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Physician assistant vs nurse practitioner

The differences between physician assistants and nurse practitioners can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a physician assistant has an average salary of $118,812, which is higher than the $100,033 average annual salary of a nurse practitioner.

The top three skills for a physician assistant include patients, diagnostic tests and surgery. The most important skills for a nurse practitioner are patients, diagnosis, and home health.

Physician assistant vs nurse practitioner overview

Physician AssistantNurse Practitioner
Yearly salary$118,812$100,033
Hourly rate$57.12$48.09
Growth rate28%40%
Number of jobs39,75227,912
Job satisfaction-2.67
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 46%Master's Degree, 47%
Average age3943
Years of experience-2

What does a physician assistant do?

The physician assistant, also known as "PA," is now considered a key player to any healthcare team. Physician assistants are health care professionals who practice medicine under the supervision of licensed physicians. They work on several areas of medicine, from primary care to emergency service and even psychiatry. Neither they are a doctor nor a physician, but their job profile showcases many of these responsibilities. More than as assistants to the doctors, they are also equipped to examine, diagnose, and develop treatment strategies for patients.

What does a nurse practitioner do?

A nurse practitioner's role is diverse. It revolves around supervising nurses in a particular area and providing immediate care and treatment to patients through extensive knowledge and clinical experience. Among the duties of a nurse practitioner involves diagnosing and treating medical conditions, performing research and analysis through various tests, evaluating data and results, operating different kinds of medical equipment, and gathering samples from patients. Furthermore, a nurse practitioner must maintain an active line of communication and coordination among fellow health workers in a hospital or clinic.

Physician assistant vs nurse practitioner salary

Physician assistants and nurse practitioners have different pay scales, as shown below.

Physician AssistantNurse Practitioner
Average salary$118,812$100,033
Salary rangeBetween $70,000 And $201,000Between $62,000 And $161,000
Highest paying CityBoston, MARichmond, CA
Highest paying stateVermontCalifornia
Best paying companyMarshall UniversityPace University
Best paying industryEducation-

Differences between physician assistant and nurse practitioner education

There are a few differences between a physician assistant and a nurse practitioner in terms of educational background:

Physician AssistantNurse Practitioner
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 46%Master's Degree, 47%
Most common majorPhysician AssistantNursing
Most common collegeDuke UniversityDuke University

Physician assistant vs nurse practitioner demographics

Here are the differences between physician assistants' and nurse practitioners' demographics:

Physician AssistantNurse Practitioner
Average age3943
Gender ratioMale, 33.6% Female, 66.4%Male, 13.1% Female, 86.9%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 5.4% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 11.8% Asian, 11.2% White, 67.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%Black or African American, 4.7% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 6.7% Asian, 6.3% White, 77.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%
LGBT Percentage12%12%

Differences between physician assistant and nurse practitioner duties and responsibilities

Physician assistant example responsibilities.

  • Manage a variety of acute and chronic conditions especially asthma, allergies, injuries, and infectious diseases.
  • Manage chronic conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, ASCVD, chronic back and joint pains, depression, and anxiety.
  • Manage patient surgical care throughout the continuum of care from pre-op, to discharge planning, including ambulatory and hospital in-patients.
  • Attain pertinent history & physicals for obstetrics and gynecological acute and preventative visits.
  • Work closely with patients to manage their depression and anxiety beginning with initial diagnosis to med-initiation and follow-up care.
  • Aid in the acute management of trauma patients including obtaining appropriate studies, suturing, and CPR.
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Nurse practitioner example responsibilities.

  • Manage care of chronic pediatric patients in PICU.
  • Assess, diagnose and medically manage patients with various GI diseases and dysfunctions
  • Manage medical illnesses including diabetes, hypertension, thyroid conditions and asthma and other medical conditions.
  • Manage pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment of diabetes and provide prescriptions and education before discharge from the hospital.
  • Manage appropriate changes to individualize care plan to ensure cost and time efficacy in an outpatient physical medicine and rehabilitation office.
  • Document correctly the patients' information in electronic health record and observe HIPAA.
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Physician assistant vs nurse practitioner skills

Common physician assistant skills
  • Patients, 29%
  • Diagnostic Tests, 6%
  • Surgery, 5%
  • Primary Care, 5%
  • Urgent Care, 4%
  • CPR, 3%
Common nurse practitioner skills
  • Patients, 29%
  • Diagnosis, 7%
  • Home Health, 5%
  • Diagnostic Tests, 5%
  • Acute Care, 3%
  • EMR, 3%

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