NPs & PAs Are Talking – PA-Owned Clinics, NP Certification, NPs in the Military
Last week, a reader commented with praise for both NPs and PAs on our 2012 National Salary Survey of NPs & PAs. "I am proud to see PAs and NPs getting along in the medical field. Both are great professions. I was an RN for 13 years prior to becoming a PA. I have been a PA for 8 years. I chose PA, because in 2001, NPs were basically involved in OB/GYN, or peds or family practice. I wanted to do surgery, which I did, when I finished school. Our training was much harder than the NP program, as I researched both. Our boards are written by MDs, and NPs by nurses. However, I have some friends that are GREAT NPs. Both professions rock!!" reader Kimberly said. If you haven't taken it yet, share your salary information now! Your input is essential to our accurate reporting.
PA Harriet and her husband are seeking your advice on opening a clinic. "My spouse and I are PAs interested in opening a clinic in Florida. It would include corporate health and family practice. Any assistance or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I have picked up several books to read but it would be great to hear from someone who has been through the process." Head over to our PA-Owned Clinics Resource Center to lend your advice.
A California NP is also seeking some clinician input. "I live in California where national certification has never been required to work as an NP. I graduated from a certified University as an NP in 1998, because this was prior 2005, I'm told I can never take the exam to become nationally certified. So, if California does decide CA NPs have to be nationally certified to work in CA- what happens to myself and others who have been working in our practice fields for years but are not certified?" reader Katherine asked on our article What NP Graduates Need to Know About Certification. Do you have any experience with national certification? Share your comments and resources.
On LinkedIn, we shared a comment from Tim Ralph, president of the Canadian Association of PAs, who says that PAs "have never been and will never be" independent practitioners. We received multiple comments from clinicians around the country. Here are just a few:
- "As an APRN, I would say get a new president, I know many outstanding and autonomous PAs, I have full trust in their abilities."
- "People have to remember that PAs are new in Canada. I was in class at the Inter-service Physician Assistant Program at Fort Sam Houston, TX in 2001 when representatives from the Candian Army made their first visit to the program to see if they wanted to create a similar program."
- "This is the same problem that established U.S. PAs have, and we need our leaders to envision a bolder definition of PAs which better represents what we do: practice medicine."
Connect with our LinkedIn page to see more comments and follow along with other popular discussions, including clavicle fractures, the independence of PAs, and more.
On Facebook last week, we shared the courageous story of an FNP who risked her life to save others while deployed in Afghanistan. The story was our most popular post of the week, and for good reason. We are proud to share the accomplishments of both NPs and PAs. If you know a practitioner who deserves a moment of recognition, share with us on our Facebook page.
We love to get feedback from our readers. If you're not chatting with us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn, "like", "follow" and "connect" with us and start sharing in the conversations! If you are, keep following and spread the word.