Route to PA, has any RN's out there gone this route?

[CT Student]

Hi all,

Has anyone out there become a Physicians Assistant (PA) after being a Registered Nurse (RN)?

I am a single guy (35) and I have been thinking about becoming a PA. Problem is I can't go to school while working my current job (M-F, 9a-5p). And I can't just quit and become a student (mortgage and bills). So I have to find a way to accomplish as much as I can before leaving my current job to transition into a new paying career.

I thought I could take night classes to become a RN (which are available, PA programs are days only), change careers and work as an RN, then go to PA school. This will also allow me to gain the many hours of field experience needed as a pre-req for PA school.

Is this a good idea? Is there a better route? Would this give me any advantage/disadvantage to get nursing experience on my way to becoming a PA? Any thoughts?

FYI, I am also currently certified as an EMT in CT (not my current job).

Any and all help would be GREATLY APPRECIATED!!!

[surgicalbum]

PA is medical while RN is nursing.. So they are different in that sense. The income from RN would help with PA school... Not much help, but I wanted to go to PA school also and have decided that RN is better for me. Good luck in whatever you do!!

[ghillbert, MSN, NP]

Depends why you want to be a PA - is it the job you like, or the medical model? If it's the job, you could probably do RN and then build on it to become an NP and do the same role.

[sunray12]

Some PA students are also RN's but if you know for sure that you want to be a PA then it's not necessary to be a RN first. You can meet the health care experience requirement by doing pt EMT work, finish up your PA prereqs and apply directly to PA school. The nursing detour would only be needed if you plan on deciding between NP and PA school.