STICRN

Thank you for being so positive! I will defiantly take time to research different programs before I commit to one. This was my first step! Next step is to shadow PA / NP/ CRNA and take it from there.

As I stated I am interested in surgery, so I know CRNA's work in surgery but more by the monitor, while I have read around the internet PA's can assist the surgeon. With that being said I was hoping to get first accounts of PA's experience in surgery, and what they actually do. I haven't heard of NP's in surgery, more that they actually take care of patients on the floor while the MD is in surgery. Also I was wondering about the jobs that are titled " NP or PA ..." seeing as both would be fit for that job how entirely different is a NP to a PA.

Hi everyone! This is my first post on allnurses. I have been working for a year or so in a Level 1 trauma hospital, Trauma ICU in Chicago, IL and have become very interested in pursing a Graduate degree. With that being said I do not know which direction to go. I graduated with a 3.8 GPA I am ready for a challenge and I want to broaden my scope of practice. I would GREATLY appreciate advice from current students/ graduates of CRNA, NP or PA programs around the Midwest area with opinions on pros and cons of these specialties. As I am not willing to relocate outside of IL I have searched schools and programs and it seems that all schools around my area have transitioned CRNA and NP programs to only DNP's (please correct me if I am wrong). While PA programs are a Masters Degree. I suppose im having a difficult time deciding on one program vs another because on our unit we do not use NPs or PAs only residents and attending physicians, so I have no seen what a PA or NP does on a day to day basis. I do see that there are job postings titled "NP or PA needed for...." are these specialties that similar that for the same job both NP and PA would perform equally? Surgery is a specialty that I am highly interested in, but if I go this route as an NP or PA would I be caring for patients PRE and POST op as opposed to intra op. Or caring for the patients on the floor while the surgeons are in surgery? I have seen that PA's can be in surgery, how involved in surgery are PA's? Do they perform as in cut/ suture/ harvest or do they just hand tools/ suction/ provide traction? CRNA is appealing not only because of its salary but also because it is seen as the " crem de la crem" of a nursing degree, I would be highly motivated to not only get into a program but complete it. I would love any insight or corrections to anything that I have mentioned above. Thanks!