North Carolina ..moving to Pasadena, CA

Published

Hi! I have been a teacher for the past 5 years in the elementary schools in NC. I have decided to make a career change into medicine and would like some guidance from people who live in CA. I have no experience besides my concentration in science and my many years as a lifeguard. I am currently taking a few pre-reqs for PA school and shadowing different PAs (I shadowed an ortho PA and loved the surgeries:D) and will be shadowing other occupations. I am contemplating going to school for PA or NP or CRNA. My question(s) is this:

1. In Pasadena, which occupation has the best outlook, PA or NP? I understand that PA and NP are similar but I also will be starting from nothing and I do want to make money and not have a ton of loans.

2. As someone with no experience, which route would be the best? Should I get my RN and then decided?

3. Living in Pasadena, what colleges/universities would be the best and the most affordable? (I will be taking loans.:twocents:..does anyone offer scholarships?)

Thanks for taking the time to help out. I will be taking fall classes here in NC this semester and looking to move to Pasadena in January 2012. Any advice/statistics would be very much appreciated! I sometimes feel, as a 28 year old, that its too late to go back and become a PA or NP.....:confused:

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Azusa Pacific University is great if you are considering NP school! They do not have an PA program. They also have something called SCAN (second careers in nursing) that is specifically designed for people like yourself that have a bachelors in a different field and are now considering nursing. Through that program you get your RN as well as NP...and it is only half an hour from Pasadena! Check it out!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Emergency Dept.

I just graduated from APU's SCAN program (mentioned above). It's a bit disorganized, but all-in-all, a good program. My class has had a very high NCLEX pass rate. I start the Master's classes this fall. Thought I should mention that it is no longer SCAN - they've changed the name to ELM (entry level master's). It's essentially the same program, but you're not required to go on and get the master's (NP) after you complete the bachelors degree. Although, since you want to get your NP license, you'll want to continue :). Also, don't worry about your age - since this program is a second career program, we had a lot of non-traditional students. In fact, at 24, I was one of the youngest in the class. We ranged in ages from 23-over 40. You're not too old :)

If you want to go the PA route, there's no need to get your RN. Just go straight into a PA program somewhere

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Congrats Nicolemcwhite on starting the program this fall and passing your NCLEX!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I just graduated from APU's SCAN program (mentioned above). It's a bit disorganized, but all-in-all, a good program. My class has had a very high NCLEX pass rate. I start the Master's classes this fall. Thought I should mention that it is no longer SCAN - they've changed the name to ELM (entry level master's). It's essentially the same program, but you're not required to go on and get the master's (NP) after you complete the bachelors degree. Although, since you want to get your NP license, you'll want to continue :). Also, don't worry about your age - since this program is a second career program, we had a lot of non-traditional students. In fact, at 24, I was one of the youngest in the class. We ranged in ages from 23-over 40. You're not too old :)

If you want to go the PA route, there's no need to get your RN. Just go straight into a PA program somewhere

I just found out I got into APU's ELM program for next summer! Which campus did you graduate from? I'll be going to the SB campus and I was wondering if I could ask you questions about the program!! :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Emergency Dept.
I just found out I got into APU's ELM program for next summer! Which campus did you graduate from? I'll be going to the SB campus and I was wondering if I could ask you questions about the program!! :)

I graduated from the Azusa campus. I'd love to answer questions, but I'm afraid I can't help much regarding the SB campus. Ask anyways though, and I'll do my best :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I graduated from the Azusa campus. I'd love to answer questions, but I'm afraid I can't help much regarding the SB campus. Ask anyways though, and I'll do my best :)

awesome! congrats on graduating first of all. i did have questions about the SB location, but no worries that you can't answer those. i also have questions regarding the actual program, classes, faculty, job outlook after graduating, etc. do you want to answer them here in the forum or in private message? feel free to email me. [email protected]. and i can send you my questions. if not, i can just ask them here! :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Emergency Dept.
awesome! congrats on graduating first of all. i did have questions about the SB location, but no worries that you can't answer those. i also have questions regarding the actual program, classes, faculty, job outlook after graduating, etc. do you want to answer them here in the forum or in private message? feel free to email me. [email protected]. and i can send you my questions. if not, i can just ask them here! :)

Just sent an email

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion