Would it be best to get your BSN before PA school or does it really matter?

zoe92 · Jul 31, 2013

There are a lot of things that would help you get direct patient care. This includes EMT, phlebotomist, CNA, patient care tech, or medical assistant. Personally, I would get a bachelors in something other than nursing & then apply to a PA program. I know this option is not for everyone, but nursing school is hard enough & they don't require you to get the BSN so why put yourself through it?

britnguyen12 · Jul 31, 2013

Thank you so much! Im just wanting second opinions about this. Ive taken almost all of my classes and I will be able to apply to the program soon, so I didn't know if it would be easier if to just go get my BSN and the apply for PA school. I thought they may look for someone who has more of a medical field background. Im just not sure what I should switch my major to. I was thinking about majoring chemistry, but I just have to do some more thinking. Thank you, again!

queserasera, RN · Jul 31, 2013

If I were you, I'd consider getting a different degree.. nursing is so competitive and if you want to be a PA eventually (not an NP) why tae a spot AND put yourself through the extra stress! A buddy of mine just got accepted to a PA program (with an undergrad in International Studies and Spanish) He said it's CRAZY, if I were you, I wouldn't want to do "crazy" twice!! Just my 2c

SopranoKris, MSN, RN, NP · Jul 31, 2013

I've got a different opinion about this. I still haven't decided if I want to be a PA or NP. I decided to get my BSN and see how I like nursing before making a big decision about PA or NP. While I've worked on my pre-reqs for nursing school, I've also been fulfilling the pre-reqs for PA school. Luckily, the pre-reqs for PA school would also apply to the DNP programs in my area. I will work as an RN, which will fulfill the paid HCE hours required for PA/NP school as well. I feel like I can make a better decision having walked in the shoes of an RN.

I could have finished my bachelor's degree in Clinical Laboratory Science much quicker than getting the BSN. However, I feel the patient care and medical training will be far more valuable down the road. I still don't know what I want to choose and I'm trying to keep an open mind about what path I want to take. I do see more job opportunity in my area for PAs than for NPs. I want to have a career I love, so I'm trying not to be hasty with my decision. I figure if I cover all my bases, I'll be able to take informed action when the time comes.

Nursing school starts on August 22nd. I can't wait to start

aspirantori · Aug 5, 2013

If you're going for a BSN, you should just become a NP vs a PA.

lhflanurseNP, APRN · Aug 5, 2013

If you are going to be a PA, I wouldn't go into nursing. They are two distinct professions. PAs lean more medical while the NP leans more holistic. NPs will consider the patient's physiological, psychological, spiritual, and cultural/ethnic interactions.

besaangel, ASN, BSN, MSN, CNA, RN, APRN, NP · Aug 6, 2013

I also h ave a different POV. I think that if you want to be a RN before a PA, by all means go for it. If you wont get the run-around then I dont see why not. A BSN is not a terminal degree and as far as advancement, you are not "supposed" to go NP vs PA because its expected.

I'd do nursing. If you are interested in it; then do it. The fact is you want to get a job in something that you like vs a science degree that is less useful in the real world. A degree in biology is awesome but contrary to popular belief, I dont think its the "best" prep for anything medically. You don't learn a lot that is clinically relative which is why a lot of med schools no longer stress hard science degrees as long as pre-reqs are satisfied. Also, what if you do not get in PA school right away; you are wont have much use for that Bio degree save for a minimum wage paying lab job.

As far as the medical vs nursing model goes, with a BSN background, you'd be better prepared than "most" of your colleagues as you'd have had the employment in the clinical aspect of health-care. I.E. A degree in Bio will not even prepare you for either or.

P.S. the PA schools I know of have a preference for RN applicants as they have had relevant experience, exposure and assessment skilss. An EMT would be ok but a CNA, MA or PCT would not mean much to them as these jobs mostly do personal care. There is no comparison.

kissmypineapple · Aug 6, 2013

That's the exact spot I'm in. I already have a BA (and a master's...) in other fields, so it's been a long road as it is, and I'm definitely not trying to rush my decision. I've chosen a career that ended up not being a great fit twice now. Going through the accelerated BSN that I'm applying to will allow me to make quite a bit more money than I do right now (I work for a nonprofit) while I take the rest of the classes I would need to apply for the PA program, as well as earn money while I get the HCE needed for the PA program, and I'll be exposed to other healthcare professionals who could write the letters of recommendation for me. And since I'm undecided about whether PA or NP will be a better fit for me, this keeps my options open. And if I decide I love nursing as an RN, and don't need to move into an advanced degree, then all the better for me. In my current situation, it would certainly be faster to just take the rest of my PA prereqs, but the money I would pay for my classes would be such a larger chunk of my takehome pay if I try to do it all while I'm in the position I am.

llg, PhD, RN · Aug 6, 2013

I think you are asking the wrong people. We are nurses here, not PA's. We do not have expertise in the world and work of a PA and do not know what would work best for a PA. You should take any answers you receive here with a BIG "grain of salt." I hope you are also posing this question to experts in the PA field.

Good luck to you, whatever you decide.

GeriKalch · Jan 22, 2014

PA school requires many prerequisites, which are mainly covered with a degree such as Biology. BSN degree take completely different classes, the only ones that I know that matter are developmental life span psychology, anatomy and physiology 1 and 2, statistics and chemistry, the other classes are not applicable to the PA program and you will end up having to take many prerequisites.