Compare and contrast 2 of the following major types of health services professionals:
physicians, nurses, dentists, pharmacists, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and
and practice certified nurse midwives. Include their roles, training, practice requirements,
.settings
Running head: NURSE PRACTITIONERS AND PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS RESPONSE 1
Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants Response
Name:
Course:
Institution:
NURSE PRACTITIONERS AND PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS RESPONSE 2
Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants Response
It is true that the healthcare professions are one of the most important professions on
earth though it is not sometimes regarded as such. Professionals in the healthcare industry have
the duty to ensure that people lead a healthy and quality life. Some of the professionals have
done exemplary well in their line of duty, though they have not been recognized. In addition to
Jesus’s commandment to love one another as he loved us, in Mathew 7:12 He also commands us
to do with men as we would them do us; “Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men
should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets” (Matthew 7:12
KJV). Nurse Practitioner and Physician Assistant are some of the professionals best placed to
show this love and care for people’s dire need. I concur with this post that both the Nurse
Practitioners and Physician Assistants are equally important professions with slight deviations in
their operations.
Both the NPs and the PAs prescribe medications to illnesses, work in close coordination
with the primary care physicians and treat ailments. As described by the
‘MastersinNursing.com,’ the difference between the two professions is primary in their training
and education per specialty. Some of their functions overlap, but even with the overlap, we
cannot assume that their roles are the same but different the titles. As clearly presented in the
discussion post, for professionals to practice in either of the two fields they have to undergo a
tedious learning and accreditation process, reminding them of the importance of the task ahead.
In addition to the information in the post, I could also add the following. The
MastersinNursing.com formally defines Nurse practitioners as Advanced Practice Registered
Nurses (APRN) who have accomplished their education and broad training. It defines the
Physician Assistants as personnel working under the guidelines of a physician to give diagnostic
NURSE PRACTITIONERS AND PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS RESPONSE 3
and preventive care. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, NPs are primary and specialty
caregivers who provide a combination of nursing and healthcare services to patients as well as
families. The Nursing practitioners are trained to work in different settings, but in their specialty
area. The different specialties in the NP profession include; Cardiology, Geriatrics, Oncology,
Pediatrics, Primary care and Women’s health. Bureau of Labor Statistics describes the role of the
PAs as practicing medicine under the directions of physicians and surgeons. They are officially
trained to give diagnostic and preventive health care services under the supervision of delegated
physicians. Some of the settings that PAs can work in include working as; Surgeon Assistants,
Neonatology Assistants, Anesthesiology Assistants or Emergency Medicine assistants.
The NPs and PA professions are very important positions in the society and they call for
people of high discipline and integrity to work in them. Following the statistics provided in the
post, it is evident that the NP and the PA professions are in want, their demand is projected to
increase, and this it could a good decision for one to join either of the two professions as their job
security is guaranteed.
NURSE PRACTITIONERS AND PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS RESPONSE 4
References
Carroll, R., & Prickett, S. (Eds.). (2008). The Bible: Authorized King James Version. OUP
Oxford.
Nurse Practitioner vs. Physician Assistant: Which Career Is Right for You? (2018). Retrieved
from https://www.mastersinnursing.com/guide/nurse-practitioner-vs-physician-assistant-
which-career-is-right-for-you/
