I'm testing the waters to see if I'm interested in the medical field and trying to do my homework.

I know about the Army's commissioning programs, the IPAP and other programs.

I've read the Army's description of duties but I'm more curious about troop interaction and levels of care:

-Who does trauma work?
-Who would be outside the wire more? Working with patrols? With locals?
-What rank do you come in as? It seems to be 1LT but I haven't seen that in hard writing.
-What ranks are provider-level?
-How long can you stay working with patients?

Thanks for any info.

If you like asking permission for everything then be a nurse. LOL! seriously, there are major differences between the nurse and PA. Too many differences to list here. You will have research the job descriptions on your own. as far as rank goes they are both officer corps with the exception of M6LPN who are enlisted. They both deal with trauma, if you want to work with patrols outside the wire go 68W, your question about how long you work with pt's is confusing. I would hope that your whole career would be spent working with pt's. Sounds like you need to do some research. Check back and tell us what you have learned.

Currently, PAs are in the BN Surgeon role. NPs are not here (yet) and probably will not be for a while. From what I have seen here in Germany, PAs (CPT and below) are with the line units and NPs are in the Hospitals/TMCs. Some PAs work in LRMC but they are reservists and active duty PAs are in line units. Because of the PA shortage, you would probably go to a line unit fixin to depoly. Our BCT leaves next month for Iraq and we are deploying 2 PAs short.

Your rank depends upon your experience prior to commissioning. You get 1 year of constructive credit for each year you practice as a civilian PA amd 1 year for your Master's degree. It takes 18 mo to get from 2LT to 1LT and another 18 months from 1LT to CPT (36 months constructive credit total).

If you are not a PA yet, you can go through IPAP. I am not sure what you get paid as when going through or what you graduate with (I think 1LT but not positive). Or direct commission where you get HUGE incentive with student loan repayment (currently >$100K) for a 3-4 year commitment.

I am very happy as an Army PA. Respected in the BN and a lot of autonomy. The down side is the lack of support I get from the level IV hospital here.

I hope this helps.

Doc

Doc it does help a lot, it would mean the PA program is more along my lines of interest.

I've researched into the IPAP and it is an awesome program. You get paid at the minimum of an E6 level if I'm not mistaken, if you hold a higher paygrade than that you get paid at your curret grade.

Did you go through IPAP?

quote:

Originally posted by FISTsensei:
I've researched into the IPAP and it is an awesome program. You get paid at the minimum of an E6 level if I'm not mistaken, if you hold a higher paygrade than that you get paid at your curret grade.

Pay: E4 and below paid as E5. E5 and above maintain current paygrade.

Promotions: Going through IPAP, you'll graduate from the program as a 1LT w/2 years constructive credit, being eligible for accelerated promotion to CPT in 15 mos.

If you haven't, you might want to go through the IPAP Program Requirements 2008 Powerpoint presentation on the IPAP homepage. All these answers and more can be found there ...

quote:

Originally posted by FISTsensei:


Did you go through IPAP?

No, I was a direct commission with 3 years experience in critical care/pulmonology, 2 years cardiology and 1 year of outpatient internal medicine.

I came in as a CPT with 3 years of constructive credit because of my experience and 1 for my Master's degree.

Good luck. It's tough but worth it.

Doc

We choose Rn only thinking about after retirement. As a nurse practitioner you can run your own practice almost anywhere. Don't think that a PA can do that. Consider insurance, liability and the like. What happens when you retire from the army. Just something to think about

Oh 2LT either way if I'm not mistaken

Let me tell you there is a big differance between a PA and an RN. Now since some of the previous statements reflect FNP v/s PA. You need to know if you are talking about with-in the military or life after. I am a PA and have been one for sometime now, I do not want to be in my own practice, I want to know if I ever get into a situation there is an MD I can talk with. I have seen FNP's open a practice but cant admitt so their patents get sent to the ED, for admission. Not a good practice. My MD admits under his name. I thank if you are just looking for a commission then you are barking up the wrong tree's.
BonesDoc

Invisiblewife, If you truly brlive there is no differance between a Nurse and a PA, then you may want to do some research your self.

Invisablewife, sorry miss read your statement. Yes MAJOR differences.

Is there an age cut off to direct commission as PA?
I wasn't aware that the army would allow direct commision as a PA with a bachelors...
My plan was a masters. Can you be fresh out of school for this?

quote:

Originally posted by EMTB2000:
Is there an age cut off to direct commission as PA?
I wasn't aware that the army would allow direct commision as a PA with a bachelors...
My plan was a masters. Can you be fresh out of school for this?

Check the IPAP link above. I am sure that they have a maximum age (I believe that it is 45).

The Army will not take a bachelor's PA. You must have a Masters. The Masters PA degree is an entry level degree.

I found it through the link...48 is the cutoff for direct commission but waiverable with prior service.

are there diffrences between FNP's and PA's in the army?

Did you even read this thread? Short answer: yes.

well, it appeared to me that the original post was comparing a RN to a PA, those are very diffrent however a FNP or nurse practitioner is a mid level provider same as a PA. so how about the long answer?

While NPs must have collaborative agreements with a physician (MD, DO), they have considerable autonomy and - as noted in a previous post - can establish independent practices as civilians.

PAs work more directly with physicians, generally speaking.

Both can write orders, prescriptions, direct patient care, manage out-patient caseloads, etc. Right now, FNPs are not being assigned as batallion/brigade surgeons, but that is most likely changing as we speak - because of the independent nature of the role, certainly equal to that of a PA.

All that said, the lousy truth is that as far as public/Soldier perception is concerned (including that of line commanders), PAs have an edge over a "mere" nurse, even an advanced-practice nurse ... my theory is that that is a relic of the PA = male/RN or NP = female days. As you probably know, there are more and more female PAs and male RN/NPs.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Cider33Alpha,

The Nurse knows what he/she is doing, I wouldn't say that about a PA.

ive worked with awsome PA's and NP's, and ive worked with some that couldnt find their butts with either hand. just like anything else. the training is almost the same, its the people that make a diffrence not the job title.