Not to be provacative but why not Physician's assistant....

DolceVita, ADN, BSN, RN · Jul 7, 2009

You make a good point -- about the poor work environments.

amarilla, RN · Jul 7, 2009

With the opportunities available in advanced practice nursing, why would one instead bridge to be a PA?

I'm a non-trad student on an alternative path myself, but I can definitely answer to the age-old question of why seemingly unhappy people can't make a change: life. Life gets in the way of finding enough time, money and waking hours to go to full (or even part time) grad school above and beyond one's current obligations. Real change takes a lot of 'ouch' - sacrifices of time with your family, money, sleep, so on - that it's too much of a pinch for some to do.

There are opportunities....

if you can make them work. Some can, some can't. Some plan for that day that they can, (hence the ads to further one's education and open more doors.) There are ultimately many aspects of bedside nursing which must be addressed - patient ratios, staffing concerns, availability of equipment and support, so on - for the good of the health care team and future of the occupation.

JMO.

Best,

Southern

DA314 · Jul 7, 2009

Because Physician's Assistant is and entirely different career path. It requires a master's degree, the nursing educational equivalent being a Nurse Practitioner. i would rather go for NP than PA, because NP's have more professional freedom than PAs do.

As far as this site being a problem, I guess I'm not understanding what you mean. This is a place for people in the nursing profession to come together. To share the joys and pains of the profession. There are major problems in any profession, inculding nursing. nobody is going to be 100percent happy at their job all the time. That is why we come here and vent. We also come here and share jokes, give career advice, offer moral support, etc.

As far as why ADN's and BSN's don't go into a PA program, maybe it is because they don't want to. Maybe they like workign at the bedside, getting to know their patients, focusing on care. Not everyone is driven by the typical American attitude of "do more, reach higher."

If you're making a good living and happy where you are, there is no need to "reach higher." Maybe instead of focusing all of their time on schools, they want to do and learn other thigns that will enrich their lives. tehre is nothing wrong with that.

hope this helps you know why everyone on here doesn't go for PA.

Winnie04 · Jul 7, 2009

In light of the general unhappiness I see in the various threads with the profession of nursing, e.g., with employment prospects, the confusing array of continuing education options, the bad work environment, why aren't more people pursuing the physician's assistant option? If I may ask? And looking at this sight, isn't even allnurses.com a part of the problem - see the bottom of the screens where the RN to BSN programs are touted, for example.
H

Hi, my impression is that the "general unhappiness with the profession of nursing" that is expressed on this board has to do specifically with bedside nursing. Advanced Practice nurses (Nurse Practitioners, Clinical Nurse Specialists, etc) have a much different role and work environment than do bedside RN's. For bedside RN's who want to get an advanced degree, it seems that it is typically more appealing/logical to stay in the field of nursing and become a NP instead of a PA (both are mid-level providers, and in several threads on the topic, posters have pointed out that the actual work done by both roles is v. similar).

SiennaGreen · Jul 7, 2009

I intend to become a Nurse Midwife. While others have suggested that I go the PA route and specialize afterward...I never want to be stuck practicing in some OB's office as their PA. No, thanks. CNM will provide me the opportunity to serve women where, when, and how I choose.

In addition, the PA's I know have all been trained and practice with a very MD mindset. They are very diagnosis focused, often times seemingly forgetting that they are dealing with whole human beings. I am really beginning to appreciate the difference in the nursing framework and that patient care is our utmost goal.

HM2VikingRN, RN · Jul 7, 2009

There are a LOT more NP/CRNA/CNS schools than PA seats.

HeartsOpenWide, RN · Jul 7, 2009

Because Physician's Assistant is and entirely different career path. It requires a master's degree, the nursing educational equivalent being a Nurse Practitioner. i would rather go for NP than PA, because NP's have more professional freedom than PAs do.
.

Actually, many PA's only have a certification, with nothing more than an associates degree. My friend is one of them and just graduated. With FNP changing to DNP requirement I can imagine something will have to be changed about the PA degree.

PA school took her just about as long as it took me to get my BSN. The reason she did PA was because she really wanted to be an FNP but for THAT she would have to go to nursing school and get a masters and that is a lot longer than what she did.

Also, a RN would not become a PA because he/she could become an FNP in about the same amount of time and have Masters or DNP and have a wider range of practice as an FNP.

UTresearcher · Jul 7, 2009

I am a Nurse Practitioner and I love it! Why not PA? Because I work for myself! I am not an "assistant" but a "Practitioner!" I love the autonomy and independence that being a nurse practitioner offers, and that I have my own license and I practice on that. I don't have to ask permission from my supervising physician because I am my own supervising physician. If I need help then I can consult and/or refer. Also, I agree with the nursing framework of focusing on the whole person. Rather than treating the symptoms, I like to fix the underlying problem. I frankly don't understand why anyone would choose PA school. I did an accelerated program and got my RN and NP in a three year master's program. It's the best thing I have ever done.

PAERRN20 · Jul 7, 2009

Because nurses are cooler than PA's!! Just kidding! (I love the PA I work with)

In general, a PA has more responsibility than a staff nurse. As others have said, more schooling. You can become an RN in 2 years.

I think it is easier for nurses to move around in different specialties. PA's have to work under a physician. I don't know the specifics of PA jobs, but nurses can request a transfer to a different unit.

Comparing a PA to a nurse is comparing apples and oranges.

neatnurse30 · Jul 7, 2009

There are only 2 programs to get PA license in major metropolitan area I live in. One of the programs is at masters level ( so you need to have BSN), 2 years long and full time only, costs about 50,000$.So for me, it is too long and too expensive to do that. I don't know about the other program. PAs make more money and I think are generally much more satisfied with their careers choice. My friend ( nurse) who is very unhappy with nursing regrets that she didn't go into PA school instead. She actually applied to PA school before she started nursing school, but once she found out, she needed to take some prerequisite courses, she felt discouraged and instead jumped into nursing school. PAs are mid-level providers and I don't think there are any associate or bachelor degrees for PAs anymore, so for many nurses it doesn't seem to pay off to go to graduate school for that. There are, on the other hand, lots of bridge programs ( RN to MSN) for becoming NP, that is cheaper and can be done part time.

Carolbknits · Jul 7, 2009

utresearcher what kind of nurse practitioner are you? what exactly do you do in your field? i am thinking about np but not sure of the specialty yet. thanks

love hugs and prayers

carol