I have questions but can't find answers.

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I want to work in the medical field but I'm not sure of the area I would like to work in. I have mainly been looking at becoming a Physician Assistant but can't find very much information on it. I'm 16, just graduated high school, and I have no experience what so ever. I want to do something that helps or influences people and it basically came down to teaching or medicine. I would like to know the pros and cons of being a Physician Assistant and how to become one as well as other fields like it. Any information is helpful.

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Specializes in Infection Control, Med/Surg, LTC.

Graduated at 16? Most schools for nursing at least require applicants to be 18. I imagine you best bet is to take some college courses and then figure out what you want. Almost any medical type program will require English, a math course, etc. And you can get those basics out of the way.

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I would go to a PA message board. This is a Nurses board. Good luck!

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As a young person to another young person, I would definitely recommend PA or MD well over RN. Just trust me, you don't want to find out why doing nursing first hand.

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Specializes in L&D, infusion, urology.
Graduated at 16? Most schools for nursing at least require applicants to be 18. I imagine you best bet is to take some college courses and then figure out what you want. Almost any medical type program will require English, a math course, etc. And you can get those basics out of the way.

Most programs require that you be 18, but you also need to have general ed and prereqs done before you start the program, anyway. As rnforforty said, get your general ed knocked out, maybe try to shadow a PA and see where that all takes you.

Good luck!

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Specializes in ICU.

Just start college and take core classes you will need for any degree. Personally, if I had it to do all over again, I would go the PA route. Most of the PA's that I know are in the military, so I don't know how they got their education. Really, it all depends on how much money you can spend on school, how much you can re-pay in loans, where you will live while in school, etc. There is no point in getting an RN degree if you plan to become a doctor or physician's assistant~just go straight for that. Avoid excessive student loans!

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

Welcome....I graduated young too.

Here are some links....AAPA | What is a PA?

Physician Assistant | explorehealthcareers.org

ARC-PA / Accreditation Programs

PAEA

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