PA speaks poorly of RN's

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PA's who are they? I just heard of them within the last few years. If not mistaken, I believe there are two per state (joking). Any hoot, I had an interesting conversation with a high school friend that I have not spoken to in about a year. She is now a physician in the OR and currently working on her residency to become a surgeon. As we were catching up on current situations, she had the audacity to put a PA on the phone after I told her I was in nursing school. The PA kind of caught me off guard as I was in the midst of running errands and in and out of loud places. To be respectful I stepped out of the store to speak with this unknown person and to be able to hear her clearly. I was told that they are now phasing RN's out, so getting a BSN will soon be worthless. I chuckled as I could not believe what I was hearing. I remained calm and did not unleash the "pitbull" from its skirt. I was told that in order to get $$$$ one will have to become an NP. RN's are getting paid bedpan money for doing bed pan work. I was flabbergasted by her comments. Has anyone else heard of such a thing? Please share your thoughts and comments. If I ever have an opportunity to speak to this person again I thought about given her a piece of my mind, but then again why bother; not worth the time and energy.

That makes me smile because I know more than one PA that are jealous of the money nurses make. If anything I would think PA's will be phased out by NP's because NP's can basically do a PA's job, but PA's could not do ours.

PAs make more money than nurses. No question. I don't know many nurses that make close to 100K right out of school.

PA's cannot do our job, but they can do a NPs job as NPs and PAs function in the exact same capacity. Physicians tend to prefer PAs because they operate under a medical license and are trained in the same manner as the physician. PAs will not be phased out by NPs. NPs will not be phased out by PAs.

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So I'm wondering who this idiot thinks is going to be doing all the work that nurses do........who is going to be on the front lines and taking care of these patients day in and day out, 24/7? The PAs and NPs at the bedside????? REALLY????? That is hysterical!!! They would quit after the first week!! And if they think all nurses do is change bed pans let them have family in the hospital and realize how it's the nurses keeping their loved ones alive!!! That PA must be a real joy to work with!!! Likely she heard a conversation about the whole LPN vs RN or ASN vs BSN debate that we all know are out there and was too stupid to have any clue what the conversation was about. And funny thing is here in NY a PA is a 5 year BACHELORS degree and an NP is a MASTERS so that PA needs to have a reality check. Nurses are not going any where! God forbid SHE is ever a patient!!

I would venture to guess that maybe the PA is thinking a CNA and a med tech could replace nurses.

Also, your statement that a PA is a bachelors prepared practitioner is false. To be admitted to a PA program (even one in NY), you must have completed a Bachelor's degree already.

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Specializes in Med/surg, Quality & Risk.

Yeah right, and ASN's are gonna be phased out too. I came over to this thread from like, 1976 to let you know that. :rotfl:

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Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.

Sounds like your friend doesn't think too highly of nurses, either, which is extremely disconcerting since she works in the OR, one area where highly skilled, technically superior nurses are a must for her to do her job. Hope someone sits her down and gives her a stern talking to for her own good.

BTW, is there any job or specialty here that has not been "going to be phased out" at some time or another? Anyone? :)

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Specializes in ER, Trauma.

I'd bet the uniform he was wearing was brand new! Bedpan money or not, RN's aren't tied to an MD's apron strings like a PA is. I've saved enough PA's bacon that they really don't bother me any more. Now, when I hear the term PA, I assume that it means "probably annoying."

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Specializes in CT stepdown, hospice, psych, ortho.
PAs make more money than nurses. No question. I don't know many nurses that make close to 100K right out of school.

PA's cannot do our job, but they can do a NPs job as NPs and PAs function in the exact same capacity. Physicians tend to prefer PAs because they operate under a medical license and are trained in the same manner as the physician. PAs will not be phased out by NPs. NPs will not be phased out by PAs.

My understanding - and I could be wrong - was a PA was limited to performing things his supervising MD could do IE if the MD was not qualified to insert a PICC for ex, the PA could not, however if an NP was in the same office and she had been trained to insert a PICC, she legally could. So actually that would kind of put the NP at an advantage as far as scope of practice would go. Anyone know if I'm just spewing rumor - because I really can't remember where I got that fact even though I'm in NP school I don't think it came from any of my classes.

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I would venture to guess that maybe the PA is thinking a CNA and a med tech could replace nurses.

Also, your statement that a PA is a bachelors prepared practitioner is false. To be admitted to a PA program (even one in NY), you must have completed a Bachelor's degree already.

My sister is going for PA...I do hope she doesn't have that complex the OP mentioned. I'm older than her and will sock her one :lol2:

But, there are programs in NY that accept students without a bachelors, in which you would get a BA in PA. The three I know of is Suny Downstate, York, and City college. There is even a BS/MS combined for PA at Touro college. They must have changed the entry requirements. Either way, they would do best to get their masters cause the schools are churning them out left and right here, allowing hospitals/physicians to be very selective.

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Specializes in Hospice.
I would venture to guess that maybe the PA is thinking a CNA and a med tech could replace nurses.

Also, your statement that a PA is a bachelors prepared practitioner is false. To be admitted to a PA program (even one in NY), you must have completed a Bachelor's degree already.

Yes but while most are going to masters degree for a long time a PA was still just a bachelor's degree that they were obtaining. also NP and PA's are not quite interchangeable in some states. Some Nps have a greater scope of practice and can function independently. The reason some physicians prefer PA's is because like you state they are under the control of the medical board and will never be able to encroach on their money-making ability.

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i just have a hard time getting worked up over another's ineptitude.

it doesn't matter what their job title is...

ignorance pervades all jobs and social classes.

who cares what the dolt thinks?

i mean...seriously.

leslie

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Just sounds like a low-life trying to put someone else down.

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I would venture to guess that maybe the PA is thinking a CNA and a med tech could replace nurses.

Also, your statement that a PA is a bachelors prepared practitioner is false. To be admitted to a PA program (even one in NY), you must have completed a Bachelor's degree already.

Just wanted to let you know that your statement about PA having to already hold a Bachelor degree is also false. Here in California, one of the top and only PA school in Northern CA, does not even require applicants to have a bachelor degree. They just need to have at least 60 semester units and have completed all the science prerequisites, and some direct-patient care experience!

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Specializes in Surgical Intensive Care.

Wow that's really sad someone would even say that.... Medical professionals should act as a team and not put one another down like that. The goal is to help people not have a who's better contest..very immature.. Oh well some people grow up and some people just grow old I guess lol (ps Here in FL to be a P.A. One has to have a bachelors... And some are getting that in nursing. Lol that's my ultimate goal is to be a PA.. Hopefully by getting bachelors in nursing I'll be able to see both sides of the situation :) )

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