LPN to PA/NP Pleeeaaaase Help!!

Saysfaa · Feb 21, 2010

Not all NP programs require a BSN, some require a BA or BS without specifying what the degree is in. Although, I haven't seen one yet that doesn't require an RN. I haven't seen them all, of course.

I am sure there are male PAs and male NPs.

I don't know the answers to the rest of your questions.

Have you seen the "Specialty" link at the top of the page? Clicking on it will give you a chance to choose Advanced Practice Nursing. There are threads that discuss your questions and some of the posts have links to excellent sources of more information.

core0 · Feb 21, 2010

I am a college graduate, Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, and Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science. I am working as a personal fitness trainer while attending nursing school to become an LPN. I plan to work as an LPN for a few years for clinical experience, then eventually apply to a PA program.
PA programs require or recommend at least 1000 hours of clinical experience for application. Some people ask why LPN? Why couldn't I gain clinical experience as a CNA, or an EMT, and my logic is that I have an alternative route if PA doesn't pan out.
If I choose the nursing route instead of PA, I have the option to bridge my LPN to RN. I am hoping I can have a hospital offer a scholarship so that I may continue my nursing education. Once RN program is completed, I would like to go after BSN, preferrably online, at my own pace, so that I can continue to work. Once this is done, I can work for a decent stretch, and ultimately go after NP.
I know this is alot of school, and some of it can potentially be eliminated, so I need advice. I ultimately want the majority of responsibility a physician holds, so PA or NP is my ultimate goal.

Questions:

Can I apply to NP programs without a BSN, as long as I have prerequisite courses?

Depends on the program. Some require a BSN while others require a bachelors. On the other hand since you already have a bachelors you could apply to an MEPN program and go straight to NP (or RN). The other issue is that the change to DNP by some programs may change (prolong) the entrance requirements. For that matter if you had the pre-reqs you could apply for a PA program now. Not having HCE hurts your chances but there are a lot of programs out there with a lot of different requirements.

Is BSN worth the investment of time and money?

depends on what you want to do.

Is LPN work experience sufficient for PA programs?

Yes

I've never come across a male NP, uncommon?

NPs and CRNAs have a higher percentage of males than nursing does in general. For that matter males are proportionally over-represented in the ICU and ER.

Any other direction, advice, criticism (constructive please), wisdom is appreciated, I just want to make the most of myself and my education. I am not afraid to fail, if I fall down seven times, I will stand up eight.

As someone pointed out above NP questions can be answered here:

https://allnurses.com/nurse-practitioners-np/

PA questions here:

http://www.physicianassistantforum.com/forums/forum.php

David Carpenter, PA-C

nrz2bee · Feb 21, 2010

I am in the same boat as you trying to figure out what to do and what field of health care to choose. the job you choose for your experience can make all the difference. i think u being a lpn for experience is a lot better than being a cna for experience. u will truly get to see what nurses do first hand as opposed to cna's who just do what the nurses tell them to. i am doing the cna for experience and already have a degree. i ultimately want to become a NP. in the past i thought about PA too. i even shadowed a PA.In my opinion, nurses are around the patients much longer. PA's often do what docs do and treat and go. with nursing you are on you feet much more. i would have done the emt for experience but it was more expensive than cna. it all depends on what you like or what you find more fulfilling. As a PA you may be more likely to have a 9 to 5 job down the road if you want. you can have that as a nurse if u go into a leadership position or work in a dr's office. I do believe in the end experience is the key. when u work and see first hand what each professional does u can decide what u want to spend the rest of your life doing.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Feb 21, 2010

I am a college graduate, Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, and Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science. I am working as a personal fitness trainer while attending nursing school to become an LPN.

Is there a reason that you're pursuing an LPN license when, due to your previous baccalaureate degrees, you can become an RN in the same amount of time?

The LPN programs in my area range from 12 to 18 months. However, someone with a previous BA or BS degree qualifies for admission to most accelerated BSN programs where an RN license can be attained in as little as 15 months. If your grade point average is 3.0 or greater, you might want to consider this route, as it will save you tons of time.

There are even some DEMSN-RN programs (direct entry master of science in nursing) which allow non-nurses to directly enter a MSN-RN program if they have previous college degrees.

Mr I Care · Feb 21, 2010

You have a so many degrees already, if I was you I would not bother going through LPN school. You should just appy to a NP school that allows non-nurse entry.

Seems like you and I have similar questions in regards to nursing. I am a male nursing student ( ADN- RN program) and I too want to obtain a BSN and then a MSN (NP) degree in family & acute care. I really want to complete a RN-MSN program, but must programs require two years of nursing before applying. In less than nine months I can get a BSN ( RN-BSN), which will enable me to start graduate nursing school quicker.

RN20102010 · Feb 21, 2010

You have a so many degrees already, if I was you I would not bother going through LPN school. You should just appy to a NP school that allows non-nurse entry.
Seems like you and I have similar questions in regards to nursing. I am a male nursing student ( ADN- RN program) and I too want to obtain a BSN and then a MSN (NP) degree in family & acute care. I really want to complete a RN-MSN program, but must programs require two years of nursing before applying. In less than nine months I can get a BSN ( RN-BSN), which will enable me to start graduate nursing school quicker.

Where are you going to do the Rn-Bsn that allows you to finish in less than nine months. I am interested, been looking for a program like that for my rn-bsn.

deleern · Feb 21, 2010

You need to do more research. this is the information from my local college

http://www.med.und.edu/physicianassistant/applicant.html#pilotprogram