Chiropractor to FNP

Nursing Students NP Students

Updated:   Published

Hey everyone, I need some advice concerning a new online BSN and FNP program. This program is allowing RN's and chiropractors direct entry into their BSN program. After one year the student will sit for their boards and if they pass, they continue with the NP Program for one year. The program is through Mid America and Hardin-Simmons University in Texas.

I have been a chiropractor for 11 years and I am looking to leave the profession. I am planning to go back to school to become a NP or PA. I am a little concerned about the online BSN and NP Program. Is a student adequately trained by an online course compared to learning in a classroom? You have some hands on training and you have to go through your rotations, but I am not convinced the student is ready to care for patients without more on the job training.

My goal as an NP or PA is to work in orthopedics or emergency medicine. How many NP's work as first assistants in the OR or the the ER? While I am taking some prerequisites classes, I am planning to get my paramedic certification and get some experience outside of the chiropractic field.

Thanks for any advice you can give me.

Troy

For the chiropractors on this thread who are now RN's, why did you choose to go the RN route instead of going to PA school?

Troy

I went to Excelsior, which allowed me finish school while working full time. I needed to work full time, so going to school full time was not an option. Working as an associate gave me plenty of time to study and still collect a full time pay check as an associate chiropractor. I studied six to seven hours a day.

I really wish the Excelsior option was still available to chiropractors. There are so many chiropractors who want out. When I get my MSN, I want to approach the administration about admitting chiropractors again.

Getting your RN is the hard part. Once you get your RN, so many options open, and the whole system is designed to help you succeed. You have incredible flexibility with your schedule because you work 12 hour shifts. Many college are online and part time. Hospitals will pay for part of your tuition, so no more student loan debt. In the hospitals, you network and make contacts for your clinical placements. There are always people to encourage you and give advise.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

i am going back to school for nursing, but part of me always was curious about the chiropractic field. i am presently a massage therapist, and i work w/chiro's alot. if i may ask....why are you guys leaving the field? hours? pay? the strain of working for yourself? etc?? what do you prefer abt nursing? this is good information to know....being a massage therapist, now a nurse, perhaps orthopedics is something to look into.

thank you!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ER.

Riley, I am wanting to leave the chiropractic field for a number of reasons.

1. Every year the insurance reimbursement fees decrease, so you have to get more new patients into your clinic to make up the difference.

2. Overhead for your clinic continues to increase every year.

3. Chiropractors tend to eat their young.

4. Chiropractors cannot come together to take care of legislative issues. We are always having to defend ourselves against MD's, DO's and PT's.

5. Only 7 to 10% of the population go to chiropractors. If someone has low back pain, they can go to their GP, ortho, neuro, PT etc. We have a lot of competition for patients.

6. This year since the economy has softened, my practice has dropped off about 35%.

7. Chiropractic practice is very hard on the Dr's body. I have friends I went to school with who have repetitive injuries to their shoulders, wrist and low backs giving adjustments.

I am looking into PA and RN school. If I go the RN route, I would likely then go on to NP school. I am leaning toward RN because I can go part time and still run my clinic. With PA school I would have to go full time. At this point I think I would like to go into ortho, neuro or the ED. I may get into school and find something else I really like.

I know the grass may not be any greener in another area of health care but I am 40 years old and have been a chiropractor for 12 years. I am ready for a new chapter in my life.

Troy

Up Vote Up Vote ×

thank you for the information. i can really see why it's time to move out of the field. it will be a great addition to your new field of choice, and i am sure it will allow you to be more employable! i was looking into PA school as well...the feedback that i have received from people in the medical field is that the NP is a more independent role than the PA. i'm not sure how accurate this is, but i thought i would pass along the information.

all the best!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Riley, I am wanting to leave the chiropractic field for a number of reasons.

1. Every year the insurance reimbursement fees decrease, so you have to get more new patients into your clinic to make up the difference.

2. Overhead for your clinic continues to increase every year.

3. Chiropractors tend to eat their young.

4. Chiropractors cannot come together to take care of legislative issues. We are always having to defend ourselves against MD's, DO's and PT's.

5. Only 7 to 10% of the population go to chiropractors. If someone has low back pain, they can go to their GP, ortho, neuro, PT etc. We have a lot of competition for patients.

6. This year since the economy has softened, my practice has dropped off about 35%.

7. Chiropractic practice is very hard on the Dr's body. I have friends I went to school with who have repetitive injuries to their shoulders, wrist and low backs giving adjustments.

I am looking into PA and RN school. If I go the RN route, I would likely then go on to NP school. I am leaning toward RN because I can go part time and still run my clinic. With PA school I would have to go full time. At this point I think I would like to go into ortho, neuro or the ED. I may get into school and find something else I really like.

I know the grass may not be any greener in another area of health care but I am 40 years old and have been a chiropractor for 12 years. I am ready for a new chapter in my life.

Troy

I am a Chiropractor who stopped practicing since 2007. I had been practicing since 1997. Troy, I am wondering if you pursued any program at this time. I know the post if from 2008 but am looking at the FNP program offering the BSN and MSN for $60,000. I also called another school in my area to see what it would cost to just start from the begining so I would have no worries as to getting ANOTHER degree that isn't really recognized (in other words...we get this NEW Degree ...BSN...or MSN..and we are still can't use it. I am also 40 and looking for a future ( I do not have the desire to rebuild a practice). I had two choices so many years ago (nursing or Chiro) and had no idea what that choice was all about until a few years ago. I think it is smart to do something now. I am nervous about going for this online program and then not being able to find a job after I am finished. I have known of a few other Chiro's who just went back into a regular nursing program. Any news on your side since you may be in school at this time?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

You can get your RN through this or any other accredited program, but I do not think that I would recommend this program for your NP. There are tons of online and onsite NP programs.

Once you get your RN, there is no big hurry to get your NP, because you only start at $10-15K more each year. You make a decent living as an RN, so you can take your time getiing your NP. All of the NP programs are designed to be done by RNs working full time. Plus your hospital will help you pay for school.

$30,000 seems expensive for the FNP. Online programs are very common in NP education. I do not think it will count against you when you apply for a job. Only the didactic portion is online. The clinical portion is arranged locally, whether you are in an online program or an onsite program. What will negatively affect your job search as an NP is having no RN experience. People who get their NP with no RN experience are not taken seriously by anyone.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thank You so much for your quick reply! I will definitely use your advice!

I can see by not going the correct route could lead to the same situation. :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in orthopedics.

Hi drjulie - I too am a chiro who decided to get my RN. I went to Excelsior when they accepted chiros into their RN program. I am so glad I did it when I did. I graduated in 2004 from Excelsior. I am actually in their MSN - Education program right now. I love it. I am home with my 2 kids so I decided to load up on credits as I could handle them just so I can get done faster. I am applying for instructor positions for next fall already too. A couple schools will consider me b/c I would graduate in Jan which is close enough for them. I would encourage you to look at schools in your area. I don't regret for a second that I went back and left chiro. I have so many more options. As stated in another post you can keep working while you cont your education in nursing. Also everyone is very supportive and encouraging! My plan would be to teach nursing and I am looking into post-masters certificate FNP program. That way I could practice and teach. There are just so many avenues to explore. Good luck! Let me know if you have additional questions.

Robin

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ER.

Dr Julie, I have not applied to an RN program yet. However, I am retaking some classes at this time. All of my course work is over 12 years old and some of the programs will not accept classes that old. I am hoping to start in a BSN program in 2010. This will give me enough time to figure out what I am going to do with my clinic. Sell it or close it. I have talked with a few chiros who are enrolled in the program at mid-america and I have heard a lot of the students are going to drop after the first year and enroll in a different NP program. I believe they also went up on the price. I still have not ruled out PA school, but at this time I am leaning toward a BSN program.

Troy

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Since you are already a chiropractor, I would strongly recommend that you train as a NP rather than a PA if you want to continue practicing independently or have the ability to practice independently. NPs can practice independently in many states and in several others they need a 'collaborative agreement' in writing but can still essentially practice independently. Only a very small number of states require actual physician supervision. However, the position of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners is to obtain independent NP practice in every state and states are moving towards this. As a PA, you will ALWAYS have to have physician supervision to practice. Even if you open your own practice as a PA, you will have to pay a physician to supervise you. In many cases, this ends up being a formality, but, legally, you have to have physician supervision to practice. The extent of the supervision ranges from state to state and PA practice is governed by the BOM of that state.

Collaborative agreements for NPs are different. They are not supervision. They are a requirement by the BON of your state (and in a few cases the BOM) to have a written agreement on file indicating the physician with whom you will consult and/or refer if needed. The decision to collaborate on a certain case is made by the NP. Some states require a certain amount of time "on the tiles" by the collaborating and/or some chart review, but this is only in a few states and will likely be changing in the near future. And, again, it is not "supervision" by a physician.

You can review NP scope-of-practice by state through the Pearson Report that is published annually: http://www.webnp.net.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I also agree that nursing is a better path than PA. I think the differences in clinical practice are small. PAs have an advantage in the operaing room. NPs have a greater degree of potential independence. In the real world, they both usually practice in a similar manner.

Directly comparing the clinical practice differences misses many of the career opportunities that are available to nurses, but not necessarily to PAs. Nurses run the hospitals and educate the staffs. Nurse administrators and nurse educators are highly paid professionals with plenty of opportunities for advancement.

When you work in a hospital, you will see that there are so many positions available to advanced practice nurses. You do not see these positions from outside of the hospital.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I am currently in the the DC to FNP program and I have to say it is a bit frustrating so far. There doesn't seem to be enough support, direction, etc. Hopefully that changes soon.

My goal is to first obtain my BSN, get some experience (if anyone is hiring then :uhoh3:), and continue with the FNP program. While chiropractic is great to practice, helps patients, and prevents many from unnecessary invasive treatment, it is like operating a restaurant. There's too much instability and the owner is really not employable outside of their practice. Financially, I have relatives who do better than me working nursing 9-5's while enjoying their patient interactions instead of dealing with the financial aspect of running a practice.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment