BSN to PA?

AnnieOaklyRN, BSN, RN, EMT-P · Oct 20, 2015

Why not do NP school instead?? You will have more autonomy than a PA in most states!! Just a suggestion!

Annie

flyersfan88 · Oct 20, 2015

Nursing school before PA school is not "working your way up". They are two completely unrelated fields and one does not lead to the other.

ixchel · Oct 20, 2015

NP, my dear. It's NP you want. And it is a fantastic career choice.

Dranger · Oct 20, 2015

As a NP student currently there are actually several reasons to favor PA over NP. People get so worked up about independence, but what does independence truly mean when you working a collaborative field.

For the OP, there are many RNs who go on to be PAs and I don't think the stigma that a BSN is the worst degree for pre-PA is there like it for medical school and pre-med.

AnnieOaklyRN, BSN, RN, EMT-P · Oct 21, 2015

As a NP student currently there are actually several reasons to favor PA over NP. People get so worked up about independence, but what does independence truly mean when you working a collaborative field.
For the OP, there are many RNs who go on to be PAs and I don't think the stigma that a BSN is the worst degree for pre-PA is there like it for medical school and pre-med.

Hi Dranger,

I was just curious as to why PA or NP advice? I will eventually do one or the other, which is why I am wondering.

Annie

muirite · Oct 21, 2015

UC Davis has a NP/PA program

Dranger · Oct 21, 2015

Hi Dranger,
I was just curious as to why PA or NP advice? I will eventually do one or the other, which is why I am wondering.
Annie

PAs have a more generalist education and learn from the medical model like a physician. NPs are specialized (even though FNPs think they can do everything...) and can not seamlessly move from one area to another without another certificate in that specialty area. In general PAs have a stronger background in science and their schooling is set up like an abridged version of medical school. Admission standards are tough, much tougher than NP, and one can argue that the 2 years of schooling are tougher than any educational programs out there. Most students are advised not to work.

The areas of surgery, ortho and ED are common areas for PAs.

flyersfan88 · Oct 21, 2015

As a NP student currently there are actually several reasons to favor PA over NP. People get so worked up about independence, but what does independence truly mean when you working a collaborative field.
For the OP, there are many RNs who go on to be PAs and I don't think the stigma that a BSN is the worst degree for pre-PA is there like it for medical school and pre-med.

If you don't mind explaining, how come you went with NP over PA?

ixchel · Oct 21, 2015

PAs have a more generalist education and learn from the medical model like a physician. NPs are specialized (even though FNPs think they can do everything...) and can not seamlessly move from one area to another without another certificate in that specialty area. In general PAs have a stronger background in science and their schooling is set up like an abridged version of medical school. Admission standards are tough, much tougher than NP, and one can argue that the 2 years of schooling are tougher than any educational programs out there. Most students are advised not to work.
The areas of surgery, ortho and ED are common areas for PAs.

FNPs are able to move specialties if they want to without obtaining certificates in other areas. They, too, have a generalist education.

NPs go through extensive science-based courses, like patho and pharm.

Two years of schooling to become a PA is terrifying considering they will then graduate with diagnostic and prescriptive privileges without prior experience in healthcare. Literally, that is only two years gaining direct medical knowledge. Even in direct entry NP programs, they are accepting licensed RNs who have already put in 2 years applying knowledge gained to medical and nursing care. Organic chem is nice, but is it teaching you what is important to know about someone with new-onset a-fib?

I don't doubt it's rigorous, but if you're going to compare, at least know what you're talking about. I know nothing about PA programs, and am responding to your post based only on what you've stated here. Your conclusions about NP programs are incorrect.

Where's Boston? Boston loves a good conversation about what NP education and privileges are all about.

Dranger · Oct 21, 2015

If you don't mind explaining, how come you went with NP over PA?

Flexibility and the fact I couldn't work while retaking pre reqs. I did pre-med but my classes were too old for many schools. If I had a magic wand I would choose med school

Dranger · Oct 21, 2015

FNPs are able to move specialties if they want to without obtaining certificates in other areas. They, too, have a generalist education.
NPs go through extensive science-based courses, like patho and pharm.
Two years of schooling to become a PA is terrifying considering they will then graduate with diagnostic and prescriptive privileges without prior experience in healthcare. Literally, that is only two years gaining direct medical knowledge. Even in direct entry NP programs, they are accepting licensed RNs who have already put in 2 years applying knowledge gained to medical and nursing care. Organic chem is nice, but is it teaching you what is important to know about someone with new-onset a-fib?
I don't doubt it's rigorous, but if you're going to compare, at least know what you're talking about. I know nothing about PA programs, and am responding to your post based only on what you've stated here. Your conclusions about NP programs are incorrect.
Where's Boston? Boston loves a good conversation about what NP education and privileges are all about.

/sigh

FNPs are "generalist" trained within the notion that their training spans throughout the lifespan. However, within that spectrum of a lifespan how much training can you get in each area when most schools have 600-700 clinical hours and that's being generous. If you believe a FNP can just waltz into an ICU, NICU or even a acute care/psych area without significant prior experience of advanced practice in that area you are wrong. RN experience mostly doesn't count. Does your FNP program teach you in depth psych evals and med management along with chest tube and CVC line placement?

There is a reason the boards of nursing created specialties. Those 50 clinicals hours (maybe...) dedicated to psych and a few weeks in class are not going to prep you to be a psych provider. FNPs are primary care providers across the lifespan, period.

PA schools in comparison receive several thousand hours and have classes/curriculum in block style with clerkships similar to med school (i.e. surgery, otrtho, IM etc). Many PAs also have prior medical experience (although that is changing as with NPs). Online PA schools do not exist and there is no tomfoolery of begging someone to precept you in whatever specialty you can get that qualifies for the class. Why? PA schools are competitive and limit the ebb and flow of students coming in and out like medical schools. NP schools admit and admit until everyone is accepted.

I actually do know what I am talking about as I compared both for a long time as well as working with a myriad of both PAs and NPs. Extensive courses in science like cadaver lab, histology, immunology or genetics? No, you mean the one course we get in patho and pharm that spends a week (maybe 1.5 weeks) on huge body systems right? PA school cuts out the fluff making everything they take is clinically geared.

Look, I respect NPs and I am in school to become one but it's delusional to think that we have a leg up on education versus PAs. The cards are all laid out. We do lobby better I suppose but it is inconsequential to the OPs question. My opinion isn't biased and I am not speaking from a position where I know nothing but thank you for that assertion....