Introduction with some questions!

barleynhopsBSN · Mar 23, 2010

If you think you may want to work as an RN for a number of years before PA school it may be worth doing an Accelerated BSN program. The nice thing about this route is that your BSN degree will be the GPA that the PA programs look at not your first bachelors. Like you my first Bachelors had a low GPA but now that I am focused on school as a returning student my BSN GPA is much higher. One other bonus to getting your BSN is that will also have the option to apply to NP programs.

ItsTheDude · Mar 24, 2010

1) I've read that nurse males are often seen as human forklifts and are usually called in to help carry heavy people and things. Im 5'8 and weigh 150lbs, but I am lifting weights and am currently bulking. The reason Im bulking and am trying to put on muscle is because when a patient looks at me, I want them to think "Wow that guy takes care of himself, he can definately take care of me then". By the off chance that my genes hate me and I end up not putting on muscle and still pretty scrawny, how are the bigger male nurses compared to small male nurses? Are they seen as more helpful? etc etc.
2) As stated in my introduction, my ultimate goal is to become a PA. Will having experience as a LPN or maybe even RN help me get into a PA school with my terrible GPA?
3) As far as nursing, I know it is a tough job and very demanding. Do you guys have enough energy after work to do other physical activities? I myself am a boxer (3 - 0) amateur and I practice Brazilian jiu jutsu. So I wanted to know how you guys felt after working.

1. males are just generally stronger than females and have more exp lifting/moving stuff, some of the biggest males can't do jack because of a back injury, etc. you will also find that some females are strong as hell, it has more to do with technique than raw power.

2. no idea about pa stuff.

3. nursing (lpn/rn) isn't tough or very demanding generally (it will have it's days though), you said you were going to be a cna, be a cna at a ltc and you will know what hard work is.

Vegemite · Mar 24, 2010

If you think you may want to work as an RN for a number of years before PA school it may be worth doing an Accelerated BSN program. The nice thing about this route is that your BSN degree will be the GPA that the PA programs look at not your first bachelors. Like you my first Bachelors had a low GPA but now that I am focused on school as a returning student my BSN GPA is much higher. One other bonus to getting your BSN is that will also have the option to apply to NP programs.

I looked into accelerated BSN programs, and all of them are competitive. Most of them want somewhere around 3.3 and above. Mine is 2.67 :rolleyes: . Also, I think I've spent enough of my parents' money. I think the reason I want to go the CNA route is because I want to start working immidiately and rack up on the experience. Pay for my own LPN school and maybe bridge to RN.

If I Bridge into RN from LPN will the PA schools look at that GPA? Instead of my crappy Bachelors in Science GPA? Oh and also, I have an associates from a community college with a GPA of 3.2. If I apply for accelerated BSN do i submit my GPA from the community college? Or the GPA of my Bachelors?

Any help would be nice :)

barleynhopsBSN · Mar 24, 2010

I looked into accelerated BSN programs, and all of them are competitive. Most of them want somewhere around 3.3 and above. Mine is 2.67 . Also, I think I've spent enough of my parents' money. I think the reason I want to go the CNA route is because I want to start working immidiately and rack up on the experience. Pay for my own LPN school and maybe bridge to RN.
If I Bridge into RN from LPN will the PA schools look at that GPA? Instead of my crappy Bachelors in Science GPA? Oh and also, I have an associates from a community college with a GPA of 3.2. If I apply for accelerated BSN do i submit my GPA from the community college? Or the GPA of my Bachelors?
Any help would be nice :)

Some BSN programs look at cumulative GPA while other programs only look at your prerequisite grades. If you are able to apply to the schools around the country that only look at your grades from your pre-reqs (AP, Micro, Bio, Chem, etc...) you may have a better chance of getting accepted.

I am not sure how the PA schools look at your GPA but I would imagine it would be your most Bachelors degree but that maybe something to ask the schools.

I was looking at LPN to RN to BSN myself but it seemed more expensive then the ABSN programs. The LPN schools in my area are mostly vocational programs that are like $20K then the cost of getting RN etc. Maybe in your area is makes more sense so you can start working sooner.

The CNA route isn't a bad way to get experience whichever route you decide to take with school. I did CNA before Nursing school and although I got bored of it after 1 year it helped me become more comfortable clinical.

Good luck with everything!

Vegemite · Mar 26, 2010

Thank you so much for you guys' help. Ill do some more research :yeah:

Giant Panda · Mar 26, 2010

Where do you plan on going to school to become a CNA/LPN? I know for some PA programs at certain schools, vocational, trade, or technical school courses will not satisfy the program's requirements (read below).

Coursework may be taken at an accredited community college; however, vocational, trade or technical school courses will not satisfy the program's educational course requirement.

Also, working as a CNA/LPN before enrolling for the PA programs should do nothing, but HELP you. The more patient care experience you have; the better. For example, the PA program at UC Davis recommends that you have a minimum of 2 years experience in direct patient care.

If anything, I would contact the programs coordinator in schools that you are interested in (or an academic adviser) and ask about admission requirements, recommendations, and such.

Just out of curiosity, if you decide to go to school beyond LPN (ie BSN), have you considered FNP?

Hope that helps! I wish you the best. :)

K.P.A. · Mar 31, 2010

I looked into accelerated BSN programs, and all of them are competitive. Most of them want somewhere around 3.3 and above. Mine is 2.67 . Also, I think I've spent enough of my parents' money. I think the reason I want to go the CNA route is because I want to start working immidiately and rack up on the experience. Pay for my own LPN school and maybe bridge to RN.
If I Bridge into RN from LPN will the PA schools look at that GPA? Instead of my crappy Bachelors in Science GPA? Oh and also, I have an associates from a community college with a GPA of 3.2. If I apply for accelerated BSN do i submit my GPA from the community college? Or the GPA of my Bachelors?
Any help would be nice :)

Look at the prerequisites for the accelerated programs. Have the admissions person calculate your GPA by their formula and tell you what you'll need in the pre-requisites to be considered for admission. My GPA was much lower than yours and I got into a good nursing school accelerated program by acing all the pre-reqs.

Vegemite · Apr 1, 2010

Where do you plan on going to school to become a CNA/LPN? I know for some PA programs at certain schools, vocational, trade, or technical school courses will not satisfy the program's requirements (read below).
Also, working as a CNA/LPN before enrolling for the PA programs should do nothing, but HELP you. The more patient care experience you have; the better. For example, the PA program at UC Davis recommends that you have a minimum of 2 years experience in direct patient care.
If anything, I would contact the programs coordinator in schools that you are interested in (or an academic adviser) and ask about admission requirements, recommendations, and such.
Just out of curiosity, if you decide to go to school beyond LPN (ie BSN), have you considered FNP?
Hope that helps! I wish you the best. :)

Sorry for the late reply! I wasn't expecting anymore help :)

To answer your question, I am going to be taking CNA courses at a local community college. Live with parents while I work as a CNA for a couple of months and then move out and look for a LPN school. Work on the weekends as a CNA/Nurse tech on weekends while studying to be a LPN. Once Im LPN, Im thinking about working for a year or 2 before going on. I'm thinking about going beyond LPN into RN if i can't get into any good PA schools.

May I ask you what FNP is?

Thanks for the help

Vegemite · Apr 1, 2010

Look at the prerequisites for the accelerated programs. Have the admissions person calculate your GPA by their formula and tell you what you'll need in the pre-requisites to be considered for admission. My GPA was much lower than yours and I got into a good nursing school accelerated program by acing all the pre-reqs.

The thing about the accelerated program is that I'm limited to the one that is close to home. I can't move out far yet because of the lack of money.

The accelerated program that is at the university is looking for a GPA of 3.2 or higher to even be considered. Not to mention I have no experience.

Giant Panda · Apr 1, 2010

Sorry for the late reply! I wasn't expecting anymore help :)
To answer your question, I am going to be taking CNA courses at a local community college. Live with parents while I work as a CNA for a couple of months and then move out and look for a LPN school. Work on the weekends as a CNA/Nurse tech on weekends while studying to be a LPN. Once Im LPN, Im thinking about working for a year or 2 before going on. I'm thinking about going beyond LPN into RN if i can't get into any good PA schools.
May I ask you what FNP is?
Thanks for the help

FNP is Family Nurse Practitioner. Similar to a Physician Assistant, but with many differences as well. It's a path you may want to look into if you decide to go the LPN to RN route (if your ideal career was to be a PA that is).

Q: What is the difference between an NP and a PA?
While NPs and PAs often perform similar functions, there are important distinctions between these health care professionals:
NPs may work independently or in collaboration with a physician and must have an RN license before being accepted into an NP program. Almost all NPs are educationally prepared at the master's level. NPs are authorized to practice as advanced practice nurses by individual state regulating boards. NPs assess patients, make diagnoses, determine treatment plans, and furnish medications.
PAs are licensed to practice medicine with the supervision of a physician. PAs are trained in intensive accredited education programs that use the medical model. Upon graduation, PAs take a national certification examination; graduation from an accredited PA program and passage of the national certifying exam are required for state licensure. PAs are authorized to practice by individual state medical boards.

Registered nurses with a bachelor's in nursing can earn a Master's of Nursing (MSN): Family Nurse Practitioner (ie Samuel Meritt University) or even a Doctor's in Nursing Practice (DNP): Family Nurse Practitioner (ie University of San Francisco).

I guess what I am trying to share with you is that... if you don't get into any PA programs you apply for and end up taking the nursing route, you could eventually start applying for FNP programs if it interests you! Good luck with whatever decision you make. :)

K.P.A. · Apr 1, 2010

The thing about the accelerated program is that I'm limited to the one that is close to home. I can't move out far yet because of the lack of money.
The accelerated program that is at the university is looking for a GPA of 3.2 or higher to even be considered. Not to mention I have no experience.

I suggest you learn if GPA means overall GPA or "program" GPA.

If it's program GPA, learn what courses are considered program courses and calculate that GPA. My overall GPA was very low. My program GPA was 3.0 and rose to 3.5 by the time I'd aced all the prerequisites. I applied to the accelerated program and was moved to the top of the wait list a few weeks before the start of the semester. Two days later, someone decided that the accelerated program was not for them and I was in.

That said, the accelerated program is time consuming. I still work out regularly but it has totally destroyed playtime.

-KPA