Feeling a bit discouraged...

Abigail612 · Aug 26, 2012

There are a couple perks to being an NP over a PA. The first one is you can get a decent paying job while getting your NP, this will also give you patient experience. Also none of you nursing classes will apply towards your PA only you previouse degree in biology unlike the NP. One other perk is that at least in some states as a NP after two years of working under a MD you can go out on your own and hang up your own shingle unlike a PA who always has to be under the supervision of an MD. I am not a PA, NP or even a RN yet but this is what one of my instructors told my class when a similar question came up. Good luck!

Ashke · Aug 26, 2012

Hi!

What is turning you off about becoming an NP? Is it the courses? Is it the working environment? You said that you always wanted to be an MD but that this is no longer possible. What makes you say this? Is it due to time, money, or that you are no longer interested in medicine?

I have been feeling down myself about my career. I am currently enrolled in a nursing program but I still consider other careers like PA, PT, OT, MD, or even just sticking it out with my CK/DC combo. Heck, I have even considered leaving healthcare all together. For me, the problem seems to be a lack of passion for much of anything. Any path requires a high level of commitment and dedication in order to be successful. Maybe you just need to find your spark?

I'm just trying to give you some food for thought. In the end, I hope you make the best decision for yourself.

OB-nurse2013, BSN, RN · Aug 26, 2012

Well I think its very early to make those decisions. I have changed my mind a lot since starting nursing school. When I began I thought I wanted to do NP or PA for sure. Now I'm a senior in a BSN program and I don't think I ever want to go back to school. I am happy to have my bacjelors and thats that. I never thought I'ld feel that way but I do. Things change, don't try to decide to fast. Also I hated my first semester of nursing school.

tinasky2005 · Aug 26, 2012

Hi Daynip,

I can kinda relate to your situation because I got my first degree in biology with the anticipation of entering medical school. Later I decided otherwise, due duration which med school took, many of the sacrifices I had to make and grades (although my grades were ok). But I still love the profession (MD).

Due to the fact that I had considered nursing school in high school I decided this was the perfect time to pursue that career. Not only was it gonna be cheaper but I could begin working while pursuing a master as a NP. I did considered going the PA route, but decided otherwise.

As Abigail612 said there are perks to being a NP vs PA. I say the biggest factor was that I could work and always have something to fall back on while pursuing my NP degree. Another is that NP's are not forced to work under physicians forever. And the pay is a little better which is always a plus.

As for the reading material, I understand (currently enrolled in a BSN program). But medical school and pa school have just as much material, possibly more. Remember these are all healthcare professionals and the material will eventually be covered. Be patient with nursing school it will get easier but NEVER easy. I would recommend learning efficient ways to cover the material. As for rn to pa, there are not any programs that im currently aware of that offer that.(I researched it about a year ago).

Personally I love nursing! I which i could have pursued it earlier. I enjoy the material i learn although i gets overwhelming at times. But wouldnt expect any less of PA, MD, NP schools.

Why would you not want to advance in it?

cheri1859 · Aug 26, 2012

I am going to go out on a limb here and state that most of the textbook reading we do as nursing students is just simply NOT exciting. The patient care is the part that excites most students. Nursing is a great stepping stone for those that want to go beyond the BSN. School is more affordable when you are able to work and the experience gained is immeasureable. I started out in NS and then got side tracked and was a paramedic for 8 years. During those 8 years I knew that I wanted something more out of patient care. I also toyed with the idea of becoming a PA but financially, at the time, it just was not possible. Marriage, 2 kids and 20 years later i am finally in NS (2nd semester). To say that I dislike reading the text books would be a huge understatement. Just not easy reading. I love the clinical rotations and the skills labs as well as the lectures, though.

Good luck with whatever path you choose! The possibilites are endless!!!

OB-nurse2013, BSN, RN · Aug 26, 2012

That must vary by location. Where I live if you get your RN-BSN and have taken the rquired pre-req's the you can apply to either of the PA programs by me.

tinasky2005 · Aug 26, 2012

Its the same here in Maryland. A bsn must still take the required course to be able tp apply to a pa program is what i mean. There is no bridge program like rn - bsn or bs-msn. I have not found a program that allows nurses to go directly into pa school without the required courses. Most PA programs require more sciences then nursing school. Ex organic chemistry, biochem, genetics, etc. Some more or less.

Now if you meed the course requirement as a bsn you can apply. But you will usually need other courses.

samrusrn · Aug 26, 2012

Thanks for all the advice everyone :). I don't find the material hard and I'm used to spending a ton of time reading (bio degree), but I do find it boring. I just thought we'd jump more into medicine, but it's learning how to do beds, clean people, etc. I don't think less of it, but I'm not thrilled to be learning it.

I'm not thinking about applying for medical school because of several reasons. My gpa isn't that strong, I don't really have the time to study (mcat) and retake classes (fix gpa), it's very expensive (better to do well and get scholarships, etc) and I feel I'm too "old" now (I'm 25, but I had several things in mind I wanted to do before a certain age - a kid possibly being one of them).

Going the NP route is def. cheaper for me and I would already be able to work while going to school. It's the best regarding money, but I guess I'm not too crazy about the model of learning? I really like that PA school is like a "mini med school" and I find that very appealing. I know it's not the same as med school, but it's similar. I guess that would satisfy me the most in regards to the career I wanted to have. I should probably spend my time reading up on the best route.

PinkCupcake · Aug 27, 2012

It sounds like you are learning a lot of the stuff that you would have learned in a CNA class. As an RN you are going to have to make beds and bath pts. No it's not exciting but you still have to learn how to do it lol. In our RN program everyone has to be a registered CNA before they can apply to the RN program so once you start nursing school we skip all of that because they know we've already learned how to do it. And yes it was VERY boring.

Hang in there and give it some more time before you make a decision there is a lot more to learn.

OB-nurse2013, BSN, RN · Aug 27, 2012

Thanks for all the advice everyone :). I don't find the material hard and I'm used to spending a ton of time reading (bio degree), but I do find it boring. I just thought we'd jump more into medicine, but it's learning how to do beds, clean people, etc. I don't think less of it, but I'm not thrilled to be learning it.
I'm not thinking about applying for medical school because of several reasons. My gpa isn't that strong, I don't really have the time to study (mcat) and retake classes (fix gpa), it's very expensive (better to do well and get scholarships, etc) and I feel I'm too "old" now (I'm 25, but I had several things in mind I wanted to do before a certain age - a kid possibly being one of them).
Going the NP route is def. cheaper for me and I would already be able to work while going to school. It's the best regarding money, but I guess I'm not too crazy about the model of learning? I really like that PA school is like a "mini med school" and I find that very appealing. I know it's not the same as med school, but it's similar. I guess that would satisfy me the most in regards to the career I wanted to have. I should probably spend my time reading up on the best route.

Well theres nothing wrong with that. It sounds as if you have thought it out pretty throughly. I do think NP vs. PA programs use different learning models and if the medical model is more appealing to you then why not? I did a lot of looking into both myslef because I had throught I would do one or the otehr for sure and PA school was also my back up if I didn't get into teh nursing program because at my school my nursing pre-req's actually covered all teh required PA pre-req's and I would just ahve to finish my bachelors and apply; but I got into teh program first try and I really enjoy nursing for the most part. I wouldn't mind going on after but doubt I will because I have kids and finishing school has taken enough time from them already and I would end up with too much debt anyhow. Are you in an ASN or BSN program?