One of the few differences between PAs and NPs relates to an area that is poorly defined as supervision. In the most rudimentary form, PAs require it, NPs don’t. When people hear this word, supervision, most think of a taskmaster folding his or her arms while the PA kneels submissively caring for their patient. The reality of the word supervision is that it implies that the PA is not an independent practitioner, but is one joined at the hip to a physician. This relationship is loosely called the physician/PA team. By definition it infers that the PA has access to a physician by some manner, whether in person, by telephone, or by some other means of communication.