Pursue NP or PA for ER?

autolink · Jul 29, 2015

You can work in the ER in either profession; however, some states may not allow you to work in the ER either case. The two professions have similar responsibilities but the main difference is the model of practice. PA follows the traditional medical model and NP follows the nursing. PA does have far more clinical hours in comparison to the NP, but the NP may have more autonomy. Figure out what you want now since PA requires classes that are not offered in the nursing program.

Dranger · Jul 29, 2015

I recommend working as an ER nurse first and foremost It's great to have goals but you haven't started nursing school yet. You may want to stay as an RN for your career, experiences change us and four years is a long time to change your mind. Also in the next few years we could have some sort of NP glut if the regulatory bodies do not cap school/student matriculation....You need to stay ahead of the curve and watch trends.

PAs are more common in the ED.

PA pre reqs are not the same as nursing, you most likely would need to go back to school to complete those. They are similar to med school pre reqs.

autolink · Jul 30, 2015

It wouldn't hurt to take general chem, physics, and organic chem I+II. These are the main classes you need to fulfill the requirements of a PA school.

Jules A, MSN · Jul 30, 2015

In my area, for right now, PAs are utilized in the ED more than NPs.

Smwright19 · Jul 30, 2015

I recommend working as an ER nurse first and foremost It's great to have goals but you haven't started nursing school yet. You may want to stay as an RN for your career, experiences change us and four years is a long time to change your mind. Also in the next few years we could have some sort of NP glut if the regulatory bodies do not cap school/student matriculation....You need to stay ahead of the curve and watch trends.
PAs are more common in the ED.
PA pre reqs are not the same as nursing, you most likely would need to go back to school to complete those. They are similar to med school pre reqs.

Would you recommend working as an RN first and going back to PA school, then? Or is that not an efficient plan of action? And if I were to try to become a PA from the start, would I have to switch majors to bio-chem?

Also, yes, I have zero experience and it is a possibility that I will change my mind, although I really hope not because I love this field. With that in mind, how would you recommend I "stay ahead of the curve"?

Thanks so much

Smwright19 · Jul 30, 2015

You can work in the ER in either profession; however, some states may not allow you to work in the ER either case. The two professions have similar responsibilities but the main difference is the model of practice. PA follows the traditional medical model and NP follows the nursing. PA does have far more clinical hours in comparison to the NP, but the NP may have more autonomy. Figure out what you want now since PA requires classes that are not offered in the nursing program.

I'm planning on living either in California (where I live now and where I will be going to college), Oregon, or Washington.

I realize I should have had this change of plans before I've already had my schedule (of pre-nursing classes) for a whole month, with only a month before school starts...

Dranger · Jul 31, 2015

Would you recommend working as an RN first and going back to PA school, then? Or is that not an efficient plan of action? And if I were to try to become a PA from the start, would I have to switch majors to bio-chem?
Also, yes, I have zero experience and it is a possibility that I will change my mind, although I really hope not because I love this field. With that in mind, how would you recommend I "stay ahead of the curve"?
Thanks so much

RN to PA is a viable route but it's a lot of work for no reason. Most PAs come from zero medical background or have EMS experience.

You can major in anything and be pre-med or pre-PA it doesn't matter. My point is you are planning on advance practice without even finishing pre-nursing. Not a bad thing by any means to plan your future but just take one step at a time. Right now that focus is to pass the NCLEX and be an RN.

I live in Pacific Northwest and went to school here so if you have questions about the schools or work environment just PM me.

akulahawkRN, ADN, RN, EMT-P · Jul 31, 2015

Something to consider is that depending upon the specific program, you may be able to dual-major as both PA and NP. From what I've heard from them, some of their FNP students are able to take the additional coursework and additional clinical hours to be a PA as well, and then sit the boards for both.

NurseGirl525, ASN, RN · Jul 31, 2015

You are looking at two different jobs, therefore the schooling is different. If you want to be a PA, don't waste your time with the nursing prereqs. If you want to be a NP, then you will need to do the nursing prereqs. I don't know what the medical prereqs are, but I know most people looking to go to med school usually either have a biology degree or chem degree first.

A PA, or physician's assistant is going to learn via the medical model of thinking. A physician sees a patient and look at their symptoms and come up with a medical diagnosis. Then, they will write a prescription if necessary to treat that disease or condition. The physician treats the disease itself.

A nurse, on the other hand, treats how the patient responds to the disease or condition. A nurse treats the person. You do an assessment, look at the labs, look at the vitals, the doctor orders, and see what does my patient need right now? A nurse does a nursing diagnosis, which is way different from a medical diagnosis. Now a nurse practitioner does indeed do some diagnosis and prescribing. They do get training in that, but not until they are specifically training for that. In most states a NP, works under the supervision of a physician. Most NPs in an ER setting are going to be in what is called around here a Fast Track clinic. The local ERs are open usually about 4-6 hours a day where the NPs see all the people who come to the ER with nonemergent needs. People who have colds and kids with ear infections, that kind of stuff. They do the same stuff an Urgent Care Clinic takes care of. That is pretty much it for a NP in an ER around here. What you will need to look at is the scope of practice for a NP in the state you are looking at because they vary quite a bit.

I can't speak to a PA in the ER. The only thing I know about them is their schooling and thought process is different because they are trained differently. I would really research both in your state and look at their scopes of practice and what the different job market looks like for both. I'm sure PAs are utilized differently in different states. I just know here, NPs are utilized much more but it's for clinics or working in a practice with a doctor but taking on cases he or she doesn't have to take. At my pain management doctor, I went and the physician my first visit. We talked about my goals and what I had already done for my condition. I'm pretty stable in that area and don't need much except to go for routine visits every 3 months. From there on out I've seen the NP. She is great, but I don't have anything complicated to deal with. On my ER rotation this past spring, the ER had a NP that come on shift at noon and saw patients until 6 in the Fast Track Clinic. The triage nurse decided pretty much by coding each patient on urgency needing seen, who went where. The ER docs took care of the major things while all the nonemergent stuff went to her. I did not see a PA on staff any of the times I was there but that doesn't mean they weren't.

Dranger · Jul 31, 2015

Something to consider is that depending upon the specific program, you may be able to dual-major as both PA and NP. From what I've heard from them, some of their FNP students are able to take the additional coursework and additional clinical hours to be a PA as well, and then sit the boards for both.

UC Davis has the program

RiskManager · Jul 31, 2015

In the context of my risk management consulting practice, I do some ER and EMS work, primarily on the West Coast. It is my impression that PA providers are far more common in West Coast emergency departments than NP providers.