PAs Do Not Like Us

Specialties NP

Published

New forum idea? - Professional PA General Discussion - Physician Assistant Forum

I just thought this was funny. Poor PAs. Admittedly better training model but falling behind quickly...

Specializes in Critical Care and ED.
I am assuming your hospital only hires from the top notch schools and is rather selective, as this does not seem to be the norm.

Yes, I'm thinking this must be the case. I've only worked at the top 3 hospitals in my state and all are affiliated with my university. I must be in a bubble.

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Psychiatry.
On 10/9/2018 at 7:45 AM, Rocknurse said:

I hate this whole conversation. I find this perceived competition so childish. We are supposed to be professionals. I have worked with a ton of NPs and PAs and I've never met a bad one. I just don't see this concept of the "poorly trained" NP in my state. Maybe my state just has better standards but the NPs I know and work with are incredible. They're smart, knowledgeable and leaders in their profession. They often teach the residents in fact. The ICU that I'm in right now is run by NPs, and they really know their stuff...they astound me actually. I'm so confused by this anti-NP prevalence. It must be the circles I move in because I see none of this. Yes, I agree the concept of online schools and no nurse experience is totally unacceptable, but that's a rarity where I practice. We have some really excellent schools in this state and a lot of very smart people. I emulate them, and foster a culture of collegiality, as it should be. The NPs I work with are highly regarded and respected within the hospitals, by MDs and PAs alike and that respect is mutual. Perhaps if we all focused on our education instead of gossiping on an online forum, we could change the world.

I could not agree more. I used to think that nurses brought themselves down with internal arguing, however, I can see here that this childish bickering and negativity extends beyond nursing and higher education levels do not eliminate the need in some to try to bring others down. I'll put this thread aside, and continue to focus on my personal growth while some continue their superiority argument.

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×

I work with a lot of PAs, and thankfully we are all supportive and acknowledge different training structure but similar function and universal goal of providing quality care that is found in EBP. The only guff I get is related to the fact we don't have to take re-certification exams.

Just want to add the sentiment of others that we had multi-disciplinary educators in my program. A pharmacist from the pharmacology program taught our pharmacy class. My advanced path instructor also taught the course to med students. I came out well prepared.

I have had a few students from chamberlain and purdue and was a little worried given their for profit structure and the reputation of churning out graduates, but students were great and well prepared . I think this inner fighting is in poor taste and is not helpful to advancing our profession.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

I work with PAs also. While Mary Doe, PA might not "like me" its not because I'm an APRN but rather a personality conflict.

Too frequently we generalize

2
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in medical surgical.

I work with a PA. We get along just fine. I believe it depends on the person. We are both older and work well with all members of our team. Never an issue (as it should be!).

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ER.

It seems to me that the issue is it makes it harder for them to find work and then they use education as a reason to justify their feelings on their own hardship.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Psychiatric and Mental Health NP (PMHNP).

My clinic employs MDs, DOs, NPs, and PAs. Never experienced any of these issues either in nursing school rotations or during my job tenure. We all get along and treat each other respectfully and professionally.

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in NICU Transport/NICU.
On ‎9‎/‎22‎/‎2018 at 7:33 PM, popopopo said:

I can't imagine PAs and NPs doing that one day unless some radical changes happen to nursing curriculum.

Sure thing. Just as soon as a PA student spends 6 years as a flight nurse before beginning school like I did. Let's also not forget the small detail that PAs spend two years learning about all patient populations while NPs (except for FNPs) spend two years learning about a specific population.

2
Up Vote Up Vote ×
20 hours ago, NickB said:

Sure thing. Just as soon as a PA student spends 6 years as a flight nurse before beginning school like I did. Let's also not forget the small detail that PAs spend two years learning about all patient populations while NPs (except for FNPs) spend two years learning about a specific population.

There are a lot of PAs who where things such as a flight nurses prior to PA school. It is sort of a moot point though since being a flight nurse is not a hard requirement for PA or NP school so I am not sure why you are using that as an "edge" for NP education. length of time is also not all telling since the NP program at my school is fluffy compared to the PA program and this seems to hold true at many places.

Also, a majority of NPs are FNPs which are not geared toward a specific population, hence the word, "family"

Up Vote Up Vote ×
32 minutes ago, Spadeforce said:

There are a lot of PAs who where things such as a flight nurses prior to PA school. It is sort of a moot point though since being a flight nurse is not a hard requirement for PA or NP school so I am not sure why you are using that as an "edge" for NP education. length of time is also not all telling since the NP program at my school is fluffy compared to the PA program and this seems to hold true at many places.

Also, a majority of NPs are FNPs which are not geared toward a specific population, hence the word, "family"

For the record, "family" is a population focus unto itself. It encompasses three populations, but family medicine is still an essential part of the medical landscape. It's not less than and not less specialized. It also isn't some default and I imagine most family medicine physicians would be insulted if you suggested their choice to pursue that route was because they couldn't /wouldn't "specialize". It has its own unique characteristics that can span multiple specialties just like more specialized fields can do the same.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
11 hours ago, djmatte said:

For the record, "family" is a population focus unto itself. It encompasses three populations, but family medicine is still an essential part of the medical landscape. It's not less than and not less specialized. It also isn't some default and I imagine most family medicine physicians would be insulted if you suggested their choice to pursue that route was because they couldn't /wouldn't "specialize". It has its own unique characteristics that can span multiple specialties just like more specialized fields can do the same.

All of earth is a population too. In respect for using it as a specific population to use as a point in making it seem as if np curriculum is superior to NP is meh because most PAs do more than 500 hours of outpatient medical clinicals anyway on top of their specialties

Up Vote Up Vote ×
2 hours ago, Spadeforce said:

All of earth is a population too. In respect for using it as a specific population to use as a point in making it seem as if np curriculum is superior to NP is meh because most PAs do more than 500 hours of outpatient medical clinicals anyway on top of their specialties

It isn't about superiority or some turf war. It's having respect for the choices in how we choose to focus our careers. I do agree that it is stupid to compare pa school with np school and suggest their clinical requirements somehow make it inferior. Simply put, many np schools will accept a brand new RN fresh out of school and as evidenced here, some programs will pluck you right out of another career and fast track you right to your np. So there's not a lot of grounds to act as if we're superior.

But there is validity in the initial intentions of the np profession goals. Capitalize on vast nursing knowledge to fill healthcare gaps by providing a level of medical education. The problem with that platform and makes us no better than the PA model is there are no more controls beside education and certification. Nurses aren't required to have a body of knowledge anymore which is a sad development.

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment