I wanted to transfer into Nursing while doing my Pre-PA requirements, but my school's Nursing curriculum is pretty set and strict, so it is hard to move classes around for Pre-PA, even though I am doing it in 5 years instead of 4 years. I talked to the Associate Dean of Nursing yesterday about getting into the Nursing program. I told her I want to be a PA after this, and she kept insisting that NP is the same thing in all aspects!
I talked to the PA school that I want to go to and they said NP/PA are both great in my state and that I should shadow and that neither is "above" the other. However they said that the Anatomy/Physio/Microbiology nursing courses do not fit into the PA reqs. So I told the nursing dean to see if I could get into a higher level Anatomy/Physio/Microbio. She was like, "If you want to do it then I could try but last year I had to stand on my head begging so that I could get one student in there. I don't know why those PA people think nursing courses are not high enough for them, but that's a political thing." She keeps saying, "I dont understand why you want to be a PA, is it your mom wanting this for u?" I told her, NO it is my choice.
I switched a few things around and told her I'd take some summer classes, just so I could get the Pre-PA reqs in also. She called me and yapped at me for 20 minutes about how stupid of an idea this was. She then said that my ACT scores are not that great and most ppl going into Pre-NP/PA have ACT scores of 29 and above. And I would putting myself in a pool with higher ability applicants and might not make it, so why put the effort into getting these Pre-PA classes in. She said she is just giving me a dose of reality!
After I got off the phone with her, I was just in tears. I wanted to be a RN because I respect nurses so much and they have a lot of responsibilities that people don't always see. I could of just got a BS in Bio or Psych and go on to PA school, but I wanted a BSN in which I could do something I like.
I also want to become a PA because I feel that it is right for me, esp. in the speciality I want. But now I don't know if this path is right for me because she makes me feel like I'm not smart enough or that it is too challenging and difficult for me.
Sorry this is just me ranting and letting my frustrations out. Now I am so confused even more on what to do.
to the OP do not be discouraged. I had some one tell me the same thing. Why prove that Dean right. Continue your educational plan and prove her wrong. Maybe you will run into her years later and hand her your card,
Hey AMO, i repied to your issue in the PA forum as well. The suggestion I gave you, pretty much what Marily and others said. Concentrate to do good on your BSN, once you graduated and start working, you can finish off the pre-req for PA school. By then, you'll have the patient experience and the pre-reqs you need to apply for PA school. Don't let the associate of deans get to you, they're not gonna help you to achieve your goal for PA. Don't discuss anything relate to PA w/ them, just do what you need to do for your BSN, once you graduate then cont. to work on your PA path.
I wanted to transfer into Nursing while doing my Pre-PA requirements, but my school's Nursing curriculum is pretty set and strict, so it is hard to move classes around for Pre-PA, even though I am doing it in 5 years instead of 4 years. I talked to the Associate Dean of Nursing yesterday about getting into the Nursing program. I told her I want to be a PA after this, and she kept insisting that NP is the same thing in all aspects!
I talked to the PA school that I want to go to and they said NP/PA are both great in my state and that I should shadow and that neither is "above" the other. However they said that the Anatomy/Physio/Microbiology nursing courses do not fit into the PA reqs. So I told the nursing dean to see if I could get into a higher level Anatomy/Physio/Microbio. She was like, "If you want to do it then I could try but last year I had to stand on my head begging so that I could get one student in there. I don't know why those PA people think nursing courses are not high enough for them, but that's a political thing." She keeps saying, "I dont understand why you want to be a PA, is it your mom wanting this for u?" I told her, NO it is my choice.
I switched a few things around and told her I'd take some summer classes, just so I could get the Pre-PA reqs in also. She called me and yapped at me for 20 minutes about how stupid of an idea this was. She then said that my ACT scores are not that great and most ppl going into Pre-NP/PA have ACT scores of 29 and above. And I would putting myself in a pool with higher ability applicants and might not make it, so why put the effort into getting these Pre-PA classes in. She said she is just giving me a dose of reality!
After I got off the phone with her, I was just in tears. I wanted to be a RN because I respect nurses so much and they have a lot of responsibilities that people don't always see. I could of just got a BS in Bio or Psych and go on to PA school, but I wanted a BSN in which I could do something I like.
I also want to become a PA because I feel that it is right for me, esp. in the speciality I want. But now I don't know if this path is right for me because she makes me feel like I'm not smart enough or that it is too challenging and difficult for me.
Sorry this is just me ranting and letting my frustrations out. Now I am so confused even more on what to do.
Hi all, yes I am young, but I have been doing some research on the differences btw. NPs and PAs. That is why I keep pushing to get my Pre-PA reqs but the Dean of Nursing keeps pushing me to the NP side. It seemed like she was more willing to help me if I wanted to do NP, but when I said "no I want to be a PA" she was more reluctant. My intention was to become a RN first bc it is a great field and one that I admire, yet to also keep my options open. Say I don't get into PA school, I could go on to NP or CRNA etc.
Thank you all for your comments, it made me feel better and not so discouraged.
Well, considering she is the dean of nursing, she is obviously a little partial towards the nursing side of things:) Maybe she just can't help you with the PA thing so much since her speciality is nursing? Good luck!
armyvet
48 Posts
to the OP do not be discouraged. I had some one tell me the same thing. Why prove that Dean right. Continue your educational plan and prove her wrong. Maybe you will run into her years later and hand her your card,
Jane Doe, RN, PA...:)
Good Luck