aspentree13

Anyone ever think that what the nursing profession really needs is a union???

If you could go back to before you started nursing would you still have chosen to be a nurse? And if not what would you have choosen to do instead?

The problem isn't about knowing my own self worth, its in feeling I am respected in my job. I would feel a problem would be if I felt something to be the case, and when I brought this forward to the Dr., he would just ignore me, jeopardizing patient well being. I sometimes am torn with just becoming a Dr., but the years neccessary just seem like such a commitment.

I am thinking about pursuing a career as a nurse. I am currently a CNA and sometimes feel that I am looked down on. I feel this is the biggest downfall of my job. So as a nurse do you feel as if doctors look down on you, and treat you as if you don't know anything, or do you work as equals.

I think what needs clarification is that in order to get your MSN you need to have a BSN first, though there are schools that offer an accelerated program to get your BSN and then your MSN.

I think the majority of nurses agree that it is all there duties to do basic patient care. But what I see a lot of times is nurses seeming put out, or unavailable when it comes to helping to do ADL's. And I notice the class structure at work probably more acutely being a CNA, that there are jobs nurses due and jobs CNAs do.

I'm a nursing assistant and when I first started class I was really worried about the "yuckies" I was afraid I couldn't cut it. But I soon got used to it and now I can handle almost any yuck. What I think about is if I don't clean this person up what am I going to let them sit in it, no of course not. Oh and just a little hint and tip don't expect for the CNA's to do all the dirty work for you.

So the thing is that the program at Red Rocks is a physician assistant program, its not a tech program. Its the same length as the CU Med School program, it just has different requirements. Also CU's program doesn't require you to get a master's degree either, its an additional option same as RRCC.

I meant to say that the community college does offer a masters degree in addition to the PA training. What is the difference your refering to between the two colleges, when it comes to real life? Thank you

The thing is that nurse practitioner really isn't a route I'm looking into due to the time it would take. First I'd have to get my BSN 15 months, then it would take another 2 years to get my masters. I really don't think I'm prepared to commit this much time to a program. I'm getting older and am looking to start a family in a few years, I just want to get it done. So PA or RN are the two routes I'm looking at.

In Colorado there are a couple of different schools that offer a PA program. One is the CU Medical School, and doesn't require you to have medical training, but you do have to already have a BA and take quite a few pre-reqs as well as the GRE. The other school is a community college and requires you to have an associates degree or higher (but prefer BA), they also require you to have medical training 2000+ hours, and yes CNA does count, also you have to take some pre-reqs but not nearly as many (A&P, Microbiology, Math, & Chemistry), also you don't have to take the GRE. The community college is where I plan to apply. Most schools that have a PA program have the requirements listed on their webpage. Hope this helps.

Of subject kinda but did anyone watch Grey's Anatomy last weekend, the entire nursing staff went on strike and it devestated the hospital. Food for thought.

I also should have been a little bit more clear about where I am right now in school. I am going to graduate in May with 2 undergraduate degrees, in non medical fields. But I want to go on and do something in the medical field. I originally thought about becoming an MD, but don't think I could put in all those years. So I thought about becoming an RN and getting by BSN, there's accelerated programs here where I could be done in about 15 months. Or I could go into a PA program which would take about 24 months, so its relatively the same time to put in. I just wanted a little advice about which you would do. Thanks

Okay so this post really pissed me off. I am not just interested in money, if I was I would be doing something else than what I am. I am currently a CNA, so if you want to talk about taking care of people for the least amount of money thats what a CNA does. The fact is that money is a part of everyones life, and if you don't consider that before you choose a future career your going to be in worlds of trouble.

I'm considering going to school to either be and RN (BSN) or a PA? Which do you think is the better career choice based on your experience? From what I've seen PA's tend to make more money, and get to do more "doctor type" work. Since I am most interested in "doctor type" work, I'm leaning towards this field. What do you think? Thanks