Help me with my dilemma

[shupagirl]

:yawn:I have to decide by end of this week whether or not I am going to be starting the nursing program which starts in beginning of march (out of state) OR wait till I hear back from other programs I applied to (in state which includes not only nursing programs but physician assistant program).

I know I know, to many of you I may seem uncertain which career is better for me however, I have great appreciation for nurses, but I notice many nurses complaining about lack of autonomy.

With same amount of tuition and same amount of time I can have the greater autonomy that many nurses seem to complain about.

The thing is if I get into PA program, I still would need to take this spring semester at the community college that starts next week, so I will have to give up my nursing school (ABSN program that takes 1 year 3 months to complete) OR if I decide to wait till I hear back from the PA schools and if I DON'T get in...I will need need to reapply for next year, and I will be wasting another year.

The choice I make by this wkend is critical and no I am not here to judge which profession is better than the other because I have great gratitute for all the medical profession, however, initially when I decided to pursue the nursing program, I was going to pursue it all the way till I get my FNP. I hear over and over again that NP and PA have same job description and are literally hired same way, so why not go the shorter and cheaper route I thought since I have bachelors in another field getting an NP even in a EL-MSN program would take at least 4 or 5 years where as PA program takes maximum 3 years to complete.

Please someone HELP ME!!!! I am lost, because no one in my family is in healthcare, and I really need to decide by end of this week, and I am really stressed out lost and in need of some advice from someone who will be straight up front with me other than the usual...." Do what your heart tells you to do..." :heartbeat *sigh*

[yelnikmcwawa]

Depending on which state you live in, NPs can have way more autonomy than PAs. There are many states where an NP can open an independant private practice, but none that allow PAs to do so. A PA always has to work under a physician, so you can essentially never be your own boss. I considered PA school but have been told by countless people (physicians, nurses, PA, etc) that NP is a better way to go if you are looking for autonomy. NPs also usually have less restrictions when it comes to prescribing controlled substances. These are just a few exmples. I don't want to sway your decision, just want to you encourage you to investigate these factors before you make a decision that will affect your whole life. Also, when I look through job postings, I see way more NP listings than I ever do for PAs.

Most nurses can still work full time (or close to) while getting their Masters, and many employers will pay for that schooling as well. So if you decide to do nursing, then you could get your BSN in 15 months, then work your way through an NP program. Might take a bit more time in total, but might be less finiancial strain, since you could be out working in less than 2 years. Just my 2 cents. Good luck whichever way you go!!!!!

[sunray12]

It sounds like your goal is FNP or PA but you don't have offers for either right now. Do you have an interest in being a RN? If yes, then you should go to nursing school now. If not then maybe you need to wait till you have offers in hand for both paths. This could mean passing on the program you have already been admitted to - so that's something you'll have to consider carefully.

Don't just "listen to your heart" - be concrete. Go back to your original thinking when you began this journey. What motivated you then? Does it still hold true now? Write it all down. Make lists of the pros and cons. By then you should have a decision.

This thread from the NP forum on this board debates the NP vs PA issue in great detail and it may help you with your decision making.

https://allnurses.com/nurse-practitioners-np/differences-educative-clinical-164046.html

[Cilantrophobe]

Well, how likely is it that you will get into the PA program? Have you made yourself highly competitive? You might have to take a leap of faith and choose what you want most. If I were in your shoes I would choose the PA program hands down. I want to do the same, or something similar.