Is there more demand for Physician's Assistants than for nurses?

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I'm taking a bunch of science and math pre-reqs this year. I'm looking at various nursing program options and trying to decide what to pursue once I get all these requirements out of the way. But the average physician's assistant program is 26 months - and the average associate's program for nursing is two years - so the P.A. program is not that much longer.

Is there more demand for physician's assistants then there are for R.N.'s? Does anyone who has familiarity with the field have any insights into it?

I don't know about where you are, but here PA is a masters program. You'd need a BS before applying. I'm assuming you don't have one of those.

No, I have a B.A. However, at Nova, here in FLorida, there is no requirement for a B.S. I just have to complete these pre-req's with a 2.9 or higher (and I'm sure that realistically, to get in to such a competitive program, it has to be MUCH higher!)

Required Courses: The College requires applicants to earn a grade of C or better in each of the following required subjects:

College Algebra or higher (not including Statistics) - 3 semester hours (sh.)

English Composition - 3 sh.**

English Literature - 3 sh.**

Humanities/Arts - 3 sh.

Social Sciences - 9 sh.

General Chemistry (I & II) including laboratory - 8 sh.

Microbiology including laboratory - 4 sh.

General biology and lab OR Zoology including laboratory - 4 sh.

Human Anatomy & Physiology - 6 sh.

Biochemistry or Organic Chemistry - 3 sh.

Medical terminology - 1 sh.

Introduction to Statistics 1 sh.

Electives - 43 sh.

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Not sure if it is the same all over the country but in MA where I live, the PA programs are much more selective than the VERY selective nursing programs. I had a 4.0 and applied to nursing programs and 1 PA program. I was accepted to all of the schools that I applied to except the PA program. The two professions are completely different so I think it all depends on what you want, and money definetly should be a concern but not a driving force. You want to be happy :D

Yes, that is a concern. I went to a PA forum and people were talking about applying to 15 or 16 programs to get accepted into one. As if getting into nursing school wasn't hard enough these days!

I'm sure some PA programs are more competitive than others - but I'm also sure that none of them are easy to get into.

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Specializes in MICU, neuro, orthotrauma.
PAs and nurses serve completely different roles on the healthcare team. Although PAs work under the "supervision" of a doctor, they do not have one breathing down their neck, and most PA-physician relationships are collaborative.

That really dependent upon the physician's personality.

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Do not be fooled by the two year assumption. PA students will have two "full" years with few breaks. You may have a couple of clinical days a week as a studen nurse, you may have 60 hours a week as a PA student. You should also expect intense "hard" science based courses as a PA student. Very different types of education.

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The only PAs I know had a Bachelor's prior to applying to PA schools.

In my area there are PA and NP job openings but very few RN openings.

otessa

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Specializes in MICU, neuro, orthotrauma.
Do not be fooled by the two year assumption. PA students will have two "full" years with few breaks. You may have a couple of clinical days a week as a studen nurse, you may have 60 hours a week as a PA student. You should also expect intense "hard" science based courses as a PA student. Very different types of education.

It's true. If you aren't up for a rigorous school experience, and nursing is hard enough, then I would forgo the PA idea.

Also, if you are up for a rigorous school experience, you might look into pharmacy. It requires physics and organic chem on top of the other typical requirements, but there are three year programs (year round).

You should check out http://www.studentdoctor.net for ideas about medical occupations. There is also Anesthesiology Assistant as a career. Good money and interesting work, IMHO.

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I am up for rigorous schooling - but I want a different experience then I would get from being a pharmacist - I want more hands-on patient care and interaction. I appreciate the link to the studentdoctor.net! Since I have about three more semesters of pre-reqs to finish up (counting this one that starts next Monday) I've got plenty of time to explore my options.

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The only PAs I know had a Bachelor's prior to applying to PA schools.

In my area there are PA and NP job openings but very few RN openings.

otessa

I do have a bachelor's - it's a B.A. - but at least I have my humanities classes already done! Good to know there are P.A. job openings out there.

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That really dependent upon the physician's personality.

As is a nurses relationship to the physician. The original post conveyed that PAs were constantly watched over by physicians, while nurses aren't.

You are correct, both relationships (nurse to dr, and PA to dr) depended upon the personality of the physician. In my experience, PAs enjoy a great deal of autonomy. Of course, some physicians do feel the need to control the people working under him- but they treat nurses that way as well.

Basically, the original statement could be reversed, with equal correctness.

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Just one thing to remember is that you have no idea where the economy will be by the time you graduate. ^^

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Yes, that is a concern. I went to a PA forum and people were talking about applying to 15 or 16 programs to get accepted into one. As if getting into nursing school wasn't hard enough these days!

I'm sure some PA programs are more competitive than others - but I'm also sure that none of them are easy to get into.

You can always try the RN route first and go on to become a Nurse Practitioner...its similiar to the PA,except im not sure if they can be along side a surgeon during surgery.
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Just one thing to remember is that you have no idea where the economy will be by the time you graduate. ^^

I know. I know that either as an RN or a PA - and it will take me about 4 years to get either degree because of all the pre-req's that I need - it won't be a slam-dunk to get a job when I graduate.

However, I look at it this way - my prior profession was as a newspaper reporter - where there are definitely NO jobs, and the pay is horrible. I need to get a degree in SOMETHING new that I will enjoy doing, something which pays reasonably well, and there will always be a need for medical personnel, even if there's less hiring right now. If I graduate with a degree either as an RN or PA I am absolutely sure I will find a job sooner or later, especially if I am willing to move wherever there's a job offer.

I'm not so sure about that with any other profession that I can think of right now. Maybe computer engineering, but I hate that and I'm not talented in that area.

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