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What is the difference between a physicians assistant and a nurse practitioner?

I am currently a health science major at Drexel University and I’m considering two paths of becoming either a physicians assistant or nurse practitioner. #majors #health

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Roger’s Answer

For my experience, the primary difference is the approach to patient care. NPs tend to be more holistic in approach, based on the nursing model. PAs are based more in the curative , medical model. Both have the same goal, just differing ways to reach those goals. Both are similar in pre-req requirements and program length as well as income potential (in my state anyway!).

Roger recommends the following next steps:

Consider which approach suits you
speak to members of both professions directly and discover there benefits and challenges of their role
consider cost of school for both profession
follow your gut!
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Hwal’s Answer

Shelby,

I see you're an undergraduate at Drexel, which I believe has their own PA program. I'm a current PA student at Jefferson College of Health Sciences in Roanoke, Virginia. Here's a link that could help you explore and compare the two professions (and many more!):

https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/physician-assistants.htm

Here's a link that has helpful information on how to prepare for a PA career:

https://www.aapa.org/career-central/become-a-pa/

Let me know if you have any specific questions. Good luck!

Hwal
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