Question 1

should i become a physician assistant or family nurse practitioner (emergency focus) to work in the er?

Accepted Answer

Doesn't matter: Either one is fine.  It really depends on your state's laws and local hospitals' regulations on how independent each can be and the prescribing rules for each.  The training is different.  An np needs to be an rn (with experience) first.  A pa goes to school straight from college.  There is a training period after each but that varies based on your specialization (e.g. Emergency).

Question 2

what's the difference between a nurse practitioner and a physician's assistant?

Accepted Answer

Almost the same: Their work is almost the same, but...
Nurse practitioner has more independence at work, they can work alone and have their own practice, also they have more academical education, such as master degree. In comparison, physician assistant needs to work only under licensed physician, and his degree of autonomy at work would depends on the licensed physician he works with and his experience.

Question 3

should i become a nurse practitioner or physician assistant?

Accepted Answer

Whichever you want: You can do either one. The training is different though and hospital regulations on independence and prescribing for each may be different.  The state laws may be different as well, especially with regard to prescribing.

Question 4

how do a nurse practitioner and a physician assistant differ?

Accepted Answer

PA vs NP: Training and education>pa has less training and education than np who must be a registered nurse before going for the np degree.

Question 5

if you, as a physician, had to see either a physician assistant or a nurse practitioner which would you choose?

Accepted Answer

Either: Both are well trained.

Question 6

should a normal urgent care physician assistant or nurse practitioner tell the different between pink eye and uveitis?

Accepted Answer

Need slit lamp: Specialized eye exam using a slit lamp is required to diagnose uveitis.  This exam is usually performed by an ophthalmologist.  More about how uveitis is diagnosed is in this article:
http://www.medicinenet.com/uveitis/page3.htm

Question 7

what is the difference in a nurse practitioner and a medical doctor. both working in pediatric care and no surgical care?

Accepted Answer

Different: Nurse practitioner has a nursing degree and then master degree to become a np. Physicians go to medical school to get doctor's degree, then residency. Much longer way!

Question 8

does it makes sense that i can only see a pain doctor once a year? the other times i need to see the nurse practitioner. never heard of this.

Accepted Answer

Could be: The current medical trend is incorporation of np more.  Talk with them if you feel you need other issues addressed by physician.

Question 9

can a doctoral level nurse practitioner seek certification as a psychopharmacologist? or, is that just for medical doctors?

Accepted Answer

Good question!: A master's level nurse practitioner can prescribe medications [my wife does a great job!]. However, there is no formal psychopharmacologist certification that i'm aware of. The american academy of clinical psychopharmacology offers their own certification exam, but i believe this is limited to md's. Hope this helps.

Question 10

my husband is coughing all the time he can't stop. he went to the doctor where a nurse practitioner told him it was allergies. i really don't think so?

Accepted Answer

IF YOU ARE NOT: Satisfied with that, seek a second opinion please.

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Doctor answers about:

Family nurse practitioner vs family physician

A member asked:

Should i become a physician assistant or family nurse practitioner (emergency focus) to work in the er?

A member asked:

What's the difference between a nurse practitioner and a physician's assistant?

A member asked:

Should i become a nurse practitioner or physician assistant?

A member asked:

How do a nurse practitioner and a physician assistant differ?

A member asked:

If you, as a physician, had to see either a physician assistant or a nurse practitioner which would you choose?

A member asked:

Should a normal urgent care physician assistant or nurse practitioner tell the different between pink eye and uveitis?

A member asked:

What is the difference in a nurse practitioner and a medical doctor. both working in pediatric care and no surgical care?

A member asked:

Does it makes sense that i can only see a pain doctor once a year? the other times i need to see the nurse practitioner. never heard of this.

A member asked:

Can a doctoral level nurse practitioner seek certification as a psychopharmacologist? or, is that just for medical doctors?

A member asked:

My husband is coughing all the time he can't stop. he went to the doctor where a nurse practitioner told him it was allergies. i really don't think so?

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