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Psychiatric nurse vs physician assistant

The differences between psychiatric nurses and physician assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a physician assistant has an average salary of $118,812, which is higher than the $64,922 average annual salary of a psychiatric nurse.

The top three skills for a psychiatric nurse include patients, mental illness and CPR. The most important skills for a physician assistant are patients, diagnostic tests, and surgery.

Psychiatric nurse vs physician assistant overview

Psychiatric NursePhysician Assistant
Yearly salary$64,922$118,812
Hourly rate$31.21$57.12
Growth rate6%28%
Number of jobs608,05539,752
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 45%Bachelor's Degree, 46%
Average age4439
Years of experience2-

What does a psychiatric nurse do?

A Psychiatric Nurses role is to supervise the medication and treatment of patients diagnosed with mental disabilities, illnesses, or distresses. They have an essential role in the administration of psychiatric treatment and care.

What does a physician assistant do?

The physician assistant, also known as "PA," is now considered a key player to any healthcare team. Physician assistants are health care professionals who practice medicine under the supervision of licensed physicians. They work on several areas of medicine, from primary care to emergency service and even psychiatry. Neither they are a doctor nor a physician, but their job profile showcases many of these responsibilities. More than as assistants to the doctors, they are also equipped to examine, diagnose, and develop treatment strategies for patients.

Psychiatric nurse vs physician assistant salary

Psychiatric nurses and physician assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.

Psychiatric NursePhysician Assistant
Average salary$64,922$118,812
Salary rangeBetween $42,000 And $99,000Between $70,000 And $201,000
Highest paying CitySanta Rosa, CABoston, MA
Highest paying stateRhode IslandVermont
Best paying companyHighland General HospitalMarshall University
Best paying industryHealth CareEducation

Differences between psychiatric nurse and physician assistant education

There are a few differences between a psychiatric nurse and a physician assistant in terms of educational background:

Psychiatric NursePhysician Assistant
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 45%Bachelor's Degree, 46%
Most common majorNursingPhysician Assistant
Most common collegeDuke UniversityDuke University

Psychiatric nurse vs physician assistant demographics

Here are the differences between psychiatric nurses' and physician assistants' demographics:

Psychiatric NursePhysician Assistant
Average age4439
Gender ratioMale, 18.1% Female, 81.9%Male, 33.6% Female, 66.4%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 11.7% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 9.5% Asian, 8.9% White, 65.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%Black or African American, 5.4% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 11.8% Asian, 11.2% White, 67.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage9%12%

Differences between psychiatric nurse and physician assistant duties and responsibilities

Psychiatric nurse example responsibilities.

  • Organize and manage regular clinics involving external physicians, including ophthalmology, ENT, Med/Surg, orthopedics, and podiatry professionals.
  • Staff register nurse, acute medical rehabilitation unit.
  • Perform emergency triage differentiating psychiatric versus medical conditions.
  • Perform triage assessment, psychiatric evaluations, medication administration, psychotherapy and case management.
  • Provide comprehensive medical-psychiatric care to patients via assessment, planning, evaluation and supervision of therapeutic interactions.
  • Provide therapeutic communication and psychiatric rehabilitation with residents to assist with their recovery to return to the community.
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Physician assistant example responsibilities.

  • Manage a variety of acute and chronic conditions especially asthma, allergies, injuries, and infectious diseases.
  • Manage chronic conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, ASCVD, chronic back and joint pains, depression, and anxiety.
  • Manage patient surgical care throughout the continuum of care from pre-op, to discharge planning, including ambulatory and hospital in-patients.
  • Attain pertinent history & physicals for obstetrics and gynecological acute and preventative visits.
  • Work closely with patients to manage their depression and anxiety beginning with initial diagnosis to med-initiation and follow-up care.
  • Aid in the acute management of trauma patients including obtaining appropriate studies, suturing, and CPR.
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Psychiatric nurse vs physician assistant skills

Common psychiatric nurse skills
  • Patients, 25%
  • Mental Illness, 11%
  • CPR, 7%
  • Therapeutic Interventions, 5%
  • Psychiatric Care, 4%
  • IV, 4%
Common physician assistant skills
  • Patients, 29%
  • Diagnostic Tests, 6%
  • Surgery, 5%
  • Primary Care, 5%
  • Urgent Care, 4%
  • CPR, 3%

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