Unsure about SLP/NP/PA

Published Jun 28, 2015

2 Posts

Hi,

I'm debating about applying to an accelerated BSN program or a direct entry MSN to be a nurse. and apply to some pa programs. The idea was to be a nurse practitioner or a PA/

I graduated with a degree in Nutrition Science and hated the biochemistry the most. I job shadowed a speech pathologist, nurse practitioner and a dietitian. The dietitian had warned me there was few job growth in the field and the nursing field had more options.

I loved the rehab side of speech pathology, and I really want to work with children. . My father who is a doctor has been trying to tell me to apply to direct entry MSN programs or PA programs. I worked as an optometry technican and quit. I couldn't handle the rule that I had only SIX minutes to work up every patient. I was burnt out with the patients and the doctors rules. I quit. So I only have about 500 hours of direct patient care.

I did not enjoy job shadowing with the nurse pracititoner. ALl she ddid was go in and ask the patient what was going on. She then would fill out a prescription and send them away.

She said that they were simple cases and do not need that much thinking involved like textbook cases. Or she gave one patient that had come in with chronic pain, an injection and sent him away. And prescribed him more pain meds.

I do not want to be someone that just writes out a prescription. In my undergraduate major I enjoyed the part about prevention of illnesses through the diet and exercise. Since my school was not accrediated with the Dietitc Board I could not get my RD.

So my question is this...is this really what all NPs do? Just give our prescriptions or do they have some autonomy in how they prepare a treatment plan for a patient?

The nurse practitioner told me that people in field easily make 90,000 coming out and it is a job field with growth. Is any of this true?

thanks.