient-centered; Physician assistants are more disease-centered

Nurse practitioners tend to have a long-term approach to working with patients. This is increasingly important when you look at the role of chronic disease in America. Nearly half of all Americans suffer from some form of chronic disease, and two thirds of all death is caused by chronic disease such as cancer or diabetes. Nurse practitioners work with patients to form long-term health plans and provide health education and counseling to those at risk.

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Physician assistants typically are more disease-centered. They work with physicians to identify problems with patients and brainstorm treatments and eventual cures. Their goal is to work with physicians to get patients as healthy as can be and back on their feet.

Despite these differences, both career fields complete

• patient assessments,
• prescribe treatment and
• perform diagnostic tests to determine the health of their patients.

While their education and legal practice operations may be different, the type of candidates that both fields attract is incredibly similar. Nurse practitioners and physician assistants pursue their careers because they want to help people and have a passion for comforting patients and making them as healthy as possible.

Discover the nursing career path that’s right for you with this handy infographic:

July 21, 2021

Starling Physicians is proud to have a number of exceptional nurse practitioners on our team.  Occasionally we get the question – what is the difference between a nurse practitioner and a doctor? Or, who should I see for a primary care visit?  These are great questions. Both roles are extremely well trained and deliver the highest quality care. Below is some helpful information about the key differentiators.

Medical professionals have vast and varied training that prepares them to handle, diagnose, and cure many ailments, diseases, and physical issues. From lab technicians to neurosurgeons, each performs a specific and vital role in our country’s health care system. 

Nurse practitioners and doctors are fixtures during routine checkups, hospital visits, and outpatient procedures. However, a primary care physician is formally trained in diagnosing and treating diseases whereas nurse practitioners are formally trained in caring for patients by way of diagnosing and treating many common issues.  While the roles may seem interchangeable to a patient, each performs different duties and undergoes rigorous training specific to their position.  

Nurse Practitioners are highly educated and begin their academic pursuits by first earning a bachelor’s degree in nursing. In order to become an NP, they must then attend a nationally accredited nurse practitioner graduate program. 

Some NPs choose to go straight into their career after this but many continue down an academic path, eventually gaining a doctorate in nursing practices (DNP). Depending on the course of study, it takes approximately six to eight years of post-secondary education to become a nurse practitioner.  

Doctors, on the other hand, are required to earn a four-year degree in a pre-med discipline before continuing on to medical school and then a residency. Physicians typically specialize in a field like internal medicine, endocrinology, gastroenterology, rheumatology and the like.  Both are exceptionally skilled in the medical field but hone their craft through differing educational pursuits. 

A primary care doctor can assist patients in numerous ways, including diagnosing diseases, long-term treatment, the analysis of medical history, or preventative care measures. By establishing a relationship with your primary care doctor through examinations and routine check-ups, your doctor can better monitor ongoing health issues or help prevent any from arising. 

The training that primary care physicians receive during their postgraduate residency can take three or more years and impart invaluable knowledge. Residents receive hands-on training under the supervision of knowledgeable, well-practiced doctors that also specialize in a particular field of study. 

It’s necessary to visit a primary care doctor for persistent illnesses or for close monitoring of a pre-existing condition. While a nurse practitioner can handle these issues, your primary care doctor may be more adept at analyzing your entire medical history to troubleshoot issues and create a treatment plan. 

Primary care doctors are licensed through the Medical Doctor’s Board and Nurse Practitioners are licensed through the Nursing Board. Doctors are required to attain 20,000 hours of clinical experience while DNP’s need 1,000 – giving your primary care doctor a higher chance of exposure to rare illnesses, one-off diagnoses, and a diverse array of health conditions simply because he or she has spent more time in a clinic or hospital. If you are having trouble getting answers or receiving a diagnosis for troublesome symptoms, it may be necessary to visit a primary care doctor.  

While it can be tempting to want care from someone with the title “Doctor”, nurse practitioners are equally skilled and knowledgeable in their field. Nurse practitioners are typically not as booked as doctors and can fit patients in sooner, providing relief without long delays or wait times. 

Nurse practitioners see a variety of patients, meaning that their knowledge and experiences are varied and may be better suited to creating preventative care plans. Their role is to help patients feel comfortable, healthy, and looked after throughout any sort of medical procedure or exam – routine or otherwise. 

NPs are sometimes referred to as Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRN) because of their extensive background and practice in taking care of patients at their bedsides, be it at a hospital, clinic, home, or surgery center. However, it’s important to note that a nurse practitioner is a type of advanced practice registered nurse.

A nurse practitioner is a fantastic addition to a care team and acts as a complement to your primary care doctor. NP’s can take care of the following medical needs:  

• yearly check-ups 
• routine screenings 
• vaccinations
• diagnosing seasonal illnesses 
• treatment of sore throat, allergies, or the flu 

During the global COVID-19 pandemic, nurse practitioners are providing exceptionally valuable services by alleviating the load on physicians, surgeons, and emergency rooms. They can offer COVID-19 testing and diagnosis of symptoms.  

Nurse practitioners can prescribe medicine, conduct cancer screenings, diagnose illnesses, and recommend patients to specialists. NP’s and doctors perform similar day-to-day tasks and typically work in a clinical setting. Only one-third work in a hospital setting while an even smaller percentage work in academia, nonprofits, or other community organizations. 

In many states, nurse practitioners conduct their care under the umbrella of a licensed primary care physician. They rely on the supervision, expertise, and involvement of a doctor but still conduct the same medical tasks and exams as their supervising physicians. At Starling Physicians, all of our experienced nurse practitioners partner with well-equipped physicians to provide superior medical care to incoming patients. 

While NPs and PAs often compete for the same position, both provide different services to patients. A physician assistant has a more extensive background in a specialized practice and has learned through a medical model instead of a nursing model. In addition, physician assistants often have a greater role in patient care during pre-op and post-op. PAs are required to undergo 2,000 hours of clinical training – 1,000 more than that of NPs. 

Nurse practitioners can often act as the bridge between patients and their care providers or between medical professionals. They serve as an intermediary between a registered nurse and a physician. NPs can also provide the go-between for a physician assistant and a patient, helping the patient better understand a medical process, diagnosis, or care plan. 

As medicine becomes more complex, it’s crucial to implement the advice and expertise of a healthcare team, instead of just one individual. Nurse practitioners and doctors work hand in hand in office and hospital settings to provide a total care plan. They help each other by providing different pieces to complete the complex puzzle that is modern medicine. 

In many situations, a nurse practitioner will take an initial patient visit. They will take time in listening to the patient’s symptoms or health care concerns, discuss medical history, consider potential treatments that the patient feels comfortable with, and then present all the information to a supervising physician. Together, both experts can create the best possible plan to get the patient back on the right track.

It’s important to note that a nurse practitioner who has been working in the medical field for thirty years may be better equipped to handle your particular condition than a doctor that is fresh off his or her residency. 

Like anything, both individuals will have differing backgrounds, training, and patient experiences that may or may not make them the best possible person to handle your particular health situation. For tricky diagnoses, consult with both your nurse practitioner and your primary care physician. 

The U.S. is facing a shortage of primary care physicians, meaning that access to a doctor will continue to be difficult to get. Establishing a relationship with an experienced nurse practitioner can definitely benefit you in the long run. 

Oftentimes, patients can get in to see a nurse practitioner quicker than they can schedule a visit with a primary care doctor. For issues that need urgent attention, book an appointment with an NP. 

A nurse practitioner can still prescribe your medicine, monitor preexisting conditions, or diagnose illness while the doctor is out. 

For experimental treatment or an unclear diagnosis, it’s advisable to visit with a physician. Toxic treatments, like the administration of chemotherapy, also should be supervised by a physician who specializes in that field. Nurse practitioner visits can be less costly than a routine trip to the doctor and insurance coverage may vary depending on your provider. 

Nurse practitioners cannot independently perform surgical procedures and those requiring any sort of invasive treatment should consult with their primary care physician. 

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Starling Physicians is proud to have a team of highly experienced nurse practitioners on our primary care team. Through collaboration, establishing a positive rapport, and routine checkups, our dedicated nurse practitioners can assist in keeping you healthy and happy. To find a nurse practitioner that is accepting new primary care patients in a town near you, click here.

Source: University of Central Florida Health Services