PA in hospitals and their role

[rn undisclosed name]

I'm just wondering what the PA role is in your hospital. Where I am they can write orders which the nurse implements, do h&p, and discharging of patients. Although depending on which group they are in they won't do an actual d/c until the doc sees the patient. I'm sure there are other things they do but that was a brief overview. We can also call them during the day for other things that come up so we are not bothering the docs as much for orders (not that I think calling docs for orders is bothering them).

I had a recent experience where a PA wanted me to get a consent for an invasive procedure which he was going to do and then told me which doc name to put down. I refused to do this and got my manager, director, and medical director involved. In addition the group of doctors was called to notify them of the situation and my refusal to get consent for this. I just think if a procedure is invasive and has the potential for a poor outcome it should be a doc performing the procedure. In addition we would have to give Versed or an anesthesia and the PA is not permitted to order this according to his priviledges at this hospital.

How are things where you are at?

[core0]

David, Im sorry... but she was saying the exact opposite of what you said she was right about. If you review her post she said the PA could ONLY do the procedure during an emergency.

I see. I missed the part about cardioversion. She is still correct. Pretty much anyone who is ACLS qualified in a hospital can do cardioversion in an emergency. Most of those people cannot do a non-emergency cardioversion. ACLS is a separate issue. I can do all the things that I am trained to do for ACLS but I could not intubate electively if I wanted to without getting separately credentialled for that.

Davod Carpenter, PA-C