PA/NP to MD Bridge??

BS, NP · May 26, 2010

The medical model is a strong basis on basic sciences (pharm, path, phys etc) with tens of thousands of hours of clinical training where you work admitting and working up patients.
About 1/3-1/2 of DNP credits are non-clinical fluff. 3 credits of pharmacology and 3 credits of pathophysiology found in the average DNP or MSN are not "intense." Undergraduate anatomy, phys etc are not doctoral level courses. 1000 (or less) clinical training hours are not a lot of hours.
You did not attend a program based on the medical model. You attended a program based on the nursing model.
The programs are so disparate that there could not be a bridge program.

thanks for taking the time to delineate the differences and share your insight.....

to clarify....I'm not trying to imply my coursework was the same as a physicians....I'm saying the content was based on treating a patient from a medical perspective rather than from nursing....as I said the program was DIRECTED from the medical model (we are obviously treating patients medically)...of course there was plenty of nursing integrated into it.....I do not have a DNP.....nor am I advocating the DNP be considered equal to that of medical school...(so, I don't know where that response came from)....I still can't understand how it would clinically benefit me to do it in the first place......in general I see it as a means of applying doctorate credentials behind one's name with the content in place......and I agree there isn't a way to bridge current programs to a medical school follow through.....I was responding to others claims about NPs and PAs that weren't all accurate......there's no need for you to condescend or discredit MY educational experience here......by towering over it with yours......

just_cause, BSN, RN · May 26, 2010

First PA to MD/DO program has now been approved.. takes PA with at least 5 years of experience followed by roughly 2.5 years of school and then residency.

BS, NP · May 26, 2010

First PA to MD/DO program has now been approved.. takes PA with at least 5 years of experience followed by roughly 2.5 years of school and then residency.

interesting....where is this program....?

foreverLaur · May 26, 2010

so....let me get this straight.......NP education = 2 science courses needed in medical school? so, if I go to med school and take 2 classes (does this have to be specific courses, btw?) I'll be equipped to start treating patients...?...now, how did you formulate that equation...???? is that in the 'multi-skilled tech's manual'???
when you get out of diapers and do more than take somebody a warm blanket, maybe I'll consider your ......
experienced opinion on this, but even then it's doubtful....

The NP programs I am familar with require pathophysiology and pharmacology (the rest of the sciences are prerequisites taken at the undergraduate level). Those two classes are integrated into medical school as well as MANY others. Med students take at the doctorate level (and PA students at the master's level usually) anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, pharmacology, microbiology, biochemistry, physical diagnosis, lectures in all areas, and clinicals in all areas. NP school is missing the vast majority of those didactic science courses at the graduate level.

When did I ever say that if you take 2 courses in medical school that you are fully equipped to start treating patients? I'd appreciate you not putting words in my mouth. I simply stated that very very few MSN courses are directly applicable to the courses taken in medical school.

And you apparently have no idea what MSTs do so as I can't even remember the last time I took a warm blanket to someone - that's what the nurse aides are for.

USN2UNC · May 27, 2010

Hey BS,

The PA-DO bridge is with LECOM. It was created by a DO that was first a PA.

BS, NP · May 27, 2010

Hey BS,
The PA-DO bridge is with LECOM. It was created by a DO that was first a PA.

hey...thanks...UNC guy...!! just curious....

you gotten into the BSN program yet....????

USN2UNC · May 27, 2010

Hey BS,

I am finishing my last pre-req (AP2) right now and should be starting this Jan :) :) I am pretty excited get into a program full time for once. Looking at either UNC again or a private program through Duke here which only gives an RN but since I already have my BA I don't think it will hold me back too much in pursuit of the the NP.

haha, Laur isn't too bad....We're all pretty biased. She is just a BIG fan of the PA way. I have seen her posts over on the PA forum and SDN. I even had some dissonance with the the NP vs PA route since I have my BA already. Butttttt I have some really great NP schools here in the area and UNC's BSN program is just amazing (seriously impressive)....Plus, I am ready to get my hands dirty!

This PA-DO Bridge, while at first glance sounding like a great Idea, isn't the best for everyone. The program is 2 years and 10 months and you must have been a PA for 5 years already. Plus, you still take the MCAT and all the pre-reqs for regular med school. Considering there are already 3 year MD/DO programs out there in which successful applicants are entering without advanced medical training I do not see the huge benefit. One difference b/t the two is that with the PA-DO you can choose any specialty vs the original 3 year option in which you were locked into a FP only residency. However, if you just go to med school first.... you save yourself both a lot of time and a LOT of money in this degree chase. In the end the NP/PA/MD will still be able to prescribe/diagnose/treat and will be as good a clinician as THEY want to be.

BTW, BS, are you an NP in the ER or in a FP? Either way nice to meet you! and hopefully I can be in your shoes one day!

Chuck

foreverLaur · May 27, 2010

UNCpsycGuy - do you have a link to more info on the LECOM program? I can't find any information on the PA-DO program on their website - just the regular 4 year program and the 3 year primary care program.

USN2UNC · May 27, 2010

Sorry no link. That was just info straight from Emed and physasst over on the PA site. Physasst actually knows the guy and the pres of the AOA. They said the info will be released to the public in about 2 weeks. Also, there are only 12 spots for the program.

wowza · May 27, 2010

thanks for taking the time to delineate the differences and share your insight.....
to clarify....I'm not trying to imply my coursework was the same as a physicians....I'm saying the content was based on treating a patient from a medical perspective rather than from nursing....as I said the program was DIRECTED from the medical model (we are obviously treating patients medically)...of course there was plenty of nursing integrated into it.....I do not have a DNP.....nor am I advocating the DNP be considered equal to that of medical school...(so, I don't know where that response came from)....I still can't understand how it would clinically benefit me to do it in the first place......in general I see it as a means of applying doctorate credentials behind one's name with the content in place......and I agree there isn't a way to bridge current programs to a medical school follow through.....I was responding to others claims about NPs and PAs that weren't all accurate......there's no need for you to condescend or discredit MY educational experience here......by towering over it with yours......

Perhaps I did fly off of the handle a bit. My bad. Nonetheless, everything in my post was correct.

platon20 · May 30, 2010

This PA-DO Bridge, while at first glance sounding like a great Idea, isn't the best for everyone. The program is 2 years and 10 months and you must have been a PA for 5 years already.

This is not accurate. They take PAs straight out of school. However, they do give preference to those with previous experience.

USN2UNC · May 30, 2010

This is not accurate. They take PAs straight out of school. However, they do give preference to those with previous experience.

Yep, I spoke before the release. Straight out of PA school it is. Sorry about the hearsay!