I should apply for Nursing and/or PA?

[greenland]

I'm 42. I was a medical doctor in my country. Now I have to change my career goal in US. I'm considering nursing or physician assitant. The reason why I choose nursing is that I'll have opportunity to to become an NP ultimately. I don't like to be a bedside nurse the rest of my life. Also nursing route is relatively easy since I could transfer some pre-requisite couse credits (eg.anatomy, physiology and microbiology,etc) from my previous degree. But for PA, I email them for if some of the pre-requisite course could be transferable, I never got positive feedback. That means I have to re-take all the pre-courses. Also, they usually require shadowing a physician or PA to get clinical experience. I don't think it's easy for me to find one to shadow. Besides, I heard PA is more competitive to get in than nursing. If I apply for PA school, I'll put more time and efforts (I'll take GRE and shadowing physician) but still I'm not confident about if I could get admission.

My question is:

At my age, should I apply for nursing, then pursue MSN while working or I should also consider PA?

Any advice would be appreciated!

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

Some things to consider:

1. What kind of physician were you? Is this what you want to do here in the US?

2. PA education (as I'm sure you are aware) is based on the medical model while nursing is based on the nursing model. You are probably more familar with the medical model which might lessen the anxiety with the career change.

3. If you pursue NP, what track would you be interested in? What are the job prospects?

Just some things to consider. Good luck and welcome to AN.

[just_cause, BSN, RN]

... Also, they usually require shadowing a physician or PA to get clinical experience. I don't think it's easy for me to find one to shadow. Besides, I heard PA is more competitive to get in than nursing.

Most PA schools recommend a day of shadowing to pre-PA students to ensure they know what the PA realm entails. However, if you were a medical doctor outside the US this will like cover the HCE (health care experience) which is one of the main factors that make a competitive PA. As you mentioned earlier you have to see what the PRE-REQs will entail - what will transfer and what do you need. Some schools require very few pre-reqs and a higher emphasis on HCE.. Check out university of washington "MEDEX" PA program -it's very well known... the pre-reqs are very few as they have a higher emphasis on the HCE.

I would think you would be more comfortable in the PA realm given the medical model and your prior medical experience.

v/r

[westcoastgirl]

Greenland didn't you post a similar question before? Did you find out more information? I don't think it's that hard to find a PA or MD to shadow, many nursing programs are very competitive and will require some kind of shadowing/volunteer hours (often hundreds of hours) too.

Is money an issue? If you get an RN quickly (accelerated program especially with your background) you can start working right away, and do the NP program while working. I was able to pay off a big amount of my master's NP degree with money I earned working part time as an RN during grad school. If money is no issue just go directly to PA school because your goal is to be a midlevel provider as soon as possible and PA school would be faster.

[greenland]

Greenland didn't you post a similar question before? Did you find out more information? I don't think it's that hard to find a PA or MD to shadow, many nursing programs are very competitive and will require some kind of shadowing/volunteer hours (often hundreds of hours) too.

Is money an issue? If you get an RN quickly (accelerated program especially with your background) you can start working right away, and do the NP program while working. I was able to pay off a big amount of my master's NP degree with money I earned working part time as an RN during grad school. If money is no issue just go directly to PA school because your goal is to be a midlevel provider as soon as possible and PA school would be faster.

For nurse-NP and PA, I prefer PA for sure due to its medical model. The problem is PA is more competitive to get in. Also, I feel my age is a big barrier since the average age PA student is 26 years old. I'm really not sure if I can get into it. So I might have to apply for both nurse and PA? If I only apply PA, I will miss the chance of the admission for nurse when I know I 'm not eventually accepted into the PA program.

[meandragonbrett]

Besides, I heard PA is more competitive to get in than nursing.

What you've heard doesn't mean anything. There are LOTS of nursing schools with 2-3 year waiting lists just to begin your first semester.

[just_cause, BSN, RN]

Wait lists have nothing to do with 'competitiveness'

Wait lists are based on district or school practice... they actually do not breed competitiveness only a 'sure thing' or perhaps making it easier for admin departments... rather then having to actually judge candidates.

Where I live we have multiple schools.... only 1 does wait lists every other school evaluates candidates for every admission cycle and accepts those whom are the most competitive - a novel idea which is best for industry, best for bringing in the best candidates and good motivation for aspiring students. Rather then the time status quo as a marker of success.

my 2 cents.