PA or NP??

Published

I'm in the 2nd semester of my 3rd year at the University of Maryland. I always thought I wanted to be a PA, and here, that means that you need to have a Bachelor's degree (I'm an Animal Science major...). Now, I'm not so sure, and I'm beginning to look at the requirements for nursing schools...but I'm so close to having this random bachelor's degree. SO...would you guys recommend finishing it out and then looking at nursing programs, or trying to switch into a nursing program starting next fall? The degree just seems a bit useless... :-/

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I would recommend really considering what you want to do. PA and NP are very different in philosophy and practice. If you decide to go the NP route, then you have a lot of options - you can finish the degree you have now and do an accelerated 2nd degree program to become an RN and get some clinical hours and work experience in to continue along to NP -- or you could switch midstream. If you switch to a BSN program, it likely will take just about as long as an accelerated 2nd degree program. I'm a believer in education. I don't think that any education will ever be wasted, so I would probably finish up while I decide which route I wanted to go.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Hey, my sister has an animal science degree and she just got a job doing research at the UMD school of medicine. She even gets a free masters out of the deal. It's not a useless degree!

Anyways, you've already missed the deadline for Fall 2010 at UMD, so I'd take the time to examine the differences between a PA, a RN, and a NP. Shadow some people, go to some information sessions, and figure out what your goals are. Where are you interested in working? PAs and NPs are often found in different areas (some hospitals prefer PAs in the OR and ER, for example).

You're in College Park, correct? You'll have to go to Baltimore for nursing school--just something else to think about.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thanks both.

wannabe - Forgive me, didn't mean to imply that the degree is bad - not at all...just not the route that I would have taken if I had known I wanted to go the nursing route. And yes, UMB is definitely a popular school, but I would prefer something closer to here. I think CU has an accelerated program?

shortnorth - Solid advice, thanks. I volunteer at the university health center and work with PA's and RN's...I can see myself in either position. What do you do/are you a nursing student?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment