What is the difference between a Physician Assistant (PA) and a Nurse Practitioner (NP)?
In the family practice setting both PAs and NPs share the same medical privileges which include: taking a patient history, doing an examination, making a diagnosis and providing treatment. One of the differences between a PA and an NP is their medical background prior to entering their professional medical training program. PAs may have served as medics in the military, respiratory therapists, medical assistants, public/international health agents or registered nurses. To become a NP the applicant must have been a registered nurse.
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