PA or NP

Not PhD, DNP. And it depends, there are only a few schools with DNP programs for NPs. If you get into a MSN program, then it will most likely remain a MSN program for the duration of the program. I'm also thinking it'll be 3 years long.

Overall, it would depend on your goals and focus. If you find yourself better suited for the PA path, then go that way. Also, many of the NP programs are part time but PA programs are mostly full time.

Another thing to consider is PA school has specific prerequisites required that are most likely not covered while you were in BSN school. These courses are you standard premed courses and include a Bio sequence, 2 years of Chemistry, Physics, Math and English.

It is true NP will be shifting over to DNP (doctorate in nursing practice) degree which takes three years. Some schools no longer offer the MSN for NP degree. A PhD in nursing (doctorate in nursing) is more for education and teaching and research and not clinical practice.

There are a ton of schools that offer a DNP/APN degree. There is also more than 100 nursing schools waiting to become accredited to start offering the DNP. http://www.aacn.nche.edu/dnp/program-schools It really just depends on the area of the country/state you are in if the local universities are offering a DNP/APN degree. Our local university has not started the DNP curriculum yet, but our closest state has several in there.

I know there are a ton of schools with DNP programs but I didn't know there were that many that were NP programs. Most of the schools near me have DNP programs but all their NP programs are still MSN degrees.