What Is The Difference Between A Pa And A Np? I Am Interesting In Pursuing This As A Career But I Am Not An Rn
I have a BS but not in nursing. Working on Prereqs but both programs have different requirements. Trying to pick the right one. I am currently taking classes for my CNA and CMA. Which has more versatility?
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Seeing is that I misunderstood what you meant (you meant Medical Assistant and not Certified Med-Aide) I’ll explain my answer a lil better.
And no I’m not mis-informed about the CNA programs…I’ve been a CNA for over 5 years, have taken the class/program twice (once for a refresher) and am currently licensed in the State of Oregon as a CNA.
K so basically there are two routes: The Physician Route and the Nurse Route. Both are very good but at the same time different.
The Physician Assistant can basically do everything a doctor can do except practice on their own. (They can practice however, but have to be practicing with a fellow Doctor, like at a Family Practice Doctors clinic, etc.) They can: diagnose, prescribe medications, order tests, ect. They can assist with surgeries, treat patients at Hospitals, clinics and the like.
Nursin Practicioners can do everything a Doctor can do except practice on their own as well. They can too practice with Doctors the same way as a PA can. (Although they are more limited when it comes to practicing versus a PA to my knowledge) They can diagnose, prescribe medications, order tests, ect. Nurses can assist with surgeries, (although I know they very limited to what they can / can’t do).
In my opinion, there’s a lot more versitility in being a NP than there is being a PA, especially if you’re looking to get or find a management position. Nursing in it’s self is so versitile, even just being a CNA. Now a days, Nurses are in charge of Hospital Departments, (Oncology, Surgical Services, Cardiac Services, etc) NP’s can practice just like a regular Doctor or PA, can get a strictly Nurse Practicioner job in Hospitals, etc. Not that PA work is limited, but its much more limited than being a Nurse Practicioner.
If you’re going for your Nursing degree, I would reccomend getting your CNA just for the simple reason, it doesn’t take long and you can be ahead of the game when you do go for your RN and NP clinicals. In my opinion CNA is the first step to becoming a nurse, no you can’t do everything a RN can do, and I never said you could, but the things you learn, the skills you aquire and what you have to go through will make you more humble as an RN (again in my opinion).
And yes becoming an Medical Assistant is your first step to becoming a PA but, (and I’m a Medical Assistant as well) I find that being an MA is more limited to what you can do as far as where you can work, unlike CNA. Medical Assistants are more bound to work at offices, clinics etc. Eventhough they can do a lot more than a CNA and in certain states you don’t have to be certified to work as a MA…Versus CNA where you can pretty much work anywhere, where you have to be licensed…(but I’m straying from the point) You can find programs that will allow you to do either PA or NP without doing CNA or MA.
Either way you can’t lose, when it comes to Health care. Sorry about the confusion…good luck!
weena is misinformed about the CNA and CMA programs. One is a certified nurse assistant, CNA, and they CANNOT start an IV, give medication, assist in surgery, etc. However, the “basics” she spoke about are carrying bedpans, cleaning up vomit, changing adult diapers, giving bedbaths, changing bed linens, taking temperatures, and checking blood pressure etc. A CMA is a certified medical assistant and they do just that. Assist the doctor which carries a variety of duties and is usually in the doctor’s office. If I were choosing, and didn’t want advanced education, I think I would choose CMA because the work is cleaner than a CNA and far more versatile. A CNA makes slightly above minimum wage; a CMA makes more.
A PA is a physician’s assistant and is on par with the a CMA. A NP is a nurse practitioner and they do almost as much as a doctor including prescribing medications. Often it is the PA who sees the patient and the doctor doesn’t see them for follow-up visits. It requires at least a Masters degree in nursing. The difference between a PA and a NP is about $50,000 per year.
Contrary to some opinions you do not need to become a CNA to become an RN. When the student enters the RN program, eventually they will become a “student nurse” which sends them to the hospital and they learn all the basics or CNA duties at the beginning. As they progress in school, they progress at the hospital, leaving the CNA duties and moving on to LPN duties. That’s just an abreviated explanation. I wish you great success.
PA is physicians assistant and NP is Nurse Practitioner. I believe you can do more as an NP.
Unfortunately all your answers are incorrect with regard to the NP/PA job. Both are mid-level practitioners. They overlap in some areas & in others are distinct.
A PA is not a medical assistant–they DO NOT assistant the doc. They see their own patients, do physical exams, order & interpret tests & Xrays, write Rx’s (they have their own DEA #) etc. It is a master’s (most are heading that way) 2 years after a pre-med bachelors & health care experience (any kind). It is taught in the medical model, often as an adjunct to the medical school. PAs can so surgery, set fractures, suture, reduce dislocations, etc –basically anything their supervising doc can do (and supervisory means available by phone or on site to consult for questions–not standing at you side). PAs are all trained as primary care practitioners, then can do residencies to specialize (heart surgey,peds, ER, trauma etc). The national organization is http://www.aapa.org and all states have a state chapter you can contact. PAs also need 50 hours/year continuing education & retake their boards every 6 years. They make on the average about $50/hr. (about $80,000+ per year).
NPs are all nurses, this is a masters degree after a BSRN. They can be primary care but there are specialty programs such as GYN NPs & Peds NPs, for example (a Peds NP would have to go back to school to work as a FPNP etc). Theya re taught in a nursing model at a nursing school. They also have their own DEA #. While they can be more autonomous, in actuality, many work in conjunction with a doc just like PAs. They are more protocol driven than PAs.
How to decide? PAs are often more procedure oriented, NPs are often more patient/social oriented. Depends on what you wish to do. You might want to shadow both for a few days & even take a look at their professional journals & publications.
As to CNA v CMA–CNAs do nursing duties, CMAs assist MDs in their offices & do more procedures. Personally, I would go CMA for the greater experience.
Physician Assistant- PA Nurse Practioner-NP, nure practicioners are able to diagnose and treat without the Physician’s consent. physician assistants work closely with the physician in treating the patient but do not have as much responsibility as the NP…