jaye927

Hello everyone! I need as much help as possible as soon as possible. I am currently in my last semester to graduate in with a Bachelors of Science in University Studies with an emphasis in Biology. I graduate next month. I originally wanted to go to medical school, but I don't think that lifestyle is exactly what I want. I would have to sacrifice a lot from my personal life and finances in order to reach that. My ultimate goal is to become a Family Nurse Practitioner, but I am unsure what is the best cost opportunity for myself with my current debt. I'm 22 and I'm married, so we still have to pay for two more semesters of my wife's schooling online (around $2,500 each semester). I also have $25,000 in student loan debt for my entire bachelors degree. I want the quickest way possible to become an FNP, but I also want to pay the least amount that I can. I have all the pre-reqs for any kind of nursing school and will end my bachelors with a 3.4 GPA. I have not taken the HESI yet and will be taking it soon. I've been looking into 3 kinds of programs ADN, ABSN, or Direct-Entry MSN. I will be living in rural town in AZ with my wife and this area is popular for hiring nurses with ADN's, so that won't be an issue finding a job. I am going to be doing a CNA program starting in January and ends in March. After that I plan on working as a CNA until I get into one of the programs. Pros: ADN: cost is $8000 total, can work during the program, is a local community college to where we will be living at ABSN: faster than ADN, 12-15 months, finish with Bachelors Direct-Entry MSN: Will end up with a Masters as a CNL after 15 months and can practice as an RN and then simply get a certificate as FNP (15 months); probably the fastest to reach final goal Cons: ADN: 2 year program (longer than other two) ABSN: much more expensive than ADN (cost anywhere between $50,000-70,000), have to move to new location, cannot work during program Direct-Entry MSN: Just as expensive as ABSN if not even more, end up as Clinical Nurse Leader (which I'm not interested at all in doing), cannot work during program, have to move to new location **With all 3 I'll need to practice as an RN at least for a year after graduation to get experience and then move on to either NP school or get an NP certificate. So far the best option that I think is the ADN because I save in expenses, save time from moving and having to live off of student loans. Unfortunately it is longer than all the other options, when I could be done sooner and start working as an RN quicker. After practicing for a year I can do an online RN to MSN program which will cost around $35,000 and that will get me my MSN (FNP). I really would love to hear your opinions on what you guys would do in my situation. Thanks!!

Hello everyone, Idk if I'm posting this on the right forum but here it goes. I'm kind of in a sticky situation and really would love some advice from an NP or PA, or even anyone else who is in a similar situation. Okay here we go... So I am currently an interdisciplinary studies major. I have one more semester left of college that starts in September and ends in December. I've taken all the science pre reqs required for both NP schools and PA schools with just one more class missing depending on which career I choose. If I go the NP route, I need to take developmental psych, and if I go the PA route I need to take organic chem. I've looked into schools for both and this is what it narrows down to at this point. I have a 3.5 GPA and projected to be higher by the time of graduation. I am wondering if I should go the NP route or PA route. Both have great benefits and flaws. I've done my extensive research and learned that the only real difference is that PA's work under the supervision of a physician. NP's can practice independently depending on the state. I plan on living in Arizona for my career if everything works out, so I know they can practice independently there. The biggest issue is that since I don't have a BSN I need to do an accelerated BSN program which can take anywhere between 15-18 months. After that I can take the NCLEX and become an RN. I wanted to know if I can go directly into NP school after getting my BSN or do I need clinical hours? This is really holding me back even though I want to become an NP because I have completed a 4 years bachelor, and then another 1.5 years must be done then approximately a year of work and then another 2-2.5 years for NP school to become a FNP. It's a lot more schooling, money investment and time. If I do go the PA route, then I have a masters program of just 2-2.5 years after after my bachelors. I know I need the clinical hours to get into PA school but most schools that I am looking into only require about 500 hours which I am almost done with. I take into factors such as job opportunities, diversity (such as switching specialties), independence, and pay (even though its not the main factor, its still very important). I know that as a NP I can work independently whenever I choose to, but it is not as easy to switch specialties like PA's can. I'm not saying its the easiest for PA's, but you don't have to go back to school for it. What I am also confused about is the pay scale. I find online a mix of pay scales. Sometimes I see that PA's make more money and sometimes NP's. Is the pay significantly different or are they practically the same. My goal is to eventually at least be making 120k a year in one of these two professions. I know thats not guaranteed with experience, but I know its possible with more hours and hard work. So is it worth going into NP school for more time and money to be making the same pay, but at least know that I can practice independently whenever I want or should I go the PA route since it offers all the same options except independence? Either seems like good fields, but I am not sure if the extra things for NP school are worth it if the pay is about the same.

Hello everyone, Idk if I'm posting this on the right forum but here it goes. I'm kind of in a sticky situation and really would love some advice from an NP or PA, or even anyone else who is in a similar situation. Okay here we go... So I am currently an interdisciplinary studies major. I have one more semester left of college that starts in September and ends in December. I've taken all the science pre reqs required for both NP schools and PA schools with just one more class missing depending on which career I choose. If I go the NP route, I need to take developmental psych, and if I go the PA route I need to take organic chem. I've looked into schools for both and this is what it narrows down to at this point. I have a 3.5 GPA and projected to be higher by the time of graduation. I am wondering if I should go the NP route or PA route. Both have great benefits and flaws. I've done my extensive research and learned that the only real difference is that PA's work under the supervision of a physician. NP's can practice independently depending on the state. I plan on living in Arizona for my career if everything works out, so I know they can practice independently there. The biggest issue is that since I don't have a BSN I need to do an accelerated BSN program which can take anywhere between 15-18 months. After that I can take the NCLEX and become an RN. I wanted to know if I can go directly into NP school after getting my BSN or do I need clinical hours? This is really holding me back even though I want to become an NP because I have completed a 4 years bachelor, and then another 1.5 years must be done then approximately a year of work and then another 2-2.5 years for NP school to become a FNP. It's a lot more schooling, money investment and time. If I do go the PA route, then I have a masters program of just 2-2.5 years after after my bachelors. I know I need the clinical hours to get into PA school but most schools that I am looking into only require about 500 hours which I am almost done with. I take into factors such as job opportunities, diversity (such as switching specialties), independence, and pay (even though its not the main factor, its still very important). I know that as a NP I can work independently whenever I choose to, but it is not as easy to switch specialties like PA's can. I'm not saying its the easiest for PA's, but you don't have to go back to school for it. What I am also confused about is the pay scale. I find online a mix of pay scales. Sometimes I see that PA's make more money and sometimes NP's. Is the pay significantly different or are they practically the same. My goal is to eventually at least be making 120k a year in one of these two professions. I know thats not guaranteed with experience, but I know its possible with more hours and hard work. So is it worth going into NP school for more time and money to be making the same pay, but at least know that I can practice independently whenever I want or should I go the PA route since it offers all the same options except independence? Either seems like good fields, but I am not sure if the extra things for NP school are worth it if the pay is about the same.

Hello everyone, Idk if I'm posting this on the right forum but here it goes. I'm kind of in a sticky situation and really would love some advice from an NP or PA, or even anyone else who is in a similar situation. Okay here we go... So I am currently an interdisciplinary studies major. I have one more semester left of college that starts in September and ends in December. I've taken all the science pre reqs required for both NP schools and PA schools with just one more class missing depending on which career I choose. If I go the NP route, I need to take developmental psych, and if I go the PA route I need to take organic chem. I've looked into schools for both and this is what it narrows down to at this point. I have a 3.5 GPA and projected to be higher by the time of graduation. I am wondering if I should go the NP route or PA route. Both have great benefits and flaws. I've done my extensive research and learned that the only real difference is that PA's work under the supervision of a physician. NP's can practice independently depending on the state. I plan on living in Arizona for my career if everything works out, so I know they can practice independently there. The biggest issue is that since I don't have a BSN I need to do an accelerated BSN program which can take anywhere between 15-18 months. After that I can take the NCLEX and become an RN. I wanted to know if I can go directly into NP school after getting my BSN or do I need clinical hours? This is really holding me back even though I want to become an NP because I have completed a 4 years bachelor, and then another 1.5 years must be done then approximately a year of work and then another 2-2.5 years for NP school to become a FNP. It's a lot more schooling, money investment and time. If I do go the PA route, then I have a masters program of just 2-2.5 years after after my bachelors. I know I need the clinical hours to get into PA school but most schools that I am looking into only require about 500 hours which I am almost done with. I take into factors such as job opportunities, diversity (such as switching specialties), independence, and pay (even though its not the main factor, its still very important). I know that as a NP I can work independently whenever I choose to, but it is not as easy to switch specialties like PA's can. I'm not saying its the easiest for PA's, but you don't have to go back to school for it. What I am also confused about is the pay scale. I find online a mix of pay scales. Sometimes I see that PA's make more money and sometimes NP's. Is the pay significantly different or are they practically the same. My goal is to eventually at least be making 120k a year in one of these two professions. I know thats not guaranteed with experience, but I know its possible with more hours and hard work. So is it worth going into NP school for more time and money to be making the same pay, but at least know that I can practice independently whenever I want or should I go the PA route since it offers all the same options except independence? Either seems like good fields, but I am not sure if the extra things for NP school are worth it if the pay is about the same.