NURSE PRACTICIONERS AND PHYSICAN ASSISTANTS
Physician Assistants are advanced practice clinicians, and obtain medical histories, perform examinations and procedures, order treatments, diagnose illnesses, prescribe medication, interpret diagnostic tests, refer patients to specialists when appropriate and first-assist in surgery. PA’s are licensed to practice medicine with physician supervision, which may be either in person, by telecommunication system or by other reliable means. The physician supervision, in most cases, need not be direct or on-site, and many PA’s practice in remote or underserved areas in satellite clinics.
A Nurse Practitioner is a registered nurse who has completed specific advanced nursing education (generally a master’s degree). NP’s treat both acute and chronic conditions through comprehensive history taking, physical exams, physical therapy, and ordering tests and therapies for patients. An NP can serve as a patient’s “point of entry” health care provider, and see patients of all ages depending on their designated scope of practice. The core philosophy of the field is individualized care. NP’s focus on patients’ conditions as well as the effects of illness on the lives of the patients and their families.