If you had a choice to become a RN or a PA which one would you choose?

if you had a choice to become a RN or a PA which one would you choose i want to help people which one is more involed with helping people the most. i am currently in nursing school to be a RN but i often think about continuing education and being a PA or even a NP.

I actually don't think any of the answerers you got know what a PA really does, because they may be correct with the RN but they are way off on the PA stuff. RNs do nursing things and PAs (as do NPs) do medical doctor like things--they are different. What do you like better? Become a PA if you want the challenge of diagnosis, doing physical exams, minor surgery, suturing, procedures, casting, setting bones, re-locating dislocated joints, doing & interpreting labs, doing patient education etc etc. (anything the MD does). Do nursing of you enjoy nursing. A PA is NOT under the thumb of a physician. We work under their umbrella but we see, treat and deal with our own patients. I get input if I have questions or are stumped but otherwise I am on my own (in many states the MD has to be only available by phone). All states have prescriptive rights & we have our own DEA numbers. I wandered through nursing school (an the lab technologist program too) as well but really wanted to diagnose--I have never regretted becoming a PA but it is not nursing at all although I do step in for the nurses if they can't get the IV, or have a difficult cath or its a procedure they are not comfortable with (pumping a stomach). Once you get out of nursing school and work for a bit, I would shadow a NP and a PA and then make a decision that fits what you are looking for.

You already know yourself the difference of Rn vs Pa as you are an Lpn so do you want the Dr. trip ? Do want more hands on ? Do whatever is best in your heart !!! oh yeah, good luck to you !!

Depending on the state you're in, I would stick with being an RN. You have more autonomy than you would if you were a PA (PA's have to report directly to physicians, RN's have a little more leeway with things). Also, nurses end up working more closely with patients than mid-level practioners or MD's do, so if you want to be more involved with patient care, stick with being an RN.

Also, it's probably more difficult to find work other than in a clinic if you're a PA--I've seen jobs like that but they're few and far between. at least if you're a nurse, you can work in intensive care, emergency, etc. and you're guaranteed to see cool stuff.

As far as pay goes (and this depends on the state you live in) I make about as much as a PA does (maybe a hair more) and it's a lot easier to work overtime so I can actually wind up making a lot more than they do.

Become an RN. You can add other certifications or licenses to that as you choose. You are more marketable. Look in Advance magazine or Nursing circulars for job opportunities which are limitless. With the right experience you can almost name your price or negotiate.Registered nurses can work in large hospitals or do private duty or supervisory work, whichever you prefer once you get more experience behind you.

Become a RN, your choices will be wide open in this field. PAs are limited in where they can work and what they can do in certain states.

Later on down the road the NP route is a good way to go and it will keep you more hands on. I am a RN and have been working in the medical field for 11 years total. My mother is a Nurse practitioner and loves what she does. She is currently pursuing her Doctorate in Nursing Practice, not her PhD. Alot of states are looking at making Doctorate level NP autonomous so this is what she is looking at. So as you can see, the RN route will keep you wide open and will keep you in touch with your patients all the way from the Associate degree level to the doctorate level.

I would say (in my biased opinion) to get the RN, and later become an NP rather than a PA. They are so very similar in function anyway, but you will have an easier transition to NP and sticking with the nursing-based education. It's a hard shift in thinking to go from the nursing care models to the medical models, and it does affect the way you provide patient care.