Who has more medical knowledge: PA's or NP's?

Med School Insiders
This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.
depends on which of them you ask
 
Simple answer, who knows?

There are 2yr/AS, 4yr/BS n MS level PA programs so even PA education isn't standardized. It's gonna be impossible to make such judgments broadly speaking, and who cares....
 
NPs wake up at 7am -- PAs wake up at 8am
NPs eat breakfast before they get dressed -- PAs get dressed before they eat
NPs take city transit to work -- PAs drive an SUV to work
NPs wear their white coat for a while -- PAs take it off as soon at they get to work
NPs carry 1 pen and 4 books -- PAs carry 3 pens and 1 book

.....

Serious Answer: PAs. They have a BS and a MSci. NPs have an RN and then there are many options that get them the NP. Some don't even involve postgraduate school
 
Polka Dot said:
NPs wake up at 7am -- PAs wake up at 8am
NPs eat breakfast before they get dressed -- PAs get dressed before they eat
NPs take city transit to work -- PAs drive an SUV to work
NPs wear their white coat for a while -- PAs take it off as soon at they get to work
NPs carry 1 pen and 4 books -- PAs carry 3 pens and 1 book

.....

Serious Answer: PAs. They have a BS and a MSci. NPs have an RN and then there are many options that get them the NP. Some don't even involve postgraduate school
Click to expand...

I disagree. NPs also generally need a masters degree.
What they can do or know, etc. in comparison to PA completely varies by state or even hospital.

That being said...NPs can practice under their own license and PAs can't. That's huge.
 
Polka Dot said:
Serious Answer: PAs. They have a BS and a MSci. NPs have an RN and then there are many options that get them the NP. Some don't even involve postgraduate school
Click to expand...
Most NPs also have a BS and a MSci. All NP work is graduate work (there are NO associates or bachelors prgrams that award an NP degree).
 
PAs ... no question. If you're going to utilize a mid-level in your practice, go with a PA. Better trained, and not trying to take over medicine like the NP with their "Doctor of Nursing Practice," independent CRNA, midwife reimbursement at OB/GYN level BULLshizzz.
 
absolutdokta said:
would you like some butter with that popcorn?? Come morning time you might need when all the neurotic ones show up for the day
Click to expand...

All the neurotic ones are up drafting and researching there points. But sooner or later it's going to boil down to MD v. DO.
 
Poliscidoc said:
All the neurotic ones are up drafting and researching there points. But sooner or later it's going to boil down to MD v. DO.
Click to expand...

I'd take a PA or a NP over a DO to stand beside me in surgery any day. They're not trained in that type of stuff.
 
PAs follow the medical school training/edication model.

Also, there are several residencies for PA graduates. Residencies such as EM, Surgery, Ortho Surg, Neuro Surg, Critical Care, IM..
 
Let's say a fully trained doctor one day decided he hated his job and wanted to become a PA or NP. Do you think any program would accept him?
 
JaggerPlate said:
PAs ...not trying to take over medicine like the NP with their "Doctor of Nursing Practice," independent CRNA, midwife reimbursement at OB/GYN level BULLshizzz.
Click to expand...
What about the DScPA degree?

Being that this is an allo/osteo dominated forum, its understandable that PAs are going to garner more respect and less opposition than NPs/DNPs. I almost started a thread regarding DScPA vs DNP as I myself just learned about the DScPA degree (even though it started to buzz back in 07...or so?) but then I remembered bleargh's signature and wanted to be part of the solution :laugh:.

In all seriousness though...what are some thoughts, opinions regarding the Doctor of Science Physician Assistant degree? You can view some thoughts in this older thread but feel free to comment here as well.

Personally I feel that the DScPA degree is basically the same encroachment as the DNP degree. Its nice to have a terminal degree and all....but....we've blurred the lines too much.
 
ruiner said:
No DO is just family medicine type stuff right?


*before the onslaught, yes i'm joking*
Click to expand...
aren't you matriculating to the school that has the highest percentage of graduates matching into family medicine?

*not joking*


😉
 
It's not even close. Last time I checked there were no online PA programs you could work full time during.
 
morning said:
It's not even close. Last time I checked there were no online PA programs you could work full time during.
Click to expand...
So bust out the studies that show concise results that PA outcomes are >>>>> NP outcomes.

Last time I checked there were at least 5 online PA programs. Last time I checked there were also online/distance programs that grant medical degrees. And like I mentioned earlier, there are 4 year bachelor programs that grant PA degrees. So yeah, its really not as cut and dry as you would like to pretend.

Like most things in life, the NP vs PA debate will always have too many variable factors...and too many pre meds spouting out things about both careers when in reality they know very little about either.

Carry on.
 
Hoody said:
So bust out the studies that show concise results that PA outcomes are >>>>> NP outcomes.

Last time I checked there were at least 5 online PA programs. Last time I checked there were also online/distance programs that grant medical degrees. And like I mentioned earlier, there are 4 year bachelor programs that grant PA degrees. So yeah, its really not as cut and dry as you would like to pretend.

Like most things in life, the NP vs PA debate will always have too many variable factors...and too many pre meds spouting out things about both careers when in reality they know very little about either.

Carry on.
Click to expand...

Hey, online dating ain't so bad. Maybe it's the same with training people to be responsible for other people's lives.
 
2qjaovd.jpg
 
JaggerPlate said:
PAs ... no question. If you're going to utilize a mid-level in your practice, go with a PA. Better trained, and not trying to take over medicine like the NP with their "Doctor of Nursing Practice," independent CRNA, midwife reimbursement at OB/GYN level BULLshizzz.
Click to expand...

There are many things that OB's and other physicians can do that midwives and other advance-practice nurses can't. I'm going to sound like a blood traitor here, but why should a midwife be paid less than an OB for an uncomplicated vaginal delivery if they deliver the exact same care?

I think this whole thread is silly and headed only for disaster.
 
Geekchick921 said:
There are many things that OB's and other physicians can do that midwives and other advance-practice nurses can't. I'm going to sound like a blood traitor here, but why should a midwife be paid less than an OB for an uncomplicated vaginal delivery if they deliver the exact same care?
Click to expand...

Because the OB is better prepared to handle it if the delivery IS complicated/BECOMES complicated.

Honestly, most of the things that many physicians do on a day to day basis could be easily handled by a nurse or PA (of the many times I've been a patient, only ONCE would I not have been comfortable having a nurse or PA handle the same thing). The reason physicians go through all the training/are paid higher is because they know what to do when something isn't routine.
 
Cyradis said:
Because the OB is better prepared to handle it if the delivery IS complicated/BECOMES complicated.

Honestly, most of the things that many physicians do on a day to day basis could be easily handled by a nurse or PA (of the many times I've been a patient, only ONCE would I not have been comfortable having a nurse or PA handle the same thing). The reason physicians go through all the training/are paid higher is because they know what to do when something isn't routine.
Click to expand...
And if it does, the patient goes under the OB's care, who gets compensated appropriately, does he/she not?
 
Having worked side by side with NPs and PAs for five years, give me the NP any day of the week. I've found NPs to be more caring, to have a more gentle touch and to be much more willing to learn. Also, NPs can practice autonomously in every state, whereas PAs cannot.

However, to answer the OPs question, knowledge-wise, I have found NO difference between the two. That said, nurses generally are more caring and put you at ease a lot quicker. PAs aren't trained to do so to the extent that nurses are.
 
Hoody said:
aren't you matriculating to the school that has the highest percentage of graduates matching into family medicine?

*not joking*


😉
Click to expand...


Wow STALKER!

Regardless, in 4 years my med school will also graduate the most bad ass ortho surgeon in the country.
 
too many random degree titles just serve to confuse the average person
 
Hoody said:
So bust out the studies that show concise results that PA outcomes are >>>>> NP outcomes.

Last time I checked there were at least 5 online PA programs. Last time I checked there were also online/distance programs that grant medical degrees. And like I mentioned earlier, there are 4 year bachelor programs that grant PA degrees. So yeah, its really not as cut and dry as you would like to pretend.

Like most things in life, the NP vs PA debate will always have too many variable factors...and too many pre meds spouting out things about both careers when in reality they know very little about either.

Carry on.
Click to expand...

You don't know what I do or do not know about NPs and PAs. I'll make sure to ask the NP who almost murdered my sister with her incompetence - and who my family is suing - what she thinks about her education though. Well, maybe I won't.
 
morning said:
You don't know what I do or do not know about NPs and PAs. I'll make sure to ask the NP who almost murdered my sister with her incompetence - and who my family is suing - what she thinks about her education though. Well, maybe I won't.
Click to expand...
here we go with the anecdotal stories....

one np =/= all nps
one pa =/= all pas
one md =/= all mds
one do =/= all dos

also, lawsuits are not degree selective.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

H
Attorneys Who Have Gone to Medical School: Admissions Questions
Replies
3
Views
844
thefirerisen
thefirerisen
G
  • Question Question
Should I submit my primary early or wait for more post bace grades?
Replies
3
Views
470
gm300
G
R
P/NP or drop with a W
Replies
3
Views
560
GoSpursGo
GoSpursGo
I
Anyone who attends or attended Stritch School of Medicine at Loyola?
Replies
3
Views
1K
wysdoc
wysdoc
N
Clinical Research or Wet Lab Research to Target T20 Medical Schools
Replies
7
Views
2K
hommefatale
hommefatale
Top