Entry into Practice: Direct Entry MSN Programs

Hi Vicky ! I never understood the PA program. I heard this is a 4 year program........but is this program clinically involved during the training? I know that they sort of equate Physicians assistant (PA) to nurse practitioner (NP) in some places , but nurse practitioner are way much educated ( have to have Masters now , before you can go NP training for 9 months?) What is the difference of the curriculum between these two? What are the limitations in practice of the NP? Not to put down the PA , I jsut need to understand as to why they equate their functions to a nurse practitioner?

Hi Vicky , I was trying to save those links that you gave us before....but I can not locate it anymore.
Maybe you can nudge me to a direction....I am 63, UR , CM and medical review for Medicare and private insurance, was also a staff ,and at times charge nurse for a lock up psych unit. I would like to be taking some certification towards gerontology. My change of direction is toward geriatrics , preferably in a LTC with rehab ( this way I can re learn and apply some clinical nursing skills again). I was told to get AANAC, maybe some MDS certification ? Long time ago I started taking required undergraduates subjects to get into Domiguez Hills Masters program. I stopped because I was not clear w/ my purpose for the Masters......I really did not have a solid reason why I was taking it, except to compete w/ other VA nurses that carried all sorts of Masters and even PHD's---- I do not want to be an administrator , ( unless I own the place ) . I would like skilss that I could take to another state, since I plan to move my family out of california to Washington State or Oregon ( things are greener and hopefully not as crowded and expensive as California is getting to be.
By the way I am a healthy 63, so my age should not be the reason of not finding work. I like to go to Gerontology , geriatrics to be specific. I do like old people, but I also want to be good professionally at what I do ...so can I go to a geriatrics specialist study? I had RN training in an excellent community college , but I finished Bachelor of Journalism in another country, but to study here, I have to have an international eval company looked at my transcripts. You know the rule for an out of the country degrees are to minus 30 units, then they go through your courses for the US equivalents. After - 30 units, they granted me with an equivalent of Bacheor of Science, so I am good. I stopped taking courses because the place that I worked for before (Veterans Administration , Los Angeles) did not give me any education reimbursement ( as part of the benefits) . It seems like everytime I inquire for the $2,000.00/ year education reimbursement --- they are already "out of funds". Anyhow , not to get distracted , I stopped because Phoenix U. It was costing me a lot of money from student loan --------------I still have a balance of $4,600.00 plus student loan approximately , from the 3 subjects I took via this school ! Are there any other avenues to get educated without going broke for the rest of your life? I know that you can work for a government office for 2 years , and they will forgive your loan, but then getting one, ( I worked in a federal office) , and this was not accounted for ??????? something was not right , but now I am thinking if those loans should be forgiven considering I worked in the VA ???
I am willing to hear your wisdome and advice on this......no you can make it public so others may get something from it too.