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Discussion

Please I need some advice on a decison....PA or NP?

Hi,

I am a 20 year old college junior and have completed my nursing prereqs, however, I am trying to get into a nursing school. I'm trying again for the second time for the upcoming fall semester, meaning I have to sit out for spring and summer terms from college to wait and start nursing in the fall. But now I am having second thoughts about nursing, I have gained more insight on the PA profession and it sounds like something I want to do. I don't know if I should continue my spring semester and major in Community health to get into PA school, or wait for nursing in the fall and then decide if I want to go the NP or PA route. I think the nursing route seems more safer because I have two choices, but with the community health one if I don't get into PA school I'm screwed and have nothing to fall back on. But then again, studying Community health is easier than going to nursing school, therefore, it would be easier to get a good GPA for PA school. Either way, I've realized I'm more interest in PA than NP, but I still have to consider having a plan B, which is why the nursing route seems more reasonable to me. I'm thinking of taking the spring semester off to think very well about this because I hate going into things blindly and with uncertainty. And I also wanted the nursing route to have the experience and have a good job when I get graduate. Thanks

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    I have read some things about PA programs that they do require the applicants to have some soft of medical background before applying and they want you to have a certain number of hours of paid work or something like that. So on top of prereqs you have to have the extensive paid experience too. I have also read and hear that PAs follows a similar methodology of a doctor which is not the same as nursing. Nursing programs seem competitive to get in these days whether it's associates or BSN. Do your know how competitive it is for applying to PA programs in your area? I think that's another thing you have to consider.

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    Most PA programs require you to have hands-on, direct patient care experience before you can apply to PA school. I'm still trying to decide between PA & NP because in my area, there is more job opportunity for PA and in my state, PA & NP have the same prescriptive authority (which isn't the same in other states. Do your research).

    One program I was considering requires a minimum of 100 paid hours of direct patient care. However, the average accepted applicant has more than 3,500. Something to think about!

    Also, if you become an RN and then decide to go the PA route, you'll have to answer the question "why aren't you becoming a NP?" when you interview. Learn the differences between the medical model vs. nursing model. That can really help you decide what's a better fit for you.

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    Most PA schools I've seen have required a minimum of 500 hours of direct patient care to even apply to the program, some were even as high as 1000+. I was told that CNA, CMA, RN, LPN, EMT/para, AT, etc counted but it needed to be PAID experience. Although, in some cases, if you volunteered they would count it. Like, for instance, it represented a significant level of direct patient care.

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    Either way, I've realized I'm more interest in PA than NP, but I still have to consider having a plan B, which is why the nursing route seems more reasonable to me.

    If you are more interested in PA then you should shoot for that. Dreams aren't achieved by shorting for plan B. Invest in yourself and study hard and you won't have to worry about plan B.

    That being said, what do you like about PA over NP?

    If you haven't been able to get into nursing school do you think you will have the grades at the end for PA school, which is traditionally more competitive?

    Have you taken the time to shadow NPs and PAs?

    Sent from my iPhone.

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