Just looking for some advice/opinions from others. I am an RN with my ADN. I have spent countless hours trying to decide which path would make the most sense for me. Being I already have my ADN it seems the most logical decision for me is to follow through with my NP. There are bridge programs out there that go directly from an ADN to a MSN. This path would also not require me to retake any general courses ie Micro/Chem as its been a few years since I've taken these general type courses. Also, from what I have read, it seems as though to work full time would also be a possibility throughout NP school.
In contrast, the PA route would require me to first of all, turn my ADN into a BS - it would also require me to retake some courses that are > 5 yrs old.
Also, in my research it seems NP programs would be more affordable in the long run - since I was not born a Hilton, I will have to take out student loans to help me afford my education.
So, what I guess I am asking is: given these specifics - for me, which would make the most sense --> NP or PA?
I also have "heard" that PA's get all of the shifts the MD's don't necessarily want ie noc shifts.
However, with NP's is it true if they specialize in psych (as an example) and later down the road it is decided he/she wants to switch and specialize in women's health, then at that point he/she would have to go back to school to get certified in that new area? Whereas, PA's once they have their license they can freely apply to and change specialties however he/she sees fit?
I also have "heard" that PA's get all of the shifts the MD's don't necessarily want ie noc shifts.
However, with NP's is it true if they specialize in psych (as an example) and later down the road it is decided he/she wants to switch and specialize in women's health, then at that point he/she would have to go back to school to get certified in that new area? Whereas, PA's once they have their license they can freely apply to and change specialties however he/she sees fit?
Yes, that is true. The advantage to a specialized degree, such as psych, is you spend your educational time learning that specialty in more depth. There will be pros and cons either way. If, say, midwifery is the one and only calling you've ever had since learning babies come out of lady partss, becoming a CNM is worth it. Chances are you wont specialty hop. If you're unsure or not feeling an overwhelming level of commitment to one specific specialty and you want the option open without getting a post-masters certificate, you may prefer the more generalized, more flexible route of FNP since it offers a wider range of education, giving more flexibility.
(For the sake of full disclosure, in case you haven't clicked my name, I'm not yet in a master's program. Only doing the same research on these exact questions.)
I noticed your credentials but that doesn't mean you aren't knowledgeable on the topic/question I posed However, I do appreciate the honesty. So, since I am curious, what are you leaning towards as far as an advanced degree/specialty?
I noticed your credentials but that doesn't mean you aren't knowledgeable on the topic/question I posed However, I do appreciate the honesty. So, since I am curious, what are you leaning towards as far as an advanced degree/specialty?
My love was CNM, but after undesirable clinicals and some health stuff, I reevaluated. Currently I work in critical care and I love the idea of Georgetown's CNS/ACNP dual program. However, I had a chat with human resources and it seems they prefer FNP because they can use you outpatient when needed. I Know FNP is versatile, and I mean no offense to FNPs who function well in inpatient settings, but if I'm working in an inpatient setting, I want my education to focus more on that than primary care. So, I'm stuck in a holding pattern. Not sure what to do next. I may decide FNP is the safer choice, and branch out later to get post masters certificates. I'm almost at the end of my "new grad year" and can see there is still so much to learn, so I don't mind sitting out another year while I decide.
Specializes in ACNP-BC, Adult Critical Care, Cardiology.
Years ago, before I started my NP program, I knew some nurses who chose the PA route instead. I was living in the Midwest and the general impression at the time was PA's were more marketable because physicians prefer them over NP's. It ended up not being true -- there were surgical specialties that PA's tend to get hired more than NP's but as the years went by, I felt that the playing field became more even more or less. In a particular specialty, a PA and an an NP will likely do the very same thing in terms of role.
You've already done your research in finding that most NP programs have enough flexibility to allow some degree of employment while attending school though not all NP students worked full time during their program (myself included). NP programs also lock you in to a specific specialty track whereas PA programs only come in one generic form regardless of degree. NP programs are rooted in the nursing profession so all programs require courses in nursing theory and research and PA programs, for obvious reasons, do not.
The classes for PA are similar to pre-meds... so I generally think of it for majorly Bio majors who couldn't do MD or DO... or non-nursing majors who did PA pre-reqs. There are fewer PA programs than NP programs, and NP programs are less expensive than PA programs. PA's are more desired for surgical assistants and certain specialties. They generally get paid the same when it comes to being generalized (a FNP) or specialized.
There are 350 NP programs in the U.S.
There are 180 PA programs in the U.S.
Generally, I consider PA programs to be more difficult to get into bc of 1) more pre-reqs which will cause competition with washed-out pre-meds including most science majors, 2) fewer programs, nearly 1/3 the amount of NP programs, 3) 1,000 healthcare exp required, and w/ a non-nursing major, this can be hard to obtain.
I think there's less competition for NP programs and easier to get into...
PA's get paid slightly more than NPs, almost 7-10k.
However, I do appreciate the honesty. So, since I am curious, what are you leaning towards as far as an advanced degree/specialty?
reflective11
19 Posts
I also have "heard" that PA's get all of the shifts the MD's don't necessarily want ie noc shifts.
However, with NP's is it true if they specialize in psych (as an example) and later down the road it is decided he/she wants to switch and specialize in women's health, then at that point he/she would have to go back to school to get certified in that new area? Whereas, PA's once they have their license they can freely apply to and change specialties however he/she sees fit?