ghostnineone Posted August 5, 2012 Share Posted August 5, 2012 I feel like a lot of people don't really know the difference between a Dr or an NP or PA, or will even notice unless they get told, here at least. I was at the OB for my friends appointment and there was a lady there that asked what "ANP" meant, I told her it meant adult nurse practitioner and she then asked what kind of doctor that was, when I told her that NP's are not doctors she looked at me like I was nuts. There are a lot of people here who i feel like when picking their providers just go with any random one or whether they're a guy or girl, have a foreign name or not, etc. and have no clue that NP or PA are not doctors. Is it cheaper to be seen by a PA or NP? That would also be a factor if it's true. Some patients might not have a choice for their provider like in the ED, or have to pick a clinician because the Dr has too many patients, the OB dept here has one Dr and two NP's, while neurology has like...5's docs and one or two PA's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hockey833 Posted August 5, 2012 Author Share Posted August 5, 2012 I feel like a lot of people don't really know the difference between a Dr or an NP or PA Haha trying to figure out whether thats a good thing or bad thing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ghostnineone Posted August 5, 2012 Share Posted August 5, 2012 Little bit of both? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator EMEDPA Posted August 5, 2012 Moderator Share Posted August 5, 2012 True. How much disrespect do you guys get? I feel like you half of the people on this forum consider being a PA a mistake and don't like their jobs. I mean wow, it must be pretty bad/frequent one or twice/month unless it's a doozy of shift like last night with two total losers with unrealistic expectations who gave me crap when I didn't fulfill their wishes.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest hubbardtim48 Posted August 5, 2012 Share Posted August 5, 2012 Almost is not the same as exactly. NPs have to go back for certs. which requires more schooling. PAs are not required to go back to school. That is what ToppDog is saying and you seem to thing that NPs can just switch back and fourth easily, but it is not as easy as PAs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
medman2007 Posted August 5, 2012 Share Posted August 5, 2012 True. How much disrespect do you guys get? I feel like you half of the people on this forum consider being a PA a mistake and don't like their jobs. I mean wow, it must be pretty bad/frequent IMO, the "disrespect" issue probably shouldn't be a factor in your decision. I'm in no way downplaying other posters' comments on being disrespected, b/c i know it happens. People perceive and interpret others' actions and comments in different ways. It is truly in the eye of the beholder so to speak. I work with several nurses and docs now who seem to require a constant ego boost via affirmation from staff and patients. Things that are trivial to the rest of us are big deals to them. I worked on a national peer review committee for seveal years - talk about disrespect! The ortho docs disrespected the neuros; the IMs disrespected the GIs; and the FPs were disrespected by all :wink: If you have worry or fear of being slighted or disrespected, start working on developing a thicker skin now b/c it's going to happen regardless of the path you take. What matters most is how you react to a perceived slight. Regardless of your position, there will be someone out there (other docs, insurance companies, governing bodies, etc) that will attempt to put you in your place Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
surgblumm Posted August 5, 2012 Share Posted August 5, 2012 I have been and still am a surgical and EM PA for forty years. My genesis was a field of blood in Vietnam and I realized I could make a difference. Are there issues? Of course, just as in marriage, childrearing, purchasing cars and homes but let me some up all your questions into one response;"you pay a price to gain a prize." Bob Blumm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
primadonna22274 Posted August 5, 2012 Share Posted August 5, 2012 Becoming a PA was never a mistake for me. True, I wanted to be a doctor from about age 14, but didn't really know that I could do it until I was a practicing PA. I often say that going PA was a very lucky compromise for me and has enabled me to pursue opportunities as they come along in life. The disrespect is very real, and it's disheartening. I think it is a product of the antiquated medical education system where it is standard to berate your inferiors very publicly in a poorly veiled attempt to "teach". I don't find it an effective teaching tool at all, and thank goodness I was pretty insulated from that culture as a PA student and even as a practicing PA for the most part. I just came off an extremely dysfunctional and sometimes malignant inpatient IM rotation (in an osteopathic hospital no less, holistic my foot) where it was a daily occurrence to rip at least one resident or M3-4 to shreds. It was utterly disrespectful and not conducive to learning at all IMO. I suppose some folks think fear is a good motivator but I am not one of them. Part of me wonders if this is an east coast-west coast cultural issue--my relatively warm & fuzzy PA school experience was west coast BTW ;) And lastly hockey, stop apologizing. You have questions. Some of us have answers. Do use the search function, it will serve you well. When I was 18 this kind of a forum didn't exist. Now I am 38 and I applaud your enthusiasm, but many of your questions will be thoroughly answered by past threads. Try it :) QUOTE=hockey833;350123]True. How much disrespect do you guys get? I feel like you half of the people on this forum consider being a PA a mistake and don't like their jobs. I mean wow, it must be pretty bad/frequent Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ghostnineone Posted August 5, 2012 Share Posted August 5, 2012 I have been and still am a surgical and EM PA for forty years. My genesis was a field of blood in Vietnam and I realized I could make a difference. Are there issues? Of course, just as in marriage, childrearing, purchasing cars and homes but let me some up all your questions into one response;"you pay a price to gain a prize."Bob Blumm Are you a trauma PA? If not, how can you do both? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
primadonna22274 Posted August 5, 2012 Share Posted August 5, 2012 Clearly you don't know Bob Blumm, a dinosaur of PA history (said with all respect: Mr Blumm, I remember you spoke to my class of energetic PA students at Pacific U in 1998), Ghost: there's a heckuva lot of different things you can do in 40 years of practice ;) Are you a trauma PA? If not, how can you do both? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ghostnineone Posted August 5, 2012 Share Posted August 5, 2012 No I don't :( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russell Posted August 6, 2012 Share Posted August 6, 2012 don't. go to med school instead. you have plenty of time. That's B.S. (No offense). Being young has nothing to do with it! If being a doctor isn't want you want to do, you shouldn't automatically go that route just because you have time to spare. People told me the same thing... "You're so young, why didn't you go to medical school?" Me: "Because I didn't want to...Duh!" Being a PA does have advantages over being a doc. It's one of the hottest professions in the country for a reason. It attracts the best and brightest for a reason. Sure, there are also big drawbacks and I respect the opinion of more seasoned PAs who have a better perspective on this though I'm still going to disagree. I work with two great docs in private practice that respect and value me, even to the point that I'm making almost as much as them. Yeah, sometimes I get snubbed by patients and specialists but who cares? Most of the time, people appreciate what I do. If you're unhappy in your current position then find another. If you think being a doctor automatically means that you'll get more respect, you're in for a big surprise. If you think being a doctor will make you're life more meaningful, you're in for a big surprise. At the end of the day, I go home to my family and live my life; glad that I love what I do, I'm under 30, I'm debt free and make six figures. Perhaps my optimism will fade in 10, 20, or 30 years but until then... Life is good! ;) Perhaps at that time, anyone with any sense will be leaving medicine anyways! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russell Posted August 6, 2012 Share Posted August 6, 2012 As the years have passed I have become more comfortable with people questioning my practice. Now, I actually want it. Would you rather by Joe Smith, MD, who gets "respected" simply b/c of their credentials.... or....Joe Smith PA-C, who get "respected" for his proven trach record of excellent decision making, bedside manner, and outcomes? The more closely scrutinized I am, the more attentive I will be to my own work. When I see patients, I represent not only myself but also PAs everywhere....PAs in my dept, in my hospital, and nationwide. The more my practice is examoned, the better. It can only benefit me IF 1) I work hard and 2) I practice GOLD STANDARD medicine. NOT...."what my SP does"...NOT "what I learned in school 10 yrs ago".....NOT "what I did at my last job". Respect is earned with time, not conferred with letters. Why can't we "thumb's up" individual posts anymore? Well, this one certainly deserves it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest hubbardtim48 Posted August 6, 2012 Share Posted August 6, 2012 Amen!!!!!!!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bygtymer04 Posted August 6, 2012 Share Posted August 6, 2012 Are PAs covered under HMOs and PPOs??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valeevad Posted September 28, 2012 Share Posted September 28, 2012 @ russell7, one of the best posts I read! :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uscbigdawg Posted September 28, 2012 Share Posted September 28, 2012 At 18 y/o, go to medical school. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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