Would being a PA be more realistic w/ my physical limitations?

[dclamb3]

I'm continuing my journey of trying to determine how I can incorporate a career change to healthcare at 35yo with injuries (bad knees, hip, wrist, back, and neck due to being hit by a drunk driver).

Thanks to reading the experiences of others on this site, I'm starting to see/accept that while my passion is to be an RN (since I've been caring for others since I was a child), that perhaps I need to accept my current physical limitations and entertain other options.

Sooo, while I realize this is a nursing site, please don't throw tomatoes when I ask, would being a Physician Assistant be less taxing physically, than being an RN?

If it wouldn't be, are there *any* jobs where I can have patient interaction that wouldn't involve 12-hour shifts of endless standing, stooping, and lifting that my body couldn't handle?

Thank you in advance.

[Juwon]

I dont think that a PA would be more easier on your joints than nursing. They have to complete more clinical hours than nurses. At my school the PA program awards an Associates Degree like the nursing program, but the schooling is longer. Clinicals consist of 12 hours shifts in the hospital. Nurses do 8 hours or so of clinicals. I can only speak of the program from my school, as it might be different at other schools and other areas. From my understanding the PA program is a little more challenging and even though you get an Associates at my school, it is considered not comparable to a RN but more so to a Nurse Practitioner. The work might be a little less strenous if you can find work in a Clinic, and then that depends on how many patients that clinic see on a daily basis.

Hope this helped some.

[wooh, BSN, RN]

PA would definitely be less strenuous than nursing. But there's still going to be a lot of work on your feet. Especially getting through school, where the clinical work tends to be in hospitals.

Since you want to interact with people and "take care" of them, have you considered social work?

[TeenyTinyBabyRN, BSN, RN]

You would still have to get through nursing school, but I work in NICU, which in my opinion is less physicaly taxing. We work 12 hour shifts, but on most nights, we get to sit pretty frequently, because a lot of our job is monitoring. Plus moving patients is super easy. You can hold your baby in one hand and change your linen with the other, or if they are on a ventilator, someone can hold your baby for you, while you change your linen. I think my heaviest patient was 12 pounds.

[tyvin, BSN, RN]

If you're into nursing why would you go the PA route when you could have more autonomy with being an NP?

[roser13, ASN, RN]

"At my school the PA program awards an Associates Degree like the nursing program, but the schooling is longer"

I thought that an PA was always an advanced degree? I've never heard of a PA with less than a Masters' Degree preparation.....

[Juwon]

"At my school the PA program awards an Associates Degree like the nursing program, but the schooling is longer"

I thought that an PA was always an advanced degree? I've never heard of a PA with less than a Masters' Degree preparation.....

nope, it is not many associate degree prograns for PA's. I must add that it is highly competitive, they pretty much accept candidates who are LPNs, RNs, EMT-Basic and Paramedics into the program. From my understanding its less than 10 programs in the country where you can get an associates as a PA. They do a lot of clinical rotations though. One hospital right across the street from my school offers a Bachelors in PA though.

[RNChristy]

nope, it is not many associate degree prograns for PA's. I must add that it is highly competitive, they pretty much accept candidates who are LPNs, RNs, EMT-Basic and Paramedics into the program. From my understanding its less than 10 programs in the country where you can get an associates as a PA. They do a lot of clinical rotations though. One hospital right across the street from my school offers a Bachelors in PA though.

I have never heard of any PA program that is only an associates degree program. It it always a Master's Degree from what I know.

Christy

[wooh, BSN, RN]

I remember being REALLY confused a long long time ago while watching ER. Carol Hathaway was telling Jeannie Boulet how PAs go to school for 2 years then start bossing nurses around when they've got less education. And I was confused thinking I'd only heard of master degree PAs.

2 years of school, I don't care how many clinicals, is not nearly enough education for what they do.

[Guest717236]

I have never heard of any PA program that is only an associates degree program. It it always a Master's Degree from what I know.

Christy

80% do offer a Masters Degree, however there are still some that offer

a BS Degree and a few with AS Degree preparation.

http://www.aapa.org/the_pa_profession/quick_facts.aspx

(Its interesting, many years ago when the PA programs started it was offered

by a certificate program. And as a a side, in our state so was the NP distinction.

Over the years, the programs developed into the requirements we see today.)

[RNChristy]

The only PAs that I know are Masters prepared.

[Juwon]

I have never heard of any PA program that is only an associates degree program. It it always a Master's Degree from what I know.

Christy

There are a few associates. U can Google. They can continue education much like nursing and get their masters. One hospital hired a new grad on set salary at $83k a year. Not bad for a 2 year degree program. At my school the.schooling comes out to 27 months. They have more chemistry courses and also have to take computer courses as well. It is rated the best ran medical program at my school. The nursing program is ran very poorly sad to say.