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Registered nurse vs physician assistant

The differences between registered 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 $73,349 average annual salary of a registered nurse.

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

Registered nurse vs physician assistant overview

Registered NursePhysician Assistant
Yearly salary$73,349$118,812
Hourly rate$35.26$57.12
Growth rate6%28%
Number of jobs646,15939,752
Job satisfaction2.75-
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 46%Bachelor's Degree, 46%
Average age4439
Years of experience2-

What does a registered nurse do?

The primary responsibilities of a registered nurse involve caring for a variety of patients, from ill and injured to those who are healthy and wanting to stay that way. Nurses have different specialization and work with particular patients, such as newborn babies or those who are suffering from particular medical conditions. They work on different settings which includes hospital, outpatient facility, rehabilitation center, nursing home, dialysis center, home healthcare agency, and other offices. They can administer medications, wound care, and other aids or treatment plan. They also conduct medical tests, interpret the results, and monitor patients' recovery and progress.

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.

Registered nurse vs physician assistant salary

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

Registered NursePhysician Assistant
Average salary$73,349$118,812
Salary rangeBetween $45,000 And $117,000Between $70,000 And $201,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CABoston, MA
Highest paying stateCaliforniaVermont
Best paying companyNORCAL AmbulanceMarshall University
Best paying industryHealth CareEducation

Differences between registered nurse and physician assistant education

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

Registered NursePhysician Assistant
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 46%Bachelor's Degree, 46%
Most common majorNursingPhysician Assistant
Most common collegeDuke UniversityDuke University

Registered nurse vs physician assistant demographics

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

Registered NursePhysician Assistant
Average age4439
Gender ratioMale, 12.3% Female, 87.7%Male, 33.6% Female, 66.4%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 11.3% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 9.0% Asian, 9.0% White, 66.1% 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 registered nurse and physician assistant duties and responsibilities

Registered nurse example responsibilities.

  • Manage patient care for individuals with multiple diagnoses including COPD, diabetes, stroke and cardiac issues.
  • Organize and manage regular clinics involving external physicians, including ophthalmology, ENT, Med/Surg, orthopedics, and podiatry professionals.
  • Manage surgical recovery patients including vascular, ENT, GI urological and neurological cases, coronary bypass surgery patients.
  • Manage patient pain relief and sedation by providing pharmacological and non-pharmacological intervention, monitor patient response and record care plans accordingly.
  • Provide care for cardiac patients in arrhythmia critical care unit, providing patient education and monitoring telemetry
  • Re-Cover surgical patients immediately after heart and vascular surgery until transfer out of ICU.
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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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Registered nurse vs physician assistant skills

Common registered nurse skills
  • Patients, 24%
  • BLS, 10%
  • CPR, 6%
  • Acute Care, 5%
  • Acls, 5%
  • Home Health, 4%
Common physician assistant skills
  • Patients, 29%
  • Diagnostic Tests, 6%
  • Surgery, 5%
  • Primary Care, 5%
  • Urgent Care, 4%
  • CPR, 3%

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