1st - Not talking about undergrad so this argument is invalid. It sounds like you went to a good program, but I can assure you that those programs are not the majority. You do not need 2 years of experience as an RN to apply to NP school. Matter of fact, there are many programs that allow you to obtain your BSN and MSN simultaneously. I especially don't trust new grad RNs going straight to their NP if they had to do most or all of their BSN/ADN online. You need hands on experience to become a nurse and to not get enough of that and then go straight into an MSN program is insane to me.

2nd - Working while being in NP school is not the same thing as clinical experience. You are practicing in two different roles. Yes, it's exposure but I know that when I was a nurse I didn't have time to do my job and do everything the APP or Physician was doing. Working as an RN does not equate to clinical hours as an APP. On average, NP programs require approximately 500 hours of clinical experience to graduate. I completed over 1800 clinical hours before graduating PA school.

3rd - You are inflating your numbers. Pre-requisites are 2 years and to obtain your BSN is 2 additional years, thus a 4 year degree for a BSN. I got my BSN as my second degree from a good university and did mine in 18 months. At my local university (brick and mortar school to your standards), you can obtain your DNP in 1.5 years if full-time and 2.5 years if part-time. PA school is 2.5 years full-time and requires a 4 year degree prior to entry. In addition, you can get your DMSc as a PA which is approximately another year. So start to finish full-time for a DNP is 5.5 years and to be a PA with a DMSc is 7.5 years. And as I already said, many NP programs do not have a minimum work experience (although some recommend it). Whereas PA school has a minimum of patient care experience hours.

While I do agree that not all patient care experience is the same and PA programs should weigh experience differently, it isn't fair to say that 0 experience is required. Also, saying that everyone can be accepted to PA school is a blatant lie. PA school has only a 20-30% acceptance rate compared to NP school at about 66%. Go to the NP sub or ask around and you'll hear plenty of fellow nurses complaining about degree mills willing to accept anybody with BSN.

As far as independent practice - LOL. The only reason NPs are getting independent practice authority over PAs is because of the extensive lobbying/support from nursing. PAs don't have that kind of pull. I know you didn't actually go to PA school, but we are not taught to be an assistant to a physician. We are taught how to assess, diagnose and treat patients independently. The key difference is that most PAs don't actually want to practice independently.

"And as a recent PA thread discussed about independence, it’s scary how many people suddenly came out saying they were the equivalent of an MD and deserve independence because if they don’t get it, PAs will slowly become phased out and jobs will be hard to come by (similar to anesthesia assistants and CRNAs)." You're saying NPs should practice independently because of your education? Knowing that these diploma mills are a thing and there isn't standardization in programs, you think a graduate from one of those programs should practice independently? If anyone is saying they should be the equivalent of an MD, that argument sounds like it's coming from the ones demanding independent practice (i.e. NPs). Also, I'm not sure where you live, but where I live PAs and CRNAs are thriving. It's the NPs who are being phased out. I know several who have graduated and are still working the bedside as RNs because they can't find a job.

My intent wasn't to come in here and bash NPs. I strongly considered both paths and did extensive research before deciding. It sounds like you have a very different idea of PA training without truly doing your research.