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 prerequistes for admissions for both MSN and PA programs. As of now, I am getting A's and B's for my prerequisites, 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

[on eagles wings, ASN, RN]

I would do PA if I were you. I don't see the point of getting your RN to become an NP. Your experience is real competitive for PA programs, you would just need some LORs and I think you could get into a program easily :) good luck