Pa if you could go back and do it over?

OK And what do NPs start out at in your part of the USA? You compare new PA at 90k vs new RN at 50K. That's apples/oranges comparison.I would not do PA. I live in New Mexico where NPs have had independent practice for over 20 years. I would still be a nurse. I have had an exciting nursing career. Can not imagine doing anything else. As a NP I make double or slightly more then RNs, make double what I made teaching in a BSN program (9 month faculty vs full time NP)

OK And what do NPs start out at in your part of the USA? You compare new PA at 90k vs new RN at 50K. That's apples/oranges comparison.I would not do PA. I live in New Mexico where NPs have had independent practice for over 20 years. I would still be a nurse. I have had an exciting nursing career. Can not imagine doing anything else. As a NP I make double or slightly more then RNs, make double what I made teaching in a BSN program (9 month faculty vs full time NP)

Haha yeah that's an excellent point. NP takes longer than PA (at least, the program I know of is 2 years academics and 1 year of residence) but I think for me it would be worth the longer time.

I think NP starts out the same as PA. I don't know of anyone to confirm it though (my friend's sister is a pa who started out at 90k) but searching came up as really similar.

NP's have more autonomy, so I wouldn't want to be a PA. Plus I prefer the nursing model over the medical.

PA was never on my radar. Like not ever. I wouldn't do it in reality and I wouldn't do it hypothetically.

And, for the record, I make $1K less than your desired PA salary as an RN.

To be honest I looked into how to be a pa, salary, and demand but I don't know exactly what they do. I imagined similar to an RN (ducks the tomato) since they are both under an MD but I know how the medical and nursing model differ. Anyway thanks I wondered how nurses felt about the possibility of being a pa!

It'd be a tough choice for me. I'd still do BSN for sure because I love the nursing background. As for a masters program if it was the same cost as my NP program I'd have to really mull it over.

I love the nursing background but I'd have enjoyed the "rotations" of the PA program. They are able to go inpatient, outpatient, etc. with no issue or questions about "Can a FNP work inpatient in my state??"

NP's aren't totally independent in my state but that may change in upcoming years.

Basically: if I'd had the option I'd really have taken time to compare the programs and pick the right one for me.

To be honest I looked into how to be a pa, salary, and demand but I don't know exactly what they do. I imagined similar to an RN (ducks the tomato) since they are both under an MD but I know how the medical and nursing model differ. Anyway thanks I wondered how nurses felt about the possibility of being a pa!

RNs are not "under an MD." We are not their assistants the way PAs are, working under their direct supervision. A PA is a Physician's Assistant, the Assistant to the Physician. An RN is Registered Nurse. An RN may assist a Physician in certain things- during surgery or for various procedures on the floor but she is not his assistant. There are no physicians employed by my company, I neither assist nor am supervised by them the way PAs are.

RNs are not "under an MD." We are not their assistants the way PAs are, working under their direct supervision. A PA is a Physician's Assistant, the Assistant to the Physician. An RN is Registered Nurse. An RN may assist a Physician in certain things- during surgery or for various procedures on the floor but she is not his assistant. There are no physicians employed by my company, I neither assist nor am supervised by them the way PAs are.

I might not be too sure yet about how much an RN can do on their own. I always ask my teacher "do we need a physician's order for that" in class. So far I've learned RN's need an order for meds and restraints that's all I know. I was surprised that RN's could do so much without orders.

Many of the PAs I know actually told me they think they would have preferred to go the NP route due to more autonomy and flexibility as an NP

And, for the record, I make $1K less than your desired PA salary as an RN.

Many of the PAs I know actually told me they think they would have preferred to go the NP route due to more autonomy and flexibility as an NP

Hey guys, sorry I was just wondering how that is possible? I thought average registered nurse salary was around 60k, how were you guys able to increase salary so much?