Ok, somewhere between Brad, Paseo Del Norte, and emedpa they'll have an answer to this one...
emedpa stated:
em, derm, ortho, neurosurg, trauma, and surgical pa's can all easily make > 125k/yr with less student debt than an md.
So I mentioned to my wife that PA's
seem to have more scope/range than NP/RN since they can work across so many areas, and do what I referred to as "more medical" procedures/work.
She quickly countered out that RNs have more scope/range and can work "anywhere" (different departments) in a hospital telemetry, ob/gyn, cardio, neuro, icu, etc.... and that NPs can diagnose, prescribe, and "provide treatment", and can work in non-clinical settings - health insurance companies, administration, case work, and so on.
So, here are the question(s):
1. Can an NP have their "own practice" (be an independent healthcare provider)? PAs?
Both NPs and PAs can own a practice (depending on the state). The mechanics may be different. In some states an NP can directly employ a physician to "collaborate". In a few states PAs can directly employ their supervising physician. In most cases the NP or PA forms a corporation that then hires a supervising or collaborating physician. Even in the 11 states that allow "independent" NP practice you still need a collaborative physician to bill Medicare.
2. Who has more "scope/range" an NP or PA? (In terms of clinical areas they can work, and care they can provide (prescribe, etc.)
For PAs the scope of practice is generally that of their supervising physician. A PA can literally work in any area of medicine. For NPs it depends on the state. Most NP practice acts limit the scope to the areas that the NP has training in as an NP. However, the reality of this is quite different. In Texas for example FNPs cannot work in inpatient settings. They are essentially limited to outpatient primary care which they are trained for. An ANP can work in an inpatient or outpatient setting but could not work in a critical care environment and could not see patients under 18. In other states where the BON chooses not to enforce the rules you may see a FNP running a pediatric neurosurgery ICU. On paper the PA has a broader scope. In reality it depends.
3. What are the various departments one would find each NP / PA clinician, comparative scope of work, and related compensation for that work? Do OR PAs make more than OR RNs or OR NPs?
PAs work in all areas of medicine. Its generally divided into 1/3 surgery, 1/3 specialty medicine and 1/3 primary care. The data on NPs is harder to find but are probably more working in primary care (~50%) and less working in surgery (around 2%). There are some areas that PAs dominate such as cardiovascular surgery and orthopedics. There are other areas where NPs are more common such as the NICU (NNPs). Although there are certainly PAs in the NICU and NPs in ortho.
In the OR a PA will generally make more than an RN. An NP working in the OR has the same billing ability so should make the same.
4. Are there areas where an RN (not NP) would make just as much as a PA?
An experienced RN will probably take a pay cut moving to NP (especially moving from ICU to primary care for example). Also RNs in norther CA probably make more than most PAs and NPs because of overtime and union rules. Generally an experienced NP will make more than an RN although the economic limitations are different.
5. What non-clinical environments would one find RNs? PAs?
