register nurse or Physicians

AllieElizAbeth · Apr 5, 2003

My sis said I should do whatever ever is quckest since I have a family. I'll like do whatever gives me more experience.

Agnus · Apr 5, 2003

They are two entirely different animals. One is not related to the other. You need to research these and find out which suites your nature better.

Personally I would not be a PA for love or money but then it doesn't fit my nature as nuring does. On the other hand I have known those who really don't fit the nursing mold so to speak and PA is a much better fit.

RN is NOT a stepping stone to PA nor to physician. Perhaps this is what you are thinking. If medicine is your goal then by all means skip nursing.

I would not base a decision on two different careers based on speed.

I do not understand what you mean by which ever gives you more experience. Experience at what and why? Which ever you choose you will get experience in that field but not the other. Any career choice gives you experience in that carreer. If you think you automatically enter a career with experience you are dead wrong. You enter with your education only.

rachel h, BSN, RN · Apr 5, 2003

Well, it all depends on what you would like to do. RN and PA are two different focuses. As an RN, you could work in a hospital, clinic, nursing home, home care setting, etc. You can work in any area once you are licensed, which is kind of nice. If you don't like working with adults, you can go to peds. If you decide you want to do ICU, then you can do that too. It's very flexible and there are a lot of options. You can always further your nursing education to become a nurse practioner if you decide you'd rather be a primary care provider. Or you can go into teaching, administration, anesthesia... there are a multitude of possibilities.

I don't know much about PAs other than they work with physicians and in some settings may function as a primary care provider in consultation with a physician. I'm not sure how flexible it is if you want to go into other areas?

You mentioned you have a family... I know that a lot of hospital jobs (as an RN) offer a lot of flexibility as far as scheduling and you don't even have to work full time in order to get full benefits.

Hope this helps!

rachel h, BSN, RN · Apr 5, 2003

Agnus is right... they are two entirely different animals. An RN degree is not a stepping stone to being a PA, if that's what you mean. It's a completely different focus.

AllieElizAbeth · Apr 8, 2003

thanks for your help. you have helped me alots.

Thanks,

allie.

RN2B2005 · Apr 8, 2003

Presumably you're aware that an undergraduate degree and specific prerequisites are required prior to entering any PA programme?

I only ask this to clarify--if your level of education is below the undergraduate degree threshold, which I'm guessing it is, then you wouldn't even be eligible for a PA programme. Did you mean to ask us about becoming a medical assistant, perhaps? Medical assistant training courses are usually a year in length or less, and require only a high school diploma for admittance.

Either way, an RN degree is a stand-alone degree--not a stepping-stone to something else. Good luck.

Agnus · Apr 8, 2003

If you were thinking of Medical Assistant keep in mind that that is not anything close to being a PA or MD and Medical Assistants are not anywhere close to being as as well educated as nurses.

A MA is closer to nursing than medicine but a MA is a long way from acutally qualifying for either.