The Age Old Question- Np Or Pa?

[Mithrandir]

Okay, I realize this topic has its own board, but that board gets like no traffic at all.

So I am a year into my second degree (nursing) and have come to realize that Med school just isn't going to happen for me. I'm not upset, or giving up, I just don't see myself doing that much more school or caring about it enough to survive it ¯\_(ツ)_/¯.

I would definitely still like to be a health care provider though, and am enjoying my nursing classes (well most of them anyways:P).

I am interested in applying to the PA or NP programs at UofT after I work for a couple years as an RN and get the required hours.

I am looking to hear from ANY PA's, NP's or anyone who has worked with either about your opinion on the outlook of either job in Ontario or what those careers are like? I'm from a very small rural town in Northern Ontario if that helps at all?

 

[_ _]

I have zero knowledge about either of these professions, I'll be honest, but can I ask if there is any benefit to deciding at this point in your career? My understanding is that PA's only work in a few provinces, Ontario being one of them, so perhaps if you are going to be working in a hospital setting as an RN you could try and get in touch with a PA there? Or in a hospital nearby, maybe your co-workers will have connections to a PA? 

Again, I am the furthest thing from an expert here, but maybe you could arrange some conversations or job-shadowing with NPs and PAs once you are working (or even doing clinicals) to see which is the best fit?

[Mithrandir]

Okay thanks. That's a good point. I am doing clinicals however, and I'm in a compressed program so I'll be done right away and am trying to figure out if I should fit in the prereqs for the PA programs or not. So that's why I'm asking early.

[ralk]

If you're already an RN, go the NP route. They're more established, have an independent licence, and are being used in a fairly wide variety of situations. There's really nothing a PA can do that an NP can't, while there are a number of things an NP can do that a PA can't, mostly related to being able to practice independently.

 

The only advantage I've seen to being a PA is differences in practice setting, as some institutions are using PAs rather than NPs to fill certain roles. The ED is one where I've heard of a greater presence of PAs. However, that's institution-dependent and by no means a static situation, as NPs are fully qualified to fill much the same role in the ED if they have appropriate training. The flip side is a bit more pronounced, however, as I've seen and worked with NPs in a bunch of roles (Internal, Peds, Mental Health) that I've never even heard of a PA practicing in in Canada. For both NPs and PAs, primary care is going to be a major chunk of the job opportunities, same as it is for physicians, but they are starting to branch out a bit and I see NPs having an edge on that front.

[NLengr]

 I'm from a very small rural town in Northern Ontario if that helps at all?

If you have any interest in working in your hometown (or another small rural location) an NP gives you the advantage of having an "independent" license. It would probably be easier for you to set up shop all on your own in a small rural location (in fact, that's probably one of the best roles for an NP). You might be able to do something similar as a PA, but you need some degree of "supervision" by an MD (whether that could be telemedicine based I don't know). Either way, if you want to go to a small rural location and work, I can see NP being a better bet.