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Question about Career Pathway

[COLOR=#000000]This is definitely not the first question like this and more than likely won't be the last. I'm a seventeen year old high school senior, about to enroll in community college for my basics.

[/COLOR]I've been having a ton of doubts lately. Did you ever doubt if nursing was the job for you? Did you ever debate between like, a physician assistant, NP, or even the MD? Or did you just know you wanted to be a RN?

Right now, I'm thinking about getting my BS in nursing. But I also kind of want to try surgical tech or medical assistant for a little bit to get the exposure hours before applying to either a NP program or PA program.

I just honestly can't decide between the two fields. I love the science behind medicine but I also want to be involved with the patients and their care. I just honestly don't know where I belong and how to get there.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated, I definitely need it.

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    I also had that mindset when I graduated high school.

    Time is what led my decision to go straight into my BSN.

    Nursing was the shortest (out of PA vs MD) amount of schooling without having to move out of state.

    I posted awhile back, that I became an RN at 21 years old.

    You need a BS reguardless to get into NP. So getting your BSN is the correct path.

    PA would require a lot of hospital hours prior starting any program.

    MD is well... MD.

    Between Medical Assisting and OR tech. You would have to choose your end goal.

    Exposure is GREAT! But the type of exposure is relevant for when you build experience and start interviewing.

    Based on your post here are my 2 cents:

    1. Try to get (and Ace) nursing prereqs this early since you can start at a community college

    2. Look into Certified Nursing Assistant instead of Medical Assisting or OR/ER Tech.

    3. Pass your NCLEX. Gain experience.

    4. Ask yourself, stay in nursing? or go for PA/MD?

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