Other major/career options

FutureNurseInfo · Jan 5, 2017

That is great you have such a long-term goal. However, you are 20, take one step at a time. Get your BSN first.

umbdude, MSN, APRN · Jan 5, 2017

Getting another Associates degree in nursing is not a waste of time. It allows you to practice as a nurse and while you work you can do online RN-BSN (cheap and easy). That is better than getting an unrelated BS degree and go back to get a BSN. Another route you can take is to get a BS and go directly to PA. PA programs don't really care what your BS is in as long as you have the pre-reqs and high GPA. PA programs are incredibly competitive, so if you are unwilling to move out of FL you might not get into a program unless your stats are superb. Also, my understanding is that PAs do not practice in anesthesiology the way CRNAs do.

crazydoglady89 · Jan 5, 2017

It doesn't seem like you've really researched the careers you are asking about. PA's and CRNA's have VERY different scopes of practice and work environments. To pick one over the other because they are "similar amounts of schooling" is a bit short-sighted. This is your LIFE.

I would spend time shadowing PA's and CRNA's and asking them lots of questions.

From what I know (and I think I do, I have been with my husband since before he attended PA school), CRNA is a much longer path. Both can be immensely expensive, as you cannot work when you are attending the program. The path to CRNA is at LEAST 2 years of critical care experience + 2-3 years of CRNA school (you are full time and usually unable to work). Your path is going to likely be 4-5+ years. Not trying to dissuade you, but it is more lengthy than the 2-3 years of PA schooling (also full time, usually unable to be employed), assuming you get in "right away". Competitive PA schools (which is all of them, I know) often require over 1000 hours of hands on experience with patients. Depending on your employment situation, this could take you a year or more, as schools have different examples of what "acceptable" contact/experience is. I believe my husbands program called for almost 2,000 hours.

Also, PA school often has completely different requirements than nursing school. Some may overlap, but highly unlikely all of them will. My husband had heavier upper level chemistry requirements, and his anatomy and physiology was also different than mine.

I think it's great you are so proactive, but I think you should do a little more research before you dive in. RN and PA in itself is a very different profession. NP's and PA's can often function in the same roles (this is a whole other topic for another day), but often do not.

If you know you will not be happy as an RN, I would recommend that you just go to PA school and become a mid-level. Another option is Anesthesia Assistant. Since you are in FL (I think there are a few schools here), that is an option for you. I cannot speak to their scope of practice or where they are used throughout the US, but I know the profession is gaining more popularity, albeit still quite small (in comparison to a PA or CRNA). My husband works with Anesthesia Assistant's (he works general surgery) who love their jobs, but be aware if you choose this route, that that is your JOB unless you go get trained/back to school for something else.

At 20, I'm not sure you even know that you will love Anesthesia so much that you want to commit to it "forever". I say you stay the course and get your BSN. You can always go to PA school later (take the chem requirements while you work and earn money to save up for the expensive 2 year stint if you choose it), and CRNA is not an option anyways for newly minted grads.

Edit: long story short, worry about grad school when you get there. You may find that you hate nursing and love PA work. You may find you hate PA work and love nursing (and maybe pursue an NP or other role). You may shadow a CRNA and decide "I can't imagine doing this all day", or you may shadow one and want to do it! You have so much time when you're 20. Either way, you will need money to pursue any further education, so time will definitely not be wasted working for a few years. My husband graduated with 120k in debt, so we have BEEN there and know the struggle.