PAs, NPs, and the Medical Team

Mid-level providers

PAs, NPs, and nurse midwives

PA (physician assistant)

about 150k in the U.S., more than 400 million patient interactions a year, practice in hospitals outpatient clinics primarily

Nurse Practitioner (NP)

programs affiliated with schools of nursing (Dr. Degree programs)

Family Nurse Practitioners (FNP)

Patients across lifespan and preventative care

Acute Care Nurse Practitioners (ACNP)

hospital/urgent care setting, critical/acute patients

AG-ACNPS

Adult-geontology acute care nurse practitioners

PACNCPS

pediatric acute care nurse practitioners

NP and Pa Similarities

day-to-day work, considered mid-level providers (non-physician hcps), in patient environments (role can be interchangable)

NP and PA differences

Education: NP- nursing model, many more programs, online degrees, and need a nursing degree, and speciality driven, expands RN role, work more in obstetrics and pediatrics

PA-Medical model, dependent providers (must work under a physician), and work in more surgical/surgery subspecialties

Medical Students

2 years didactic instruction, 2 years of clinical instruction

Must pass U.S. Medical Licensing Examination (1. taken after 2nd year 2. 2 part test taken in 4th year 3. after completed 1 post grad training year (must pass prior to 3rd year of residency))

Interns

1st year residents after grad med school, wear short white coats to signify they are still learning

Residents

Med school grads, matched, 4-7 years

internal/fam med: 3 years

surgical: gen and ortho: 5 years

plastics: 6 years

neuro: 7 years

Fellows

additional training after residency (1-3 years)

subspecialties: hematology and cellular therapy, cardiology, pulmonology, endocrinology, plastic hand surgery, maternal fetal med, and crit care

Attendings

can supervise up to 4 PA’s and completed all training required

Medical Team Comprises

nurse aides, nurses, med techs, students, PA, NP, CRNA, interns, residents, fellows, Attendings, PTs, Ots, respiratory therapists, SLPs, and Pharmacists