Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants

When you schedule an appointment with your primary care provider or a medical specialist, you may be asked if you would like to see a nurse practitioner or physician assistant instead. These advanced practice providers have similar training and education as doctors. They diagnose and treat patients, help people manage chronic term conditions and provide care that helps prevent disease.

About Advanced Practice Providers

Nurse practitioners and physician assistants are nurses who earned master’s degrees or doctoral degrees. They often specialize in a specific area, such as family practice, pediatrics, acute care, adult-gerontology or anesthesia.

Like a doctor, nurse practitioners and physician assistants can order lab work and radiology tests, prescribe medication and refer you to a specialist. They may also:

• First-assist in surgery
• Manage acutely ill patients in the ER or ICU
• Perform minor procedures in the clinic, inpatient bedside, or in radiology
• Spend additional time with their patients providing education and answering questions

Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists, or CRNAs, are also advanced practice providers. They can intubate patients and manage their care during surgery.

Benefits of Seeing a Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant

The benefits of seeing a nurse practitioner or physician assistant instead of a doctor include:

• Coordinated care; they work closely with your primary care doctor
• Easier access; you can typically get an appointment sooner
• Extended time to ask questions and express concerns
• Faster triaging
• Reduced time in the hospital and faster discharge
• Skills equal to a doctor in certain areas