whoamibutme

Many of the educational paths are "Evolving" and changing. PA schools used to primarily be for Military Medics coming out of service, a place for them to use their skills and advance their education to provide primary care in much needed shortage areas. Now, many accept just about anybody with a few weeks of CNA experience and good grades. Is their education more rigorous? I still think it is school specific and how much a student is engaged and learning and reading. Nothing stops anybody from picking up a clinical medicine book if they want more knowledge. Are they better prepared to hit the ground running? Again, I think it just really depends. There are good and bad in every profession, I've had MDs that I wouldn't trust ever again. But they made it through medical school. I think the constant comparing and bashing of other professions is ego driven and pathetic. Get out there and read and learn and grow ... it's about the patient it's not a ******* contest.

Oh here we go again, a pa student coming on a nursing board to tell us all how much better their education is. And of course these are the same guys that are on the pa forum dissing np education along with all the fluff of the last year or two of md education. Pa education is of course perfect. their clinical hours are so superior (despite the fact that np clinicals focus on one area vs. rotating throuh all the different specialties). Sorry to say, but it is all very program and student specific...that is the truth. I am trying to be polite here, but many np programs teach the sciences, and I am tired of hearing that an np practices nursing, not medicine. Diagnosing and treating illness is medicine, sorry. To say otherwise is degrading to the profession, but I suppose it keeps the AMA happy.

Lol nomad.

I think, with all due respect, the holistic approach is a myth. Pharmacology, advanced patho phys, medicine, ect. Is what it is, and what many np programs have in their curriculum. Those thinking only medical school and pa school have that approach, are looking at the wrong programs.

There are plenty of np programs that offer a solid foundation to begin practice. They may have different course titles than the standard medicine courses (and many do not) but the key is they provide a foundation, just as PA school does. Plus, there is nothing stopping you from picking up a book, because honestly any grad program is going to throw info at you, not hand hold. When you are in rotations, stay longer. Beg for information. Read read read.. Keep the ego in check, as one of the most dangerous things for a patient is a new clinician that thinks they know it all, or is ego driven and can't say I don't know. Medicine is life long learning. If you are really that worried, either go to medical school or do a post grad residency. HTH

I don't know about psych, but yes... the Bay Area is very saturated with nurses of all flavors. New grad RNs still hunting 2&3 years later. I've heard that even UCSF MEPN students struggle to find work, and even clinical rotations while in school. If you are willing to Central Valley it, it might be slightly better. HTH

I am sure you know all are very expensive :) That said, agree that it's kind of a rat race. Lots of traffic, etc. LA and San Diego are more of what you think of in terms of "Sunny California". San Francisco (people are sensitive there to it being called SF, San Fran, Cali, etc.... so careful ;-)) is a colder climate and except for September and October is foggy and gray a lot. There have been some changes in this though, as it seems like summer like weather is now displaying itself in winter. January temps in the 60s and 70s, which is kind of weird. If your travel job pays well, you should be fine in any location. I know the rental market in San Francisco is super insane right now, and people are having a tough time finding places to live. East Bay not offering much relief. Look to pay > $2,000 a month for a one bedroom there. LA isn't cheap either. Not sure on San Diego. Hospital wise, not sure. UCSF in San Francisco is pretty work to the bone kind of place. Kaiser can be okay. California Pacific might be a good place to try. In terms of jobs for your hubby, might be a tough entry level market, but hopefully he can find something. Best of luck to you!!!

Hi Vivealegre, I believe the cost they are quoting (I thought I read around 78K) is for the whole program. Someone please correct me if I am wrong. Good luck!!

WOW, awesome people are finding programs for those costs. I haven't seen them, maybe not looked hard enough. :-)

I am not an NP yet but looking at similar tuition costs. The sad fact of the matter is, schools are really jacking up the prices of these programs. Even a lot of the MA programs are nearing 30 grand, for a hopeful shot at a job paying $16/hour. I've seen many of the ABSN programs now charging well over 50K for ONE YEAR!! My philosophy is I will suck it up and pay the cost. I think it will be worth it for ME. Life in the tropics.

Sad comments from the OP. Sounds a bit catty and judgmental to me. Completely disagree. Medicine is so individual... to say one would never see a particular clinician because they seem roleless and don't have MD behind their name... yikes. Guess what, lots of mediocre doctors out there too. Of course, I don't entirely agree with the premise that to be a good NP means you have to have several years experience as an RN. The roles are profoundly different. The training, decision making, scope are all so different. Sure, it's probably good to have some type of experience under your belt. That's the argument PAs make as well. Yet, the true training and growth occurs after you graduate. One could even argue that for family practice, an MA brings better experience to the table than a hospital bedside nurse. They do a lot of delegated tasks in the clinics and are trained and mentored by family practice clinicians.