Should I go to school to become a nurse or PA?

BusyBee91 · Jun 18, 2014

I can't answer most of your questions, but I used to be absolutely terrified of needles...I'm training myself to be ok with them. I just keep donating blood and making myself watch the needle. Also I make myself watch when I get shots now. It's working! I also practice putting all the parts of a saline lock together, and I think just continuously exposing yourself to things that give you the heeby geebies helps. Best of luck!

Anonymous666 · Jun 18, 2014

Question 1:Should I go to school to become a nurse or a PA?

-Nurse. Hands down, given your requirements. It's a 2 year degree for an associates, and most community colleges offer this at a pretty decent price considering what you will earn once you get going. Also, guaranteed employment. I don't know much about PAs, but I would imagine you have to find a doc willing to take you on. Most hospitals will hire you straight out of school as a nurse.

Plus, you work as a nurse for a bit and hate it, find a doc you like and likes you, maybe he'll put you through PA or NP school...

Question 2: If I chose nursing, what would be the best educational path to take? (see aforementioned educational background)

-I'd imagine you could walk into any position in psych nursing. Whether you want to or not is up to you. Education-wise, given your desire to not accumulate a bunch of school loan debt, go for the ADN. You may have to take a few refresher courses for class like A&P, Micro, etc. as most require this to be completed less than 5 years before you submit your application. BSN will be at a 4 year college, which will charge more per semester.

Question 3: Will I get over my fear of needles and seeing exposed bones, organs, etc?

-Absolutely. Before I became a nurse I couldn't stand the idea of a needle going into vein. Even now, I don't look when I have blood drawn. Sticking other people is easy, fun, and rewarding. Getting a decent IV in someone is a brilliant feeling. You will soon be complimenting people you meet outside of work on the quality of their veins. :)

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Jun 18, 2014

Question 1: Should I go to school to become a nurse or a PA? and Question 2: If I chose nursing, what would be the best educational path to take? (see aforementioned educational background)

They are completely different paths. You have a bachelors and a masters. I would recommend an accelerated BSN entry program. Once pre-reqs are done it's about 16 months and you ahve a BSN. There are also Masters entry nursing programs.

Question 3: Will I get over my fear of needles and seeing exposed bones, organs, etc?

Not all not all nurses see organs and exposed bones. Yes you will get over your fear of needles as they are not going in your arm.

BeachsideRN, ASN · Jun 18, 2014

I would do research on both programs on your area. As well looking at the scopes of practice for each both are different. In regards to ADN v BSN see who is actually being hired in your area. Most places are new grad ADNs are having a hard time getting hired.

Anonymous666 · Jun 18, 2014

I would recommend an accelerated BSN entry program. Once pre-reqs are done it's about 16 months and you ahve a BSN. There are also Masters entry nursing programs.

This is an excellent point, especially because, as keylimesqueez stated, it is more difficult to find work in the bigger hospitals unless you have a BSN, in most states, anyway.

RNperdiem, RN · Jun 18, 2014

Before you invest any time or money, you need to do some field research on the options you are looking at. If you don't you might find yourself in a job you like even less, only with less convenient hours and more debt.

See if you can job shadow some nurses and PAs. They will give you a better picture of what your options and working conditions are like.

VampyrSlayer, CNA · Jun 18, 2014

I second the shadowing thing. And a BSN seems to be more desirable now. Since you already have a bachelors I'd go for ABSN. As for guaranteed employment, the nursing shortage is a myth (or so I keep being told on here, I'm still pre-nursing). I know my cousins hospital in boston won't hire without a BSN but I believe the major hospital here in nh hires adns.

akulahawkRN, ADN, RN, EMT-P · Jun 18, 2014

Given your background already, you should be a good candidate for either. If you go Nursing, check out an Accelerated BSN program first. Once you're in, it's just about 16 months to completion and you'll be ready to take the NCLEX. The downside is that those programs are fairly intense, so working during school for an ABSN is not recommended.

PA programs are VERY intense and it's even less recommended that you work during that program either, and they're 2 year programs, typically.

As a PP suggested, definitely find someone in each field to job shadow for a day or two.

Of the two career fields and educational paths to get there, ADN is probably the cheapest, BSN would be next... and then you have the accelerated programs that basically don't allow you to work during the program, so you'll have to add "living" expenses to the school costs. With a PA program, expect that as well.

It's not going to be all that cheap or easy, but hopefully you'll be able to find something that works best for you!

newohiorn, BSN, RN, EMT-P · Jun 19, 2014

I think there are a number of challenges in the ideas you are proposing, certainly not insurmountable, but challenges. You state that you are already in debt from your MA, you are thinking about two career choices that will both incur additional debt with wide variation in how much, and you're starting a family which certainly is another major increase in your expenses. You're considering all this at age 40 (no offense in that regard, I finished nursing school at 37 and am 45 now). It seems that you are undergoing a big change in your family life and are considering a big change in your career. Incurring a lot of debt at this age when you'll likely need and want to spend money on your family, your home and your children's future education seems like something you need to think about very carefully. Assuming you would like to retire at 65ish like most of us and that it will take probably at least two years to complete whichever degree, you're left with 23 years to pay off that debt and earn enough to care for your family and perhaps put children through college. I really sound like I'm preaching but I don't mean it that way. I see too many people around me get buried in debt continuing their education beyond what is probably needed. When you hang out in an academic community, overcredentialing becomes the norm. It soon starts to seem like everyone around you has multiple degrees and you're behind.

Question 1: As others have said the cheapest route is an associate's in nursing with the huge caveat that you must see if the hospitals (or wherever you want to work) in your area are hiring nurses without BSNs. Most if not all of the major hospitals in my area are not hiring associate degree RNs. If you can get in a hospital with an associate's they will usually pay for or tuition reimburse you to get your BSN.

As others have said working while in school for either program is challenging but I'm told working during PA school is highly discouraged and probably even more difficult. Many of us worked full-time through nursing school but it was brutal. Working and going to school will leave zero time for your family. I barely fed myself when I did it.

Decent hours after you get either degree--hard to say. 9-5 nursing jobs are uncommon and generally quite competitive because those hours are hard to come by so those positions normally go to nurses with more experience and they usually (not always) pay less than other nursing positions.

The PAs I come into contact with generally work with a surgeon so they may very well have 9-5 hours or even less if they work just in the OR with the surgeon. If they round or cover patients in the hospital those hours could certainly be all over the place. Once you have enough experience and value as a clinician, I'm sure you can be much more picky about your hours.

Question 2: Most bang for the buck is an associate's of nursing from a community college IF you can get hired. Once hired they usually make exactly the same as the BSNs (sometimes a dollar or two less).

A PA will certainly make more in the long run.

Questions 3: I believe you'll get over the needles--it's just not the same when it's going in someone else's arm. I don't watch when they stick me but I can stick others without a problem. And most of us do not see bones or organs with any regularity--perhaps that's different in the ER (and certainly the OR) but everywhere else in the hospital those pieces parts are pretty well patched up by the time they get to you.

Good luck.

BrnEyedGirl, BSN, MSN, RN, APRN · Jun 19, 2014

Do some research on the job situation in your area. I'm in the midwest and many new grads are having a hard time finding jobs and FYI a new grad w/no nursing experience starts at $17.31/hr in my town

tokebi · Jun 19, 2014

Whether you pursue nursing or PA depends on which model of care you want to provide -- nursing model or medical model? Don't settle on one or the other because of convenience or cost or prestige. Really think about this one.

With that said, if you choose nursing, your background seems quite perfect for a direct-entry Master's program. The student profile of this type of program is very similar to accelerated BSN programs which a few people have already suggested. Look into local universities that offer such programs. The advantage is that even though you will start as a brand new RN, once you obtain enough experience, you will have wider opportunities to climb up onto management or education roles without the need for further schooling. Cost is probably the biggest hurdle. If I remember correctly, I don't think you're eligible for federal aid for a second master's. I could be mistaken.