How do you know that you want to choose to become an RN over a PA?

fab4fan · Apr 15, 2005

There is a difference in practice between an RN and an NP. Are you asking about the difference between RNs and PAs or NPs and PAs?

You might want to pose this question on the forum for NPs here.

RN4NICU, LPN, LVN · Apr 15, 2005

There IS a forum for PA's www.physicianassistant.net

but they will get pretty hostile over there if you "dare" compare them to a nurse. God help you if you confuse them with a Medical Assistant, which it sort of seems that you have.

A medical assistant usually works in a physician's office. They are trained to give certain meds, draw labs, take VS, etc. They do not work in hospitals at all.

A Physician Assistant (PA) sees patients and writes orders - almost identical in function to a nurse practitioner. They are not really similar to an RN in any way.

nursestudentx · Apr 16, 2005

There IS a forum for PA's www.physicianassistant.net
but they will get pretty hostile over there if you "dare" compare them to a nurse. God help you if you confuse them with a Medical Assistant, which it sort of seems that you have.
A medical assistant usually works in a physician's office. They are trained to give certain meds, draw labs, take VS, etc. They do not work in hospitals at all.
A Physician Assistant (PA) sees patients and writes orders - almost identical in function to a nurse practitioner. They are not really similar to an RN in any way.

they're not similar to RNs in any way? i thought there were some similaries since lots of PAs and RNs work together? or in the same settings? or am i wrong about this one too? :uhoh21: where do PAs usually work? in private physician offices? i should check out that forum..thank you for the link :)

statrn42 · Apr 16, 2005

first of all..are PAs compared to NPs more than they are compared to RNs? do PAs work closely with physicians most of the time or with staff members like RNs? why do some RNs go back to school to become PAs? are there PAs who work in the ob/gyn area? the ER (im pretty sure they work in this unit)? i havent yet begun my nursing program so I'm still deciding whether I should go into nursing or become a PA. In which areas do PAs work at hospitals? why is there a sudden boost in the demand for PAs? Why would a physician decide to hire a RN over a PA and vice versa? The two areas in which I want to work in are OB/GYN or the ER..what suggestions do you experienced nurses have for me? RN or PA??? Is there a big difference in what they do and their role in helping physicians? im only interested in working in hospitals..no clinics, no nothing but hospitals. Thank you in advance! I have so many questions :uhoh21:
does anyone know any forums for PAs so i don't have to bother nurses with those kind of questions? :)

Well, do you want to be a nurse or not. Nothing in the PA program equivilates with NP. In the PA program, usually you can't work full time and go to school full time. Many have tried it and after a couple of weeks realized how insane that attempt is. In some states NP's can work independent of a MD, PA's can not. If I have to do over again. I would want to be a PA. I love the pt's and giving good care, more so I love the medical challanges that spark my critical thinking. None of you core Nursing courses with transfer into the PA program. They look for hands on experience, Nurses aid, er tech, they look for good grades, and the right student doesn't always appear to be the best. NP=masters, and if you have a BS degree already, I know a school here in Ohio that offers a two yr. completion program. Are you thinking about Kings College in NE PA. I use to live in Montrose.

R2MD · Apr 17, 2005

There IS a forum for PA's www.physicianassociate.net
but they will get pretty hostile over there if you "dare" compare them to a nurse. God help you if you confuse them with a Medical Assistant, which it sort of seems that you have.
A medical assistant usually works in a physician's office. They are trained to give certain meds, draw labs, take VS, etc. They do not work in hospitals at all.
A Physician Assistant (PA) sees patients and writes orders - almost identical in function to a nurse practitioner. They are not really similar to an RN in any way.

Absolutely false. I visit that forum regularly and this is not true. If you go over there and bash PAs that is a different story, however that board is definately more civil than this board. They know the difference between healthy debate and honest questions!!! Answers are educated and the mentality is not to bash and fight at all. I would suggest that you do visit that site. Also there is a new site www.clinicianforum.com which was created as a sister site to www.physicianassistant.net to share ideas etc. with nurse practitioners. Which by the way...WE all get along fine!!!!

R2MD · Apr 17, 2005

There IS a forum for PA's www.physicianassistant.net
but they will get pretty hostile over there if you "dare" compare them to a nurse. God help you if you confuse them with a Medical Assistant, which it sort of seems that you have.
A medical assistant usually works in a physician's office. They are trained to give certain meds, draw labs, take VS, etc. They do not work in hospitals at all.
A Physician Assistant (PA) sees patients and writes orders - almost identical in function to a nurse practitioner. They are not really similar to an RN in any way.

Oh one last thing......I dont think that you would like me to confuse you with the nursing assistant. Why wouldnt the PAs seek to educate regarding their profession. Food for thought!

nursestudentx · Apr 17, 2005

i live in s. california =)

RN4NICU, LPN, LVN · Apr 18, 2005

Absolutely false. I visit that forum regularly and this is not true. If you go over there and bash PAs that is a different story, however that board is definately more civil than this board. They know the difference between healthy debate and honest questions!!! Answers are educated and the mentality is not to bash and fight at all. I would suggest that you do visit that site. Also there is a new site www.clinicianforum.com which was created as a sister site to www.physicianassistant.net to share ideas etc. with nurse practitioners. Which by the way...WE all get along fine!!!!

It is NOT "absolutely false".

Here is a quote from the Doctor of Nursing Practice thread, just as ONE EXAMPLE

Simply adding two more years of the already worthless nursing philosophy to an NP does not make them a physician, or worthy of any clinical doctorate. They can cann themselves Dr. whoever in their homes and academic offices, but where I will be working, nurses will be called by their first names and treated as nurses. I hope to see one of these so called doctors on the floor one day, so I can say, "hello Dr. Nurse, kindly put 2 Splenda's in my coffee and get me the chart for room 113, and don't forget to dysimpact Mrs. X on your way back". Nurses are like the fire ants...you can't get rid of them because it costs too much, and you can't f**k with em because they will all come together and bite you. But when it comes down to it, if you really want to, you can always crush them one by one until you run out of energy. But there will be a million more to take their place unless you go to where they congregate and take out the queen!!

Please explain how this does not qualify as bashing. Also, do not come behind me and say that my post is "absolutely false" when it CLEARLY is not.

Maxs · Apr 18, 2005

That is just wrong, and I swear, If a doctor, or any of their trailers ever, talks to me like that, they will never, ever, know what hit them right in the jaw.

Max

fab4fan · Apr 18, 2005

Sickening, but unsurprising.

I think the OP should take advantage of Google and learn the difference between the various professions. There is plenty of info. out there.

Fiona59 · Apr 18, 2005

I'm begining to wonder if the OP is really a student or just someone out to see if she/he can wind us all up.

They have posted various questions and basically want a nice, indemand "career" that doesn't involve bodily fluids.

Me thinks a visit with a career counsellor is LONG overdue....