Nurses/PA are responsible for ensuring that the patient's treatment plan is carried out and for providing the practical needs of the patient.
PA's shouldn't be lumped into the same category as nurses (non-NP's, that is). Your argument holds true for nurses, i.e., carry out patient management plan, but not for PA's, who tend to provide care essentially at the level of a resident physician (meaning they do create patient management plans and order tests and interventions, but are generally overseen and cosigned by an attending physician). They can first-assist in surgeries, as well. In general, PA's have a large degree of autonomy and the distinction between them and physicians have most certainly blurred in this day and age. I think this is a result of how they are being used today, due to shortage of physicians. Perhaps at the beginning they were used more to provide high level assistance to physicians (thus the name, "PA"), but that was then and this is now. In many states, there is a significant degree of overlap in practice and scope, but ultimately physicians are the ones who are responsible for the overall management and care of the patients. The "buck stops" with physicians. However, PA's can and do function quite well on the wards, in clinics, and offices, as stand-ins for physicians as long as appropriate supervision is in place, particularly for those 10-20% or so of cases that require a greater depth of medical understanding and supervision.
Two very different jobs, both of which are essential in health-care.
I agree that both are essential, but I disagree that they are completely different jobs. If you acknowledge reality, then you'll see that there is a significant degree of overlap developing.
Like I said, you can blur the lines and say that some NPs can practice independently; you can say that PA's can have almost the same responsibilities as a FP physician, etc. But ultimately they don't.
Well, the lines ARE blurred and PA's absolutely do, in practice, have similar responsibilities and scope, but, yes, physicians are ultimately responsible for the care and management of patients. That's sort of why I think that PA's function at the level of resident physicians. I do think that, ideally, PA's should function at the level of augmenting a practice.
Going into PA or NP school with the attitude that after 2 years you will be able to fill the same role in health-care as a family practice physician is DANGEROUS and irresponsible. I'm just saying this because we have a PA/NP program at my med school and I hear students argue about this all the time..... NOT true.
Agree. Don't go to PA school and expect to be a physician. It isn't a back door.
Go to PA school because you want to take care of patients and ensure that the treatment plan decided on by the physician is being carried out in the best interests of the patient, not because you want to be a doctor without going through medical school.
I disagree that PA's simply carry out treatment plans, but otherwise, yes, you shouldn't got to PA school expecting be a physician. Just makes sense.
People say it's inevitable, but there are things you can do to cut down on the likelihood of being sued--simply communicating with patients goes a very long way.
