Best route to OR

[Laird215]

At age 47, I might be settling on a decision not to pursue medical school and surgery. Age is the deciding factor. Briefly, my background is a degree in math and economics. Then went into business where I've had a mediocre career because I never really valued what I was doing and don't have great leadership skills. I can make myself do anything but can't always inspire others to do things. I was a naïve farm kid before college and was never exposed to medicine growing up. My thinking when I was 22 was any mediocre job would be great. As the years have passed, I have yearned for more (not financially but want to be challenged and do something I value).

For the past 12 years I've lived exactly one mile from a major teaching hospital. There is an outstanding medical college, a great nursing college and a top-ranked PA program located around this hospital. I've gotten to know a lot of medical professionals, including PAs, nurses, surgeons, and anesthesiologists. I'll be asking them questions, of course, and have good shadowing opportunities.

Since aspiring to be a surgeon is probably not possible due to my age, my thinking is that the next best thing would be to work for a surgeon. In your opinion, would my best option to achieve this be a nursing program or physician assistant program?

Btw, I feel 30, live clean, exercise, treat people right, and don't do recreation well. So my expectation is that I would enjoy working far into my 70s.

Please accept my gratitude for your thoughtful reply !!

[jessi1106, BSN, RN]

Hi,

I studied econ as well and did not want to do masters etc in that field.

I chose a second career in nursing (BSN). (now considering masters)

The nursing and medical models are different. If you live nearby a teaching hospital they most likely have shadowing programs. I would suggest shadowing (several) Nurses/nurse practitioners/PA's...that way you will have a much better idea of what your actual job will entail.

From my personal experience, and in GENERAL I have found that NP's seem to have more clinical knowledge and provide excellent pt care. I am not trying to get down on PA's here... I have met some awesome one's, and some poor NP's...I am only generalizing...

PS: soon you will need a PhD (completely bypassing the masters) in Nursing to be a NP, and for any advanced nursing degree...not sure if that matters to you.

Good luck to you and hope you find the path that best suits you!!

-Jessi