Physicians Assistant's

Darlene K. · Feb 15, 2003

We use PA's in our Pediatric Urgent Care Practice. The role they serve (for us) is not much different than if they were a Physician. They exam patients, make diagnosis, prescribe medications, suture and do minor surgeries. This is something that would not be in a Nurses scope of practice. They do not work instead of a physician, but along with. We see on average 70 to 85 children in 10 hours. There is no way that one physician can see that many sick kids. I believe our PA's make ~ $50 per hour.

sjoe · Feb 15, 2003

PAs that I have dealt with are trained at the master's level, like a NP, so it is neither surprising nor inappropriate that their pay scale is higher than that of RNs who may be diploma, associate, or bachelor's trained.

deespoohbear · Feb 15, 2003

PA's scope of practice is different than a nurse's scope of practice. Like the other posters before me, PA's have a Master's Degree and diagnose, treat, and prescribe meds (in some states). Does not bother me one bit that they are paid more, they are performing a different service than nurses (with the exception of NP's...which I am not totally sure what the differences are between PA's and NP's). I am sure there are posters who can explain the differences in practice between a PA and a NP...

tony summers · Feb 15, 2003

PA do exist in the UK if you look at what they do and then compare them to someone like an ENP. I see, diagnose and treat a patient without them being seen by a doctor. I also prescribe drugs, suture, plaster, do some limited minor ops as the case needs. I also run traumas and cardiac arrests. I am paid on the general nursing scale not equated to doctors and often earn less than they do and certainly less than some of senior ward based colleagues who do not have these extended roles.

Despite this I still perform the basic nursing care that I orignally trained to do when needed.

MrsK1223 · Feb 15, 2003

I know for a fact in KY, the masters PA has only been in place a shor time. I work a couple who are bachelor trained PA's...and in the office I work in, they don't do much more than the nurses...our office manager even says they are glorified nurses...but thats in my settting...outside in other areas I know they do a lot more. But they lack the nursing model and work on a medical model which is what they are trained to do. I like PA's but would rather see a nurse practicioner which is just my preference.

jemb · Feb 15, 2003

Most physician assistant programs require applicants to have previous health care experience and some college education. The typical applicant already has a bachelor's degree and over 4 years of health care experience.

The average PA program curriculum is 111 weeks, compared with 155 weeks for medical school. Education consists of classroom and laboratory instruction in the basic medical and behavioral sciences (such as anatomy, pharmacology, pathophysiology, clinical medicine, and physical diagnosis), followed by clinical rotations in internal medicine, family medicine, surgery, pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, emergency medicine, and geriatric medicine.

information obtained from

http://www.aapa.org/

MICU RN · Feb 15, 2003

A four year PA program is one of the best deals around. Just think about it for the amount of time you invest to become a BSN you could become a PA. That means more respect, more money, no dirty work i.e., cleaning poop, ect.; and I would not be surprised if PA school is not as harsh as nursing school ( rigid nursing instructors who put you through hell and focus on so much nonessential BS).

Darlene K. · Feb 15, 2003

Anthony, you are probably right.

NurseGirlKaren · Feb 15, 2003

I know of one associate's level PA program here in MD.

fab4fan · Feb 15, 2003

Every PA I ever worked with had bachelor's only; one had his degree in accounting. None of them inspired much confidence in me, and wow, talk about treating nurses like handmaidens...they were some of the worst abusers in this category.

There was one that was so bad that I didn't accept any orders from him...period.

emily_mom · Feb 15, 2003

You have to ask what they have a degree in....some in fact do have a degree in something like accounting.

Personally, our family sees a PA as our primary. He is wonderful. He's only about 6 years older than me and so easy to talk to. I trust his judgement, and he's not quick to make decisions for you. We work together and decide what's best. He is wonderful with Emily. He's super busy yet I never have a problem getting in to see him when needed and NEVER have to wait more than 5 minutes. To me, that means a lot.

Kristy