I am currently a medical scribe at a primary care community clinic and I have completed more than enough prerequisites to apply to nursing school. Actually I spent two years applying to physician assistant schools, but admission is so competitive I just can't get in. I scribe for doctors, PAs and NPs, spending all day watching what they do and how they speak with patients. On simpler encounters I can write the diagnoses and treatments including medications into the chart note before the provider even verbalizes what the diagnoses or treatments are. I strongly feel that I could be great in a provider role if I could get the necessary medical training. I do not feel that bedside nursing would be a good fit for me.
I would like to become an NP, a CNS, an RN who does a lot of nurse-only visits, or something along those lines (I'm not sure exactly what a CNS does or if this is a provider role that is being phased out). I am aware that I can complete 2.5 years of nursing school followed by 2 or 3 years of FNP school at a cost of $200,000 or so, but I'm already 44 years old. I'm getting pretty tired of jumping through educational hoops and borrowing money.
My apologies if I give the impression of being lazy. My GPA for the last 2.5 years has been 3.9, so I am working hard at my studies as well as my job. Returning to college and changing careers is just taking a lot more time and effort than I expected. If anyone has any ideas or advice for me I'd be grateful. I have already ruled out becoming an audiologist, speech therapist, physical therapist or dietician, but I am open to other suggestions.
Thank you so much if you read all that! :) P.S. I live in California but would love to move to Oregon or Washington state, or perhaps Colorado.
Specializes in EMT since 92, Paramedic since 97, RN and PHRN 2021.
Become a paramedic. I have been a medic for 18 years and our scope of practice is only getting larger. I basically play doctor in the field. I can call medical command if things get hairy , but for the most part I am doing critical care, just prehospital.[emoji106]
You could also become a prosthetist/orthotist, though you may have to relocate since there are relatively few programs (master degree). I've look at UW's but decided it wasn't for me.
Thank you for this suggestion! I've never ever heard of this career before! I will look into it.
emtpbill, ASN, RN, EMT-P
482 Posts
Become a paramedic. I have been a medic for 18 years and our scope of practice is only getting larger. I basically play doctor in the field. I can call medical command if things get hairy , but for the most part I am doing critical care, just prehospital.[emoji106]