Please Help with HUGE Decision

[EMEddie]

[COLOR=#333333]Hello everyone-[/COLOR]

I started my FNP program this August, but I also got into a PA school and decided to defer my acceptance; so I have a seat to start on Summer/Fall 2016 if I want to.

If I decide to stop my FNP program and start my PA program in 2016 that means that I ll be finishing my PA in 2018 and in contrast if continued I will complete my FNP in 2017, so that is a year behind.

Also, if I go to PA school, tuition for the PA program is $60,000 more than what I will be paying for my FNP (20K compared to 80K PA) and it also means that I will use all of my savings in living expenses for the next two years since I wont be able to work during the PA program.

Looking at it from a LONG TERM, opportunity wise and finances, is it worth stopping my FNP and starting my PA program?

I would lose this semester of the FNP program which didn't cost me much at all due to a scholarship, but as mentioned above, I would be behind a year and have more debt and no savings when done with the PA program. If it means that I will have more opportunities in jobs and better finances at the end then I am ok with making this decision. What do current NPs honestly think?

What do you guys believe? Non biased answers please.

Thanks in advance

[lhflanurseNP, APRN]

The differences between NP and PA are far more than just finances. You need to determine if you would be content working as a NP or would you rather work as a PA. Once you know this, then you can decide if the cost is worth going for your PA rather than "settling" for NP school.

[sailornurse]

NPs can have independent practice in about ?22 states, not sure Pas have that. If you search you will see discussions about salary, IMO they are approximately same. You can google and get a variety of figures, depending on the location vs. cost of living, don't just look at base salary, you have to look at the whole package in a contract as far as CME money/days to attend conferences, DEA/NP license being paid by employer, sick leave/PTO, being on call, will you be rounding in hospital or based in clinic setting.

^

$60K more for PA is a ton of money, not sure you will recoup this in the long run.

[WIBound]

PA vs NP the opinion all depends on who you speak with...

I have known a couple of RNs who went on to PA but the majority go to NP school. I do not know much about the PA programs but I have been told they have more contact hours than a typical NP program. They did recently change the recertification to every 10 years (I think). A PA must always work under some sort of supervising provider where NPs can be free of the supervision in many states.

An NP has a terminal point of DNP and not sure what or where a PA can go - as in what options after the PA.

[Alicia777, MSN, NP]

Depends on where you want to work. Inpatient tends to be PA (with exceptions like myself) and outpatient tends to be NPs. Salary shouldn't be a factor as we make about the same.

As far as contacts hours the PA students and PAs I worked with needed 2000 while my program as an FNP only need a measly 175. You will by far get a better inpatient education in PA school if this is what you're after..

[BostonFNP, APRN]

Depends on if independent practice means anything to you.

[sauce]

PA school is expensive. not really worth the cost compared to NP. better education but if you go to a GOOD np school usually that will be more monetary satisfying. If I'm gonna dump 100k i don't wanna to have the word assistant in my name.

[littlepeopleRNICU]

What made you apply for each in the first place? I'm sure you chose to also apply to PA school for a reason, otherwise you would've only applied for multiple NP programs. What was your original deciding factor to apply to PA? That might make your decision easier.