NP vs PA

How do you decide whether to become an NP or PA? Why should I even consider one over the other? Well, here's the skinny. I think it really depends on what you want to do. We all have our lot in life (taken from "A Bug's Life"). This means that while your interests and skills will steer you into pediatrics, mine will lead me to emergency care. So in my opinion, if you are geared toward primary care, community health, or the like, then NP school should be your path. That is a no brainer. But what about ER and Urgent Care? This is where it gets sticky and where if I had known then what I know now I would have gone to PA school. Now don't get me wrong...I love being an FNP! But the learning needed to perform the job in an ER or Urgent Care is best obtained, I think, thru the PA route. Now, this wasn't an option for me. Hell, I never really gave it a thought. I didn't have the luxury to quit work and go to school full-time, as is necessary in PA school. 

So what's the difference? Basically, it is the approach to learning and ultimately, care. The nursing model vs the medical model. I didn't have any idea there was really a difference until I started working and was able to see first hand the difference in knowledge. So from an ER/Urgent Care perspective the medical model really does provide a better education. Again, my opinion. While PA school was teaching their students how to suture, perform digital blocks, reduce dislocations, treat ingrown toenails, ALL the bones in the body, well I was writing papers, and more papers, and even more papers (all APA format, because I am good at that shit!). How was I to know the importance of that little scaphoid bone and the potential for avascular necrosis if there is a fracture? I didn't even know such a bone existed! Well, I learned early on about nasty breaks to that crazy little bone (aka the navicular bone) and you can guaran-damn-tee this girl knows how to diagnose and treat it! But those damn ingrown toenails still stump me! I think it's because I have a wretching problem when I think about cutting that nail and literally pulling it out! Eeeew!

What makes the NP stand out? It's our bedside manner. We are nurses; we care, we are empathetic, we communicate. It is so important to make a connection and gain the trust of your patient. This is accomplished by effective communication, therapeutic listening, the touch of a hand, and establishing a bond with them. As nurses, this is how we are wired. We talk to them, we provide healing touch, we comfort them and we cry with them. While all of these nursing attributes are noble, they wreck havoc with your patient thru put times. PAs can get in and out in a nanosecond and there I am, talking and explaining the entire plan of care and how it's going to be accomplished. I still struggle with this.  But you will find out quickly that your medical director is keeping a hawk-like eye on those times. Each minute you spend in one room can translate into one less patient you see, which translates into less money for the facility. This is a work in progress for me...I will keep you updated as to my progress. And, NPs freaking rock the charting! Our nursing background gives us an edge when it comes to putting pen to paper (or using those keystrokes!). 

You are going to need to do some research and soul searching to figure out what is best for you. Now after having gained some experience (thanks YouTube, Google, and all my fav apps and skills workshops/conferences), I am much more comfortable.