[NPInfo] Question about PA vs NP scope of practice roles

[Carla Anderson]

Gail, 
   
  You know what, it is better to ask when you dont know, and as as student, I can see where it would be very confusing.  I see professionals in the medical field all the time that do not know the difference between a "nurse" and an NP, which seems also that they dont know that being a nurse is core to being an NP. But many do not know the difference between a PA and NP and just dont ask. It is also confusing about NPs because as Dena said, there are differences in level of nursing experience before becoming an NP, and some progams do not require any experience.  And there is disparity between the schools and NP education.
   
  The AANP website has a great definition of NPs, and I am sure on this listserve  the PAs can give you more info about their profession, but also on their professional organization website, there is some good info.  Here is the link:
   
  http://www.aapa.org/geninfo1.html  Carla/Portland, OR
Dena <galdena at sbcglobal.net> wrote:
  Gail--
Good grief, where have you been??? This subject has been discussed ad
nauseum on this list way too many times to count. There is NO difference in
the jobs performed by NPs and PAs. PAs do need MD supervision but can own
their own practice (perhaps not in all states)-- as long as they have a MD
who supervises them.

And by the way, you are definitely mistaken to say that NPs need to have
prior nursing experience before becoming a NP. NOT TRUE! First, many go
straight from a BSN program into a MSN NP program with NEVER having worked
as a nurse. Second, all these horrible 3 yr MSN NP programs that take
someone with a Bachelors degree in ANYTHING and turn out NPs with no nursing
experience. 

Dena Galler

-----Original Message-----
From: npinfo-bounces at nurse.net [mailto:npinfo-bounces at nurse.net] On Behalf
Of GIN11153 at aol.com
Sent: Saturday, September 08, 2007 11:29 PM
To: NPInfo at nurse.net
Subject: [NPInfo] Question about PA vs NP scope of practice roles

Please tell me what the difference in capabilities are between a PA and an 
NP other than an NP has had nursing experience prior to taking an NP
program. 
It seems to me that they both essentially do the same things, such as 
diagnose, order tests, prescribe meds, and more. I know that some states
require MD 
supervision of NPs while other states allow independent or collaborating 
private practices. Do all PAs require MD supervision, so a PA can never
have 
their own practice? I really don't know much about PA training.


Gail Neuman RNC CPHW
student midwife and student nurse practitioner
certified high risk OB/OB legal consultant
Perinatal Nurse Associates
801 N. Tustin Ave., Suite 305
Santa Ana, CA 92705
(714) 314-7070
(714) 838-1479 fax



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Carla R. Anderson, FNP-C
  Healing Presence Family Practice, PC  
  carla_rayne at yahoo.com
  503 819 9726