PA or RN; ASN vs BSN

[Fireguy]

I am a firefighter/emt and looking at "retirement" (see my post in the male nurse forum). With a background as a navy hospital corpsman, nuclear medicine tech and 30 years as an emt (on the mean streets of a seattle suburb :chuckle ) I thought I would go back to some type of clinical or missionary medicine.

I have friends who are RNs and encouraged me to go that route but yesterday I was getting a pre-op (that's another story ) by a PA who encouraged me to look into that. So I am trying to detemine which path would give me more options and suit my personality best.

Also, I am researching ASN vs BSN. I have an opportunity to get a BS in Public Administration which could probably help me into an accelerated BSN program. However, I'm not all jazzed about taking a bunch of boring business classes...but...would it be worth it?

I need all the input I can get! Thanks! :chuckle

[Franlpntorn]

I am a firefighter/emt and looking at "retirement" (see my post in the male nurse forum). With a background as a navy hospital corpsman, nuclear medicine tech and 30 years as an emt (on the mean streets of a seattle suburb :chuckle ) I thought I would go back to some type of clinical or missionary medicine.

I have friends who are RNs and encouraged me to go that route but yesterday I was getting a pre-op (that's another story ) by a PA who encouraged me to look into that. So I am trying to detemine which path would give me more options and suit my personality best.

Also, I am researching ASN vs BSN. I have an opportunity to get a BS in Public Administration which could probably help me into an accelerated BSN program. However, I'm not all jazzed about taking a bunch of boring business classes...but...would it be worth it?

I need all the input I can get! Thanks! :chuckle

PA is one way to go, or a NP. Both work with the Doc. What kind of work do you want to do?

You still have to get the degrees no matter which way you go. Get info on all the options then look at the , time it takes to finish, the cost, and your time you can put to it.

[Mijourney]

Fireguy, you have to decide what your goals are. Where do you see yourself five years from now or even ten years? Do you want to stay close to patient care the rest of your working life? How much authority and responsibility do you want to have working with patients? I think that having an NP can broadened your base a little more than a PA. I recommend that you check out the PA practice act and the practice act of advance practice nurses in the state you want to work and compare. You also want to research how much money each discipline makes (even though I know it's not always about money). Unless you work overtime in a hospital type unit as an ASN/BSN RN, you generally make more money as a PA or NP - at least in the region I live. Check out the occupational handbook if you haven't already. Nurses of all kinds are very much needed, but I believe there is a good market for PAs as well. Best of wishes to you.

http://www.bls.gov/oco/oco1002.htm