CoffeeRightMeow

Thank you. If i was 22 again, I'd be looking at medical school, but it's not an option at this point in my life! I'm still debating re-applying to PA school, since I won't have had any significant changes on my application.

Thank you for your response. Unfortunately in Missouri, NPs have a restricted license, so they work under physicians in the same manner PAs do. Hopefully that will change soon, though. It sounds like, if you figure out what you want to do with your career, NP is an excellent route to take, because you can specialize more (which makes you a more competent provider, I'd think). But thanks for clarifying the societal/holistic approach. I've never really known for sure what that entails other than "treat the whole person".

I already have a BS in chemistry and a masters in engineering, so I have pursued PA school. I've been waitlisted and have accepted that I may not make it off that waitlist. I was, however, accepted to an accelerated BSN program here. I know subjects around this issue has been beat to death a bit, and in my state, i've been told they are "the same". Neither NPs or PAs have heavily encouraged or discouraged one or the other. However, Missouri is *heavy* NP, particularly the St. Louis region, which is reflected in the job posts I scour. I don't plan on relocating when I graduate, either (husband's career is here, family...we have two young children, 2 and 4. And i will not be moving away for my schooling and leave my family behind). I have a strong science background and a penchant for picking stuff like that up. The most common complaint I see is that NP's lack the medical model education that PAs get. And that PAs are preferred in procedural type roles, which is what I found appealing. I think my interests lie in acute care/procedural work. I like to do things (engineer brain and all). I also know there's an RNFA role I can look into. I have also been told that I will be "bored to tears" with the lack of science education (which is surely offensive to nurses and NPs but only you can tell me how much of scientific based education you feel like you received) Do you feel there is an education gap here or not re: the medical model versus nursing model? I have not been able to pinpoint what this means. Or do you not feel that you are lacking an educational component in this regard as an NP/DNP? To me, it makes the most sense to go to PA school if I get in, since I already have the BS and MS. Otherwise, it makes sense to do the NP/DNP route because i can continue the education while working, after getting the BSN. Thoughts? Thanks!