Mn 501 Unit 6 Duscusiion:topic: Np And Apn Roles Comparison

MN 501 Unit 6 Discussion: Nurse Practioner and Advanced Nurse Practioner RolesPrimary care nurse practitioners, advanced nurse specialists and physician assistants have an important role within the healthcare system. They alleviate shortages in the primary care system by providing cost effective healthcare that is easily accessible (Gadbois, Miller, Tyler & Intrator, 2015). While these roles are not interchangeable, they share some similarities in educational training and professional practice. Research has shown that nurse practitioners, nurse specialists and physician assistants have significantly contributed in improvements to healthcare by providing care that is complimentary to that given by doctors. Patients in these studies preferred nurse practitioners or physician assistants to doctors because they provided better healthcare and the waiting time was shorter when compared to doctor waiting times (Gadbois, Miller, Tyler & Intrator, 2015). These roles also share the same foundational knowledge in health sciences, evidence-based practice, patient advocacy and continuing professional development. Nurse practitioners, nurse specialists and physician assistants have to be certified by their respective bodies and have a license to practice their profession (Hass, 2016). However, there are differences that exist in the context of educational models and professional practice. Nurse practitioner programs are based on nursing models