Physician Assistants and Nurse Practitioners: a Compare and Contrast of Today’s Top Growing Healthcare Professions

Physician Assistants and Nurse Practitioners: A compare and contrast of today’s top growing healthcare professions
                                                            By: Amanda Thomas
                                                               
                                                               

Ever wonder what exactly is a Nurse Practitioners or Physician Assistants and how do they fit into today's healthcare? Both are excellent career options that have a lot of similarities yet many differences, as well. Prior to getting a job as a Medical Assistant, I had actually never heard of a Nurse Practitioner or a Physician Assistant. I always assumed that the healthcare provider who took care of me when I was ill was a Doctor. When I started as a Medical Assistant I was shocked to learn about the two professions I never heard of. Over the years as I have watched them in action, I realized the impact they have on their patients and the healthcare industry as a whole. As I saw the differences they made in people’s lives, it was then that I realized that I wanted to become a Physician Assistant. Even now as I am working my way into medical school I still get asked all the time about exactly what a Physician Assistant and Nurse Practitioner are and what they do.

With the ever growing demands in today's healthcare, the need for Physician Assistants and Nurse Practitioners are at an all-time high.   I am sure that many of you have wondered what exactly is a Nurse Practitioner and a Physician Assistant and how do they fit into today's healthcare. Both are excellent career options that have a lot of similarities yet many differences, as well. I think that anyone who has a passion for medicine and enjoys helping others would find that either one of these careers would be rewarding career choice.

Before we get into the similarities and differences of Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants it’s important to know why they were created...