Physician Assistants (PAs) and Advanced Practice Nurses (APNs), such as Nurse Practitioners (NPs), are both Advanced Practice Providers (APPs) who deliver medical care, but they have different educational foundations.
PAs are trained in a physician-based medical model with a generalist approach. NPs begin with a foundation in registered nursing and build upon it with advanced nursing and medical education.
Both roles involve taking patient histories, performing exams, diagnosing and treating illnesses, ordering tests, and prescribing medications, often working collaboratively within a team-based approach to care.
Advanced Practice Midwives
Healthcare Taxonomy Code 367A00000X
Advanced practice midwifery encompasses the independent provision of care during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period, as well as services related to sexual and reproductive health, gynecologic health, and family planning, including preconception care.
Anesthesiologist Assistants
Healthcare Taxonomy Code 367H00000X
An individual certified by the state to perform anesthesia services under the direct supervision of an anesthesiologist.
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists
Healthcare Taxonomy Code 367500000X
A licensed registered nurse with advanced specialty education in anesthesia who, in collaboration with appropriate health care professionals, provides preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative care to patients and assists in the management and resuscitation of critical patients in intensive care, coronary care, and emergencies.
Clinical Nurse Specialists
Healthcare Taxonomy Code 364S00000X
A registered nurse who, through a graduate degree program in nursing, or through a formal post-basic education program or continuing education courses and clinical experience, is an expert in a specialty area of nursing practice within one or more of the components of direct patient/client care, consultation, education, research, and administration.
Nurse Practitioners
Healthcare Taxonomy Code 363L00000X
A registered nurse provider with a graduate degree in nursing prepared for advanced practice involving independent and interdependent decision making and direct accountability for clinical judgment across the health care continuum or in a certified specialty.
Physician Assistants
Healthcare Taxonomy Code 363A00000X
A physician assistant is a person who has completed an accredited education program for physician assistants, is licensed by the state, and practices within the scope of that license.