different roles of doctors, nurses, PA's

[fang]

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I'm a medical student-- I'm curious about how students and practitioners in other fields see the different roles of docs, nurses, and pa's. I know there are a multitude of different educational degrees available for PA's and nurses, but I just want to know how you see us working together.

Here's mine:

Nurses are the people with the most direct patient contact. When you're in the hospital the most important person in your day-to-day life is your nurse. They are responsible for caring for the immediate needs of the patient, and alerting other providers when problems develop.

The only place I've worked with PA's was in an ER. There, they took some of the more routine cases (simple lacerations, otitis media) and performed duties similar to physicians. PA's take some of the workload off of physicians, and help save on health care costs.

Doctors oversee the big picture and make (and are responsible for the consequences of) medical decisions about the best way to treat a patient. This means drawing from the observation and experience of everyone else on the team.

 

[djquick83]

Couldnt have said it better. Who has the best situation both financially and with respect to their duties on the job, theres only one answer, PA's of course.

 

[lawguil]

I'm a medical student-- I'm curious about how students and practitioners in other fields see the different roles of docs, nurses, and pa's. I know there are a multitude of different educational degrees available for PA's and nurses, but I just want to know how you see us working together.

Here's mine:

Nurses are the people with the most direct patient contact. When you're in the hospital the most important person in your day-to-day life is your nurse. They are responsible for caring for the immediate needs of the patient, and alerting other providers when problems develop.

The only place I've worked with PA's was in an ER. There, they took some of the more routine cases (simple lacerations, otitis media) and performed duties similar to physicians. PA's take some of the workload off of physicians, and help save on health care costs.

Doctors oversee the big picture and make (and are responsible for the consequences of) medical decisions about the best way to treat a patient. This means drawing from the observation and experience of everyone else on the team.

I think it's time for a group hug! 😉 What a diplomat!

 

[CTS-PA]

DJQuik83
"Who has the best situation both financially and with respect to their duties on the job, theres only one answer, PA's of course"

I hate to break up the warm fuzzies here, BUT, I respectfully disagree. In all three professions you can achieve the "best of both worlds," IF your are good. Whether you're a Doc, OT, PT, PA, RN etc., we all have important jobs that will allow us to strike a balance, IF you are willing to work hard at becoming a good clinician.

 

[djquick83]

I understand where ure comin from. What I meant is that most RNs do harder jobs, and dont exactly get paid the way they should. Docs know more and make more money, but bust their balls doing it. Seems like PAs make good money and do most things that doctors do without all the hustle and bustle of an RN or the lenthy schooling of an MD. Im not saying they waste their time at work or arent professional, but they certainly are in a better position than most of other professions. I give respect to all three cause it takes all three to have a medical staff and each are important in their own ways.