MSN-NP or PA?

[ryonel]

Hello all,

I am 29 years old and would like to get things started. Let me give you a little history of my medical education/background first:

- 2002: I received my CNA

- 2004-2011: I became a Cardiopulmonary Respiratory Technician for the US Air Force

- 2011: I received my BS in Health Services Management

- 2011-present: I am working as a Health Technician at a VA Federal Hospital

I am having a hard time to choose whether to get my MSN to NP or CRNA, or to go for my PA; I do not have a BSN. I graduated with 3.15 GPA for my BS in Health Services Management, and as of right now I am retaking my science classes for prereqs for admissions for both MSN and PA programs. As of now, I am getting A's and B's for my the prereqs, but now I am in a tug-of-war to go into nursing or PA.

Working for the VA they are willing to pay for either my BSN or MSN as long as I have tenure and will work for them for a certain amount of years after I graduate. Ultimately, going to either way, MSN-Np or PA, I will have to work at the same time; this will be one of the factors that will help sway my decision.

Also, I would like to go back into the Air Force Reserves and/or Guard as a Medical Officer, which will happen with a Nursing Degree or PA.

Any advice and foresight will help greatly.

Thanks for your help in advance!!

Ryan

[BradS]

Well, working while going to PA school simply isn't possibly, so that makes your choice very easy. In the end, I think both titles end up doing relatively the same thing, so I'd vote NP for you. I'm struggling with the same decision myself. Starting out on my prereqs that will lead to both so I have a little more time to decide.

[britpanda]

I struggled with this decision before I went to nursing school however I ultimately decided to go the NP route. NPs usually spend more time focused on the patient rather than their condition alone and have greater autonomy than PAs. For example, a group of NPs can start their own practice however a PA has to have a doctor sign off on everything they do. That is the case here in Florida, I'm not sure if it is the same in all states. I have started nursing school already and although I'm enjoying it I must say I'm missing the medical side of things - I have spoken to many instructors and NP friends who assure me that will come as I advance into my Masters level program (currently in ADN program). I am working full-time throughout my schooling so that played a big factor into it as well. Best of luck to you!

[SopranoKris, MSN, RN, NP]

I struggled with this decision before I went to nursing school however I ultimately decided to go the NP route. NPs usually spend more time focused on the patient rather than their condition alone and have greater autonomy than PAs. For example a group of NPs can start their own practice however a PA has to have a doctor sign off on everything they do. That is the case here in Florida, I'm not sure if it is the same in all states. I have started nursing school already and although I'm enjoying it I must say I'm missing the medical side of things - I have spoken to many instructors and NP friends who assure me that will come as I advance into my Masters level program (currently in ADN program). I am working full-time throughout my schooling so that played a big factor into it as well. Best of luck to you![/quote']

Not the same in all states. In MI, both PA & NP need MD to sign all prescriptions and patient care requires MD review.