Class 1 Unit 6 COMMENT 1
Purpose: Discussion (NP and APN Roles Comparison)
Thing to Remember:
• Answer this discussion with opinions/ideas creatively and clearly. Supports post using several outside, peer-reviewed sources.
• 1 References, find resources that are 5 years or less
• No errors with APA format 6 Edition
Discussion: (NP and APN Roles Comparison)
Physician assistant’s verses Nurse Practitioners are both similar and different. First thing is the viewpoints and attitudes towards healthcare, nurses take the
nursing approach, where physician assistant’s take a medical style. (nursingjournal, 2017) “Nurse practitioners (NPs) work in a variety of settings. So do physician
assistants (PAs). They can both be found in hospitals and clinics, from rural to urban practices. PAs care for a variety of conditions. So do NPs. They both treat
illnesses, provide patient teaching and prescribe medications, often acting as the primary care provider.” (2011, January 09) Both professions are important and are
needed to assist in the growing demand on health care. They both have advantages and disadvantages. NP’s are a little freer as in they can practice in their own
clinic whereas PA’s need to have a medical doctor oversee their work.
Nurse practitioners are considered part of the advance practice nursing core, but the difference between APN’s and NP’s is the path of specialty they go towards. NP
are often more of a general practitioner, where other APN’s specialize in areas such as mid-wife’s, or anesthesiology. “the clinical nurse specialist (CNS) role was
created for the following reasons: (1) to provide direct care to patients with complex diseases or conditions; (2) to improve patient care by developing the clinical
skills and judgement of staff nurses; and (3) to retain nurses who are experts in clinical practice.” (Hamric, 2014, p. 359) Many people if they do not feel like there
is advancement in their job or profession will quit and move to another job, nursing is no different. Many nurses want to be recognized but do not necessarily want to
go back to school to further their education.
References
Hamric, A. B., Hanson, C. M., Tracy, M. F., & OGrady, E. (2014). Advanced practice nursing: an integrative approach. St. Louis, MO: Elsevier/Saunders.
Http://nursejournal.org/, 2. N. (n.d.). Nurse Practitioner Vs. Physician Assistant. Retrieved June 22, 2017, from http://nursejournal.org/nurse-practitioner/np-vs-
physician-assistants/
Nurse Practitioner vs. Physician Assistant. (2011, January 09). Retrieved June 22, 2017, from http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-
dyn/content/article/2011/01/07/AR2011010704936.html
