Which job is better, Registered nurse, Physician Assistant or Occupational therapist?

It's obvious that you haven't really understood the differences between the 3 professions despite the shadowing experiences. You may want to request for another shadow experience, and this time do ask more questions. A nurse takes care of the patient basically, administered medication per MD/NP/PA's order. You only need an associate's degree to be RN, but you'll need at least a BS to be a physician assistant (most entry-level programs are Master's degree), and at least a Master's degree to be an occupational therapist. Depending on your current educational level, the above may be a consideration for you. You are a high school grad and If you are considering between nursing and physical assistant, let me give you this option: Go for a 4-year BS in nursing and be a RN. While you are earning good money as a RN, go pursue your MSN (MS in nursing) to become a nurse practitioner (NP) or nurse anesthetist. A NP basically shares the same job description as a physician assistant (PA); they both practice medicine under the supervision of a physician, but with a nursing background, a NP has an advantage over a PA in terms of job marketability. A nurse anesthetist functions like an anesthesiologist only he or she can practice anesthesia under any physician's supervision; a nurse anesthetist is the most highly paid specialty in the nursing profession with a starting pay (once you passed your boards to be a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist) of more than 100K per annum. If you are graduating with a BS or BA degree, then you may consider occupational therapy. You can also consider the accelerated BSN degree program (1-year full-time) offered at most 4-year universities with nursing schools. You can then go straight for a MSN to be a NP or nurse anesthetist. You can also of course apply for a Master's degree program in physician assistant studies to be a PA.

Being a PA is much better. You will be allowed to write prescriptions and you fill in for the doctor on may things, you can write orders and so on. The pay is usually better as well, I have a friend who is a PA in cardiology and he makes about 60 thousand a year. A nurse can do that to but that means having to pick up extra shifts and things like that. If you go into it I would suggest doing a specialty like dermatology. The hours are 9 to 5 for the most part and the pay is a lot better than in a field like family practice. Stay away from surgery because you will not have a life, and be on call way to much. Best of luck.

Go for the PA - more autonomy and none of the nursing b.s. Nurses are underpaid for what they put up with. Being a PA you can focus on one patient at a time. Most of the time a nurse has to react to what goes on around her, and patient loads can be heavy. It takes a toll on your feet and body, lots of stress. You have much more control as a PA. OT would be a very fulfilling career which would involve more structured days and planning and working long-term with a number of patients.

The only difference is that the PA can diagnose disease and they can substitute as a doctor if the doctor is away

I would have to say occupational therapist.