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What is the difference between NP & PA
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Posted about 5 years ago I am interested in knowing the difference between NP and PA in terms of sophistication and prestige. Can NP specialize in Radiology, and what is the salary difference. This is very important to me as I consider NP program. Thank you very much |
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| Posted about 5 years ago This is a tricky one. I have seen many many forums questions on this (not on this site) and they typically end up in constant fighting between PA who post and NP whos post. I had the same question as you and while I am pursing NP (current nursing student), let me tell you waht I found out. PA take more science based courses. Biology, Immunology, Biochem, General Chem, Physics, and so on, then transfer into a PA school to earn their degree, while NP go through nursing school then move to grad school to learn advanced patho and pharmocology. PA's have to practice under a doctors supervision. Nurse Practitioners in some states do as well, but in some states they can work in their own clinic under their own license. Now from what I have read, PA's can practice in any speciality. Family Medicine, Pediatrics, Geriatric, and yes, Plastic Surgery as well. Nurse Practitioners have to choose a speciality, Family Medicine, Pediatrics, Emergency Medicine, and so on and they can only practice in that speciality. I did not see Radiology listed as a speciality or subspeciality. As far as pay, in Texas I typically always see ads being placed for both NP/PA they want either one and salaries are based upon experience, education and certifications. I use www.salary.com to compare salaries and they are very very close, and in some instances NP are just a few thousand dollars higher and vice versa. I would use that site and check salaries for both based upon a speciality your interested in and also geographic areas your interested in. Now this is my personal opinion. I chose Nurse Practitioner because I believe being a nurse at the core, the NP approach medicine in a wholistic approach. Meaning health of the patient in mind body and soul. Again personal opinion but I think PA's and practiotioners that are more science based just treat symptoms of an illness rather than focus on treatment of the person. Again personal opinion. Here is a really good resource for NP to help you answer some questions. Hope this helps. http://npfinder.com/faq.pdf |
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| Posted about 5 years ago the pay is the difference?? http://community.advanceweb.com/forums/thread/24893.aspx Kelly Gardiner 12-06-2007 Nurse Practioner Sadly, I don’t recommend people going to NP school. I have been in the business for 20 years and an NP for 10 and I don’t make much more than a 2 year degreed RN. I met a guy with a BSN doing home health care and he made $125,000 last year. I told him what I make and he was thinking of going to school to become an NP. He also had heard that he would take a pay cut and have to pay for school and work for free for clinicals. For you, I would suggest that you calculate how many patients you see per day that you work, look up the medicare and blue cross websites and figure out insurance reimbursement for your services, (make sure you calculate secondary insurance into the formula as well) and then determine what you should be making from there. This will give you a baseline of what the providers is making from your services. You can also look for a medical biller skilled in your field and find out calculations from that person. In my field of psychiatry, I get a 50% reduction in payment (as do psychistrists) so the amount billable is not what you get in return so find out what deductions you get if any, in your field, as well. Hence, the need to talk to a medical biller in your field. Note that the medical billers make about 5-7% of what you get from the insurance carriers. Good luck. |
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142 posts back to top |
| Posted about 5 years ago http://nurse-practitioners.advanceweb.com/Editorial/Comments/C...;URL=http%3a%2f%2fnurse-practitioners.advanceweb.com%2fEditorial%2fContent%2fEditorial.aspx%3fCC%3d105177
I bring over $350.000 to this office and I still don’t get what i deserve. I am amazed how PAs who can be some one with a computer or sales back ground go through a 2 year program and yet make as much or even more when compared to NPs. That really hurts. I think this is because of the fact that NPs education concentrates on research/ book knowledge and not much “hands on practice”. Also, the fact that PAs are often hired by surgeons makes a difference in their pay scale in general. If I had to do it all over again I would go through a PA program. We are not being appreciated the way we should. The fact the Board of medicine and doctors are supporting PAs makes a difference, apparently. Gity S., ANP-C, RNFA, Private March 11, 2008
We must unit! Employers for the most part want us to “play doctor” see as many if not more patients than t hey do, yet want to pay RN wages. What can we do? If I had stayed at the hospital as an RN I would be earning more and would have job security.
A A, np, private February 28, 2008 |
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| Posted about 5 years ago I am very happy to have posted the question about the difference between NP and PA concerning sophistication, salary, and scope of practice. I found every answer valuable, and I thank every one of you. Concerning salary, I do not know what to say about that, because here in Dallas, TX, PAs and NPs make $31.00/hr minimum. You might wish to look at Parkland Hospital System and check out their employment website. www.parklandcareers.com/job_search.aspx. I found no difference in salary scale up to NP 2 and PA 2 (three years experience) What I do not understand is why NPs cannot specialize or sub-specialize in Radiology, but can order, read and interpret results. Again, many BSN nurses have Science degrees, so is clinical training for NPs going to change to reflect this science background? About sophistication, NPs are more educated than PAs, but this advanced education did not reflect in increase in salary why? AANP may have to look into that to find out why it is so? |
