Which is better? RN vs. PA?
Let me start off by telling you a little about myself. I just graduated high school last month. While in school, I was in a Medical Assistant program, I finished that last month as well. So now I am planning on working as an MA part time, while going to college. I live in So Cal, and I am starting at Riverside Community College in September. They have a PA program and a Nursing program. I was initially leaning towards becoming a PA, but now I’m not so sure. Obviously I still need to take a bunch of prerequisite classes, so I still have a lot of time to think over this, but I think the earlier I sort this out, the better.
I want to find out more about being an RN. If I become a nurse, I want to continue my education and become a Nurse Practitioner.
But, what I want to know is this:
What do you, who are nurses already, have to say about your career?
Is it fulfilling? Is the pay good? Is it worth the effort to pursue the title NP? How is the work schedule(I heard nurses work only 3 days a week–though they are 12-hour shifts)? Would you recommend the Nursing career as opposed to Physician Assistant(or viceversa)? Why? Also, what is the difference between a Nurse Practitioner and a Physician Assistant in the work force?
Any help here would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.
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Both of these programs have extensive pre-requisites that you will need to get in order to be accepted into the program. Both of them require you to get your sciences such as chem, biology, psychology, and anatomy and physiology as well as English. You will also need to have math as well. But if you’re not as strong with sciences and math, then you should try the RN program first, and then you can branch into something like a practitioner or something at a later date.
RNs usually take charge of other nurses
the PA deals directly with the patient and THEN can prescribe treatment
RNs are only allowed to make suggestions based on what they observe of the patient
nurse practitioners and PAs HAVE to stay up on the latest medical news
You are comparing apples and oranges, my friend. PA’s and RN’s do far different things and are brought up in different schools of thought. Even if you move into CRNP (practitioners) there is no comparison (the work, in some respects, may be similar. But there is a distinct difference in the job).
Nurses are all things to their patients and all the time.