Introduction
Nurse Practitioners (NP) and Physician Assistants (PA) are both feasible substitutes in the medical schools. They are equally essential professions in the delivery of worthy healthcare. However, the two occupations have similarities as well as differences when viewed from different perspectives. For instance, NP is a listed nurse qualified to deliver a variety of wellbeing healthcare services. In contrast, PA is a wellbeing expert endowed with the capacity to practice medicine. However, PA only practices under the management of a medical doctor. This essay seeks to compare and contrast the two professions and these two professionals.
Main Body
Basically, any person working in the healthcare system is required to have a certain minimum level of education. NPs are required to initially register as nurses upon the achievement of a Bachelor of Science in nursing (BSN). This can also be substituted with a diploma program in nursing succeeded by satisfactory training. In the United States, for example, majority of states necessitate a Master’s gradation or Doctoral gradation succeeded by accreditation for NPs prior to practicing. In fact, the accreditation for NP is conferred by the American Nurses Center. The American Academy of Nurse Practitioners also has the authority to confer the accreditation.
Conversely, for PA there is a wide variety of entry avenues. These include a Masters gradation in Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS), Masters Gradation in Health Science (MHS) or Masters in Medical Science (MMSc). Prior to the entry into these faculties, one must be in possession of a Bachelor’s gradation alongside MCAT or GRE marks. Unlike NPs, it is not compulsory for PAs to complete a residency program. However, it is recommended and accessible as an alternative program upon the completion of the program and when one is already in practice. In the US, it is a requirement for PAs to complete the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam (PANCE). This is in accordance with the guidelines outlined by the National Commission of Physician Assistants (NCCPA). This should be done prior to practicing. Additionally, the PAs must enlist every two years. However, in every six years of practice, the PAs are required to recertify through the completion of Pathway II exam. The obligation varies from state to state. Evidently, both professions require high level of education to qualify as an assistant or a practitioner albeit with significantly different subjects.
Under the PA’s job description, they are supposed to operate under the management of the physician. In the rural and small town settings, the PAs are at times the primary care providers where the doctor visits on a scheduled basis (Kesler, 2014). In such situations, the PA is expected to consult with the managing physician as may be required by the laid down procedures. Typically, the duties the PAs undertake are chiefly allocated by the managing physician. While practicing in a general internal medicine setting and surgical operations, the PA may be required to offer pre-surgery and post-surgery care. The PA may practice as a first or second assistant during the core surgical procedure (Tibbet, 2013).
NPs are expected to conduct physical examination of the patients and document medical histories of the clients. It is within the job description of PAs to give rudimentary medical care treatment, prescribe medicine and request for medical tests. The NP offers counseling services to the senior citizens and their families. Besides, the NP is convenient in assisting the doctor to decide the correct treatment alternative for the client. In fact, NP assists in educating terminally ill patients regarding the management of their life. Finally, the NPs assist psychoanalysts and psychologists to review the state of the clients. Once this is done, they determine the correct medication option for specific clients (Vernon, 2013).
The role of NPs largely centers on the provision of universal care to clients of all ages. The NPs attend to the client’s wants with ultimate tolerance, caution, empathy and consideration. Registered NPs execute roles including testing the patients illnesses, document health histories, provision of treatments, assist physicians as well as boost the public wellbeing awareness. The precise field of proficiency relies on the area chosen by the individual to specialize in during study (Vernon, 2013). These include senior citizens, pediatric, adult, psychological, expectant mothers and school health. Other areas include midwifery and anesthesiology. In minor towns and remote areas, the NP may be the sole medical staff available for analyzing and treating illnesses.
The PAs perform medical services under the management of doctors and surgeons. They are legally educated for the provision of analytical, therapeutic and preemptive medical care services. These roles are allocated by the physician and work as members of a medical team. They receive and examine health histories and treat clients. The PAs also treat minor wounds and construe lab tests and x rays. The PAs are basically educated to offer analytical, treating and preemptive medical care services. In hospital settings, for example, road accident victims are attended to by the PAs. On the other hand, if a person has been sick for a number of days and eventually pursues medical help the NP is the professional best suited for the responsibility (Riseman, 2007).
The healthcare occupation is regulated by state. Inherently, the scope of practice for both PAs and NPs shows a discrepancy in different states. The job outline of the NP may permit the professional to practice autonomously or in partnership with a physician. There is a wide range of duties that the NP may execute without the supervision of a physician. These include physically examining a patient, taking health histories, physical treatment, execution of analytical tests, drug prescription, offering prenatal care, and counsel as well as educate patients.
The autonomy of PAs is relatively limited. The scope of practice requires them to accord their arrangement with the doctor. Their main responsibilities include collection of health information from patients, examining and testing, diagnosis of ailments, prescription of medicine, performing referrals as well as helping in surgical procedures. The collaboration with physicians is essential but it is not a must for PAs to be directly under the doctor’s supervision. They possess individual medical license and can operate in metropolitan or countryside areas. Typically, the autonomy of NPs allows them to operate their own office practice. The PAs are not allowed to operate such office practices. In essence, the scope hinges on state laws, facility guidelines and decisions regarding team practice by the facility authority (Schooleman, 2011).
The employment rate of PA was predicted to rise by 38% from the fiscal 2012 to 2022. This rate is higher than the mean rate of all careers. This rise is attributed to the rising demand for health services due to the increasing and aging population. The rise in population translates to the rising demand for health care professionals. The rising cases of chronic diseases also increase the employment opportunities for PA in the provision of treatment and preventive health services. The PAs who can handle most of the services offered by doctors will have a bigger role to give routine care since they are cost effective compared to doctors (Jeffery, 2013).
In the case of NP, the employment rate is expected to be lower compared to PAs. This is attributed to the high number of individuals pursuing the career. A number of students join universities and colleges to pursue education related to nursing. However, it is projected that by 2020 there will be a growth of 26% in employment opportunities due to the same factors that impact on PAs.
Apparently, there are more physicians retiring especially the baby-boomers generation. However, others are venturing into the specialty fields of medicine. In order to fill the vacuum, more PAs will embrace the role of providing primary health care. This will create a different set of roles for the PAs.
Alternatively, for the NPs, their role will change significantly. More nurses are advancing their education to enter specialized areas of their careers. With the population rising, the number of physicians will be outnumbered by the patients. The proficient and experienced NPs will take over some of the roles played by physicians. This will help the NPs to develop their careers. In the rural and small towns’ settings where physicians and doctors are not readily available the NPs will have a central role in delivering all the health services that can be offered in the existing facilities. They will play the role of prescribing treatment for patients and even attend to minor injuries. Additionally, they will play the role of giving first aid services to critical patients before referring them to other facilities.
Conclusion
Basically, the NPs and PAs fundamentally perform similar tasks while in practice with significantly minor differences in the eyes of outsiders. The roles of each of these professionals are bound to change due to the ensuing changes in demographics. There is promising employment opportunity for both professions. The role played by each of the professionals largely depends on the healthcare facility setting and the surrounding although there is the universal job description for each career.
References
Kesler, J. (2014). Physician assistant job description. Web.
Riseman, R. (2007). Nurse practitioner and physician assistant – What’s the difference? Web.
Schooleman, S. (2011). Should you pursue a career as a physician assistant or nurse practitioner?
Tibbet, B. (2013). Physician assistants: Job outlook.
Vernon, K. (2013). Nurse practitioner job description.