What do nurse practitioners and physician assistants do?
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Betty Long, RN, MHA answered:Nurse practitioners are registered nurses who pursue advanced training, typically in the form of a masters' degree, and upon graduation, they will use the initials CRNP (certified registered nurse practitioner) after their RN initials in their name. You may also see them referred to as NP for 'nurse practitioner.' When practicing, CRNPs may focus on various specialties like primary care, cardiology, orthopedics, pediatrics and obstetrics-gynecology.
Physician assistants are usually not nurses when they get their PA degree. You may hear PA's referred to as "physician extenders" because they, like nurse practitioners, see patients in place of physicians. For instance, when patients have a total knee replacement by an orthopedic surgeon, when they go back for their post op visit, they may see the orthopedic surgeon's PA instead.
As healthcare reform evolves, and more patients are entering the system, the roles that CRNPs and PAs play at assessing patients, creating treatment plans, and partnering with physicians will be very important.
Nurse practitioners are registered nurses who pursue advanced training, typically in the form of a masters' degree, and upon graduation, they will use the initials CRNP (certified registered nurse practitioner) after their RN initials in their name.... More -
RealAge answered:A nurse practitioner has a master’s degree in nursing and received special training in performing physical exams, taking medical histories, and making basic diagnoses. If nurse practitioners encounter a complicated medical problem, they’re trained to consult with the doctor.
Growing in numbers, physician assistants are licensed to practice medicine under the direct, or in some cases indirect, supervision of a physician. Most physician assistants receive a master’s degree in either physician assistant studies (MPAS), health science (MHS), or medical science (MMSc), which requires two to three years of training after receiving a bachelor’s degree.
From The Smart Parent's Guide: Getting Your Kids Through Checkups, Illnesses, and Accidents by Jennifer Trachtenberg.
Find out more about this book: The Smart Parent's Guide: Getting Your Kids Through Checkups, Illnesses, an...
A nurse practitioner has a master’s degree in nursing and received special training in performing physical exams, taking medical histories, and making basic diagnoses. If nurse practitioners encounter a complicated medical problem,... More
