Tag: physician assistants

States with the Most Jobs for PAs and NPs

Physician Assistants and Nurse Practitioners are some of the most in-demand healthcare professionals in the nation, but where is demand highest?

Physician Assistants and Nurse Practitioners are some of the most in-demand healthcare professionals in the nation, but where, in particular, is that demand? We analyzed data on our site and came up with the three states with the most available openings for PAs and NPs right now, as well as a selection of noteworthy openings for each position type.

Nurse Practitioners

1. California

Number of NP Jobs Available in California: 427

Average Annual NP Salary in California: $126,890

Noteworthy Openings in California:

Click Here to Search NP Jobs in California

2. New York

Number of NP Jobs Available in New York: 350

Average Annual NP Salary in New York: $118,550

Noteworthy Openings in New York:

Click Here to Search NP Jobs in New York

3. Washington

Number of NP Jobs Available in Washington: 235

Average Annual NP Salary in Washington: $116,350

Noteworthy Openings in Washington:

Click Here to Search NP Jobs in Washington

Physician Assistants

1. California

Number of PA Jobs Available in California: 207

Average Annual PA Salary in California: $118,500

Noteworthy Openings in California:

Click Here to Search PA Jobs in California

2. New York

Number of PA Jobs Available in New York: 116

Average Annual PA Salary in New York: $117,060

Noteworthy Openings in New York:

Click Here to Search PA Jobs in New York

3. Connecticut

Number of PA Jobs Available in Connecticut: 71

Average Annual PA Salary in Connecticut: $126,320

Noteworthy Openings in Connecticut:

Click Here to Search PA Jobs in Connecticut

Disclaimer: The viewpoint expressed in this article is the opinion of the author and is not necessarily the viewpoint of the owners or employees at Healthcare Staffing Innovations, LLC.

How Do You Deal with “I Want to See a Doctor”?

What do you do when a patient has the audacity to say, “I want to see a real doctor,” thus calling into question your qualifications?

By Jessica Levinson

Earlier this year, while working the front desk in a specialist’s office that employed PAs, MDs, and DOs, it was a sentence I heard pretty frequently—“I want to see a doctor, not a PA.”

Though we followed company policy and told patients they would be seeing an advanced practitioner during scheduling, and though there was a clearly displayed sign in the waiting room informing patients that the practice employed PAs and NPs, patients would often claim they were not made aware and often said that they never would have scheduled an appointment and that they would not have wasted their time coming to the appointment, if they knew they were not seeing a physician, often in more colorful language.

Having written scores of articles for this very blog about the comparable or better care advanced practitioners provide, I cringed every time—while I also tried to convince patients to keep their appointments and see the advanced practitioner on staff. Sometimes, it worked. Sometimes, it didn’t. Mostly, I wondered how PAs and NPs dealt with the question themselves.

I asked one of the PAs on staff this very question. She said, in summation, “I’m not going to force them to see me. If they want to see a doctor, they’re welcome to. It’s just going to be a few weeks before they can get that appointment.”

As the physician shortage continues to grow and, in turn, to leave gaps in access to care, her sentiment seemed pretty spot on. Often, when scheduling patients, I was able to offer same day appointments with the PA or NP, but would need to look as far as three weeks out for a ten-minute time slot with the MD.

To me, it is more important to have whatever my medical issue is handled by someone who knows more than myself and a Google search, no matter their title. However, some will continue to want to be cared for exclusively by physicians. When they do, how do you find yourself responding? Tell us in the comments below.

Jessica Levinson is HealthJobsNationwide.com’s Social Media Manager and Brand Ambassador, who also moonlights as a best-selling poet and freelance writer.

Disclaimer: The viewpoint expressed in this article is the opinion of the author and is not necessarily the viewpoint of the owners or employees at Healthcare Staffing Innovations, LLC.

Yet Another Physician Speaks Out Against PAs, NPs

As the physician shortage worsens, there is no shortage of physicians speaking out against the idea of PAs and NPs being comparable substitutes.

A physician-penned op-ed published online this week entitled “NPs/PAs ‘Just as Effective’ as Physicians? I Don’t Think So” casts a negative spotlight on PAs and NPs, yet again.

The piece, which was written by Starla Fitch, MD, an ophthalmologist, speaker, and personal coach, brings up the oft talked about physician shortage and all but ridicules the idea of advanced practitioners as a comparable substitute, with Fitch stating in the piece, “With all due respect to our healthcare team, I beg to differ that going through four years of college and completing an additional two years – sometimes online, no less – can truly be “just as effective.””

Fitch takes issue with calling PAs and NPs equal to physicians, but admits support is needed by other members of the healthcare team.

“I’m not arguing against having the support of other healthcare members. Trust me. The shortage is real. And we need to find solutions,” Fitch writes, continuing on to say, “But please don’t say, we are “just as effective.” I realize that there are many duties that nurse practitioners and physician assistants can do with skill and authority. And the reasons why primary care physicians are declining is multifactorial, for sure. As I see it, though, putting physicians and our skill side-by-side, on equal footing, with those who are not physicians only serves to drive a deeper wedge between the healthcare folks who need, at this crucial time, to come together.”

Disclaimer: The viewpoint expressed in this article is the opinion of the author and is not necessarily the viewpoint of the owners or employees at Healthcare Staffing Innovations, LLC.

Female PAs Still Paid Less than Male PAs

Female PAs earn $.91 to every dollar male PAs earn according to the newly released findings from the AAPA’s annual salary survey.

The results of the annual AAPA Salary Survey have been released, and they offer a stark look at pay disparities between male and female physician assistants.

The survey, which obtained responses from more than 8,000 PAs, found that full-time female PAs were, on average, being paid $13,380 less than their male counterparts, and that they were less likely to receive bonuses than male PAs—a rate of 40% for women and 53.4% for men. Even when taking into account other factors that could be expected to affect compensation, the survey found a 9% difference in pay between female and male PAs—or, to put it bluntly, female PAs earn $.91 to every dollar earned by male PAs.

The AAPA attributes this, in part, to more males entering the 52-year-old PA profession earlier than females, thus giving them more experience and seniority, which the survey found to result in higher compensation. However, the AAPA also notes, “The total compensation discrepancy begins almost immediately upon entering the profession—there is a disparity between male and female PAs in the first years of practicing as PAs. This difference may be exacerbated as PAs progress through their careers, since increases in pay are often based on increasing the previous salary by a certain amount, and new employers often base a PA’s starting pay in part on their previous salary. A compensation disparity that begins on a PA’s first day on the job could have lifelong implications for the PA.”

Disclaimer: The viewpoint expressed in this article is the opinion of the author and is not necessarily the viewpoint of the owners or employees at Healthcare Staffing Innovations, LLC.

A PSA on How to Address PAs

A physician assistant took to Twitter this week to offer up a PSA on how to address PAs, something that many still manage to bungle.

A physician assistant took to Twitter this week to offer up a public service announcement on how to address PAs, an issue that seems to frequently arise, and one that many still manage to bungle.

“Physician assistant” seems like a straight-forward enough title. However, some still add ‘s to the end of “physician”, as if implying a physician’s ownership of a PA, as opposed to the PA being a colleague of the physician. To help avoid this, David J. Bunnell, MSHS, PA-C created a handy graphic that you, too, can share to help educate the public on how to correctly refer to PAs.

“PAs mean no disrespect to any other healthcare professional. We all share the same mission to help patients feel better and live longer,” Bunnell said when asked about his tweet, and we couldn’t agree more.

Disclaimer: The viewpoint expressed in this article is the opinion of the author and is not necessarily the viewpoint of the owners or employees at Healthcare Staffing Innovations, LLC.

5 Reasons to Give Travel Positions a Try

For those with a sense of adventure, travel positions need no other selling point. If you don’t have a natural love of travel, though, here are five other reasons to consider travel assignments.

Not a lot of careers come with the ability to travel the country and get paid for it, but there are quite a few in the healthcare arena that do. Physicians, advanced practitioners, nurses, therapy professionals, and more are afforded the unique opportunity to accept contract positions, often also referred to as locum tenens, at hospitals and clinics all over the United States, from sea to shining sea. For those with a sense of adventure or a love of travel, this needs no other selling point. However, here are five scenarios in which you may want to give travel assignments a try, if you need more convincing.

If You’re Relatively New

Travel positions provide a good opportunity to figure out what you want to specialize in, in which setting, or even what area of the country you want to live in. Since travel positions are predominantly contracts that are two or more months long, you’ll have plenty of time to see what you like, or don’t like, before fully committing to a permanent position somewhere and setting down roots.

If You’re Feeling Burnt Out

A change of scenery can do wonders for the seasoned clinician who is struggling with the all too common pains of burnout. Working with different populations of patients, or even different coworkers, in different places can help to alleviate the feeling of stagnation. Travel positions typically also afford more work-life balance and less intensive schedules, which allows you to focus more on the things that truly matter in your life—not just documentation.

If You Want More Money

Locums positions typically offer higher salaries than permanent positions, sometimes as much as 30-50 percent more. If you are trying to pay off a student loan, or just want to tuck some money away for a rainy day, signing on for a few travel positions is likely to get you out of the red.

If You Want a Trial Run

Travel positions allow you to try out a wide range of settings and patient populations, often with the option to take on a permanent role within the practice you are filling in at. If you are thinking of pivoting in your career, this is a good way to “try before you buy,” so to speak, that will allow you to make an informed decision about where you want to settle in for the long-term.

If You Want to Make a Difference

Locums positions are often available in remote and underserved areas, allowing you to significantly impact the lives of people who need your skills the most. From the most secluded towns in Alaska to small town America, you’ll be able to provide quality care for those who would not otherwise have adequate access to care.

Ready to give it a shot? We have over 40,000 travel positions available on our site right now, if you want to take a look.

Disclaimer: The viewpoint expressed in this article is the opinion of the author and is not necessarily the viewpoint of the owners or employees at Healthcare Staffing Innovations, LLC.

The States with the Most Healthcare Job Openings

Some states prove to be a safer bet in terms of finding a job in healthcare, due to the sheer number available. Here are the states with the most right now.

Healthcare job growth has been strong in 2019, as expected—the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics has long projected the healthcare sector to see some of the fastest and most consistent growth through 2022. So, where are the jobs? Here are the five states with the most healthcare jobs available right now.

  1. California
    Jobs Available: 8,541
    Top Positions: Registered Nurses, Physical Therapists, Physicians, Nurse Practitioners, Speech Language Pathologists
  2. Texas
    Jobs Available: 4,702
    Top Positions: Registered Nurses, Physical Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Physicians, Speech Language Pathologists
  3. New York
    Jobs Available: 2,647
    Top Positions: Registered Nurses, Nurse Practitioners, Physicians, Physical Therapists, Physician Assistants
  4. Illinois
    Jobs Available: 2,210
    Top Positions: Registered Nurses, Physical Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Nurse Practitioners, Speech Language Pathologists
  5. Virginia
    Jobs Available: 2,125
    Top Positions: Registered Nurses, Physical Therapists, Speech Language Pathologists, Physicians, Occupational Therapists

Disclaimer: The viewpoint expressed in this article is the opinion of the author and is not necessarily the viewpoint of the owners or employees at Healthcare Staffing Innovations, LLC.

89% of Patients Consult “Dr. Google” First

Dr. Google is in. 89% of patients queue up Google and search for their symptoms before going to see a medical provider. But this isn’t exactly a good thing.

No matter what symptoms you Google, it seems as though the search engine ends up painting a bleak picture, returning worst-case-scenarios like that you are having a heart attack, or that you have cancer, or any number of complex diseases or conditions. Or maybe even worse, it downplays more serious conditions. Yet, for some reason, 89% of patients queue up Google and search for their symptoms before going to see a medical provider.

The reason? According to a recent survey conducted by eligibility.com, where the staggering number came from, it is because patients wanted to see just how serious their symptoms were before seeking a professional diagnosis and treatment.

This practice comes with its own problems, of course, since Dr. Google is not an actual doctor and neither are the people who are Googling their symptoms. For instance, Googling “nasal congestion,” which is the most popular symptom Googled in Texas, Georgia, and Florida, returns the following possibly related, mildly problematic health conditions: seasonal allergies, common cold, sinusitis, upper respiratory infection, and animal allergy. However, it can also be a symptom of something more serious that should not go ignored, such as thyroid disorders, the flu, or even pregnancy, and Google has absolutely no way of saying for certain. Meanwhile, on the other side of it, patients who Google their symptoms can be susceptible to “cyberchondria,” a sort of adjunct hypochondria, in which they experience unreasonably high anxiety regarding common symptoms due to their search behavior.

While Google may be a useful tool for a lot of things, one thing is for certain: it is no replacement for a living, breathing medical professional. And even Google will tell you that.

Disclaimer: The viewpoint expressed in this article is the opinion of the author and is not necessarily the viewpoint of the owners or employees at Healthcare Staffing Innovations, LLC.

PAs to Prescribe Medical Marijuana in NH

New Hampshire’s Governor signed a bill on Friday, expanding the list of providers who are allowed to prescribe medical marijuana to include physician assistants.

Governor Chris Sununu (R-NH) signed a bill on Friday, expanding the list of providers allowed to prescribe medical marijuana in New Hampshire. Under the bill, a licensed physician assistant, who possesses an active registration from the United States Drug Enforcement Administration to prescribe controlled substances, and who receives the express consent of a supervising physician, will be able to prescribe cannabis for therapeutic purposes. The legislation is slated to go into effect 60 days after its passage.

Another bill, which would allow medical marijuana users to grow their own cannabis at home also awaits the Governor’s signature.

Disclaimer: The viewpoint expressed in this article is the opinion of the author and is not necessarily the viewpoint of the owners or employees at Healthcare Staffing Innovations, LLC.

How Much PAs and NPs Make in Every State

How much do PAs and NPs make across the U.S.? We found out. How does your salary stack up against the average?

Using the latest data available from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, we dug up the average salaries for PAs and NPs across the United States.

Some quick takeaways from the findings are:

  • NPs earn the most, on average, in California, Alaska, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and New York.
  • PAs see top pay, on average, in Connecticut, Washington, Alaska, Hawaii, and California.
  • On average, the least lucrative states for NPs are Alabama, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, Kansas, and Kentucky.
  • For PAs, Mississippi, Louisiana, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Alabama pay the least, on average.
  • PAs are paid more than NPs in the majority of the country, including 25 states, as well as the District of Columbia, though NP salaries outpace PA salaries in terms of dollar amount, as a whole.

How does your salary stack up against the average? Find out below.

State Physician Assistant
Average Annual Salary:		 Nurse Practitioner
Average Annual Salary:
Alabama $92,880 $95,970
Alaska $122,260 $122,880
Arizona $101,590 $110,750
Arkansas $99,280 $104,300
California $117,230 $133,780
Colorado $102,770 $111,210
Connecticut $125,610 $118,020
Delaware $105,300 $108,340
District of Columbia $114,740 $109,800
Florida $105,930 $101,100
Georgia $103,190 $106,750
Hawaii $121,120 $120,570
Idaho $109,090 $102,600
Illinois $108,260 $105,800
Indiana $96,090 $103,200
Iowa $110,550 $106,290
Kansas $104,720 $99,430
Kentucky $91,010 $99,790
Louisiana $85,990 $105,340
Maine $110,030 $103,220
Maryland $108,180 $115,060
Massachusetts $108,700 $122,740
Michigan $110,240 $106,880
Minnesota $116,200 $119,160
Mississippi $81,130 $109,700
Missouri $94,480 $102,470
Montana $106,130 $103,510
Nebraska $106,700 $103,800
Nevada $116,850 $112,540
New Hampshire $111,080 $109,460
New Jersey $116,270 $122,100
New Mexico $108,610 $109,810
New York $117,000 $120,970
North Carolina $104,680 $104,100
North Dakota $107,340 $106,200
Ohio $105,410 $101,970
Oklahoma $104,200 $103,280
Oregon $113,570 $110,010
Pennsylvania $98,510 $98,250
Rhode Island $103,710 $109,290
South Carolina $103,710 $99,910
South Dakota $102,830 $100,690
Tennessee $87,700 $95,990
Texas $109,590 $111,060
Utah $102,710 $105,840
Vermont $106,520 $106,000
Virginia $99,340 $105,170
Washington $123,980 $117,650
West Virginia $104,180 $100,690
Wisconsin $107,920 $106,790
Wyoming $116,890 $116,030

Disclaimer: The viewpoint expressed in this article is the opinion of the author and is not necessarily the viewpoint of the owners or employees at Healthcare Staffing Innovations, LLC.