Would being a PA be more realistic w/ my physical limitations?

[dclamb3]

I'm continuing my journey of trying to determine how I can incorporate a career change to healthcare at 35yo with injuries (bad knees, hip, wrist, back, and neck due to being hit by a drunk driver).

Thanks to reading the experiences of others on this site, I'm starting to see/accept that while my passion is to be an RN (since I've been caring for others since I was a child), that perhaps I need to accept my current physical limitations and entertain other options.

Sooo, while I realize this is a nursing site, please don't throw tomatoes when I ask, would being a Physician Assistant be less taxing physically, than being an RN?

If it wouldn't be, are there *any* jobs where I can have patient interaction that wouldn't involve 12-hour shifts of endless standing, stooping, and lifting that my body couldn't handle?

Thank you in advance.

[core0]

I'm continuing my journey of trying to determine how I can incorporate a career change to healthcare at 35yo with injuries (bad knees, hip, wrist, back, and neck due to being hit by a drunk driver).

Thanks to reading the experiences of others on this site, I'm starting to see/accept that while my passion is to be an RN (since I've been caring for others since I was a child), that perhaps I need to accept my current physical limitations and entertain other options.

Sooo, while I realize this is a nursing site, please don't throw tomatoes when I ask, would being a Physician Assistant be less taxing physically, than being an RN?

If it wouldn't be, are there *any* jobs where I can have patient interaction that wouldn't involve 12-hour shifts of endless standing, stooping, and lifting that my body couldn't handle?

Thank you in advance.

I think that you have to have a realistic view of what you can do. Whatever route you take their will be physical activities that are required. For nursing school you have already described them. Once you are done with your RN there are lots of jobs that do not require lifting or endless standing. For example clinic nursing does may require some lifting and standing but not to the extent that a med surg nurse has. Also it may allow 8 hour shifts. There are care coordinator and other administrative jobs that require no patient interaction. The rub is that these jobs are relatively rare and frequently require experience.

For PA you will most likely not have the same physical demands of bedside nursing. There are a lot more clinic positions that have don't require a lot of standing. However, during school, you will have to do surgery, EM, IM inpatient rotations which may require a lot of standing and lifting. I would wonder if you could hold retraction in surgery. On the other hand programs have been known to make accommodations. I know someone who went through PA school in a wheelchair. The program made sure her sites were accessible and she did a hand surgery rotation for her surgery rotation.

Most (if not all) PA programs will have a technical standards requirement such as this:

http://paprogram.mc.duke.edu/Admissions/Technical-Standards/

You would have to discuss with each program whether you meet the technical standards.

As far as different programs, there are around 8 certificate/associates programs left. They all require substantial (years) of medical experience. There are a few bachelors programs but the vast majority are masters programs. Some require health care experience some don't (although since the overall average is two years HCE having some will make sure you are not an outlier). Most programs are 2-3 years of full time (40+ hours) work usually with one year of didactic and one year of clinical.

Good luck

[RNChristy]

Thanks for the link. I was unaware of any associates degree for PA. I wonder if the PAs that I know wish they would have just had to do the Associates degree.

[core0]

Thanks for the link. I was unaware of any associates degree for PA. I wonder if the PAs that I know wish they would have just had to do the Associates degree.

I think that people apply for the program that best suits them. The cert/associates programs really target people with a lot of health care experience. The also typically look for people willing to work in rural/underserved areas. The didactic and clinical is the same no matter which program you take. So its not like an associates program is any easier. These program exist usually because of unique missions where the programs feel that moving to a bachelors or masters would compromise that mission (or they are in community colleges which are unable to offer other degrees).

Also there are three states that require Masters and one that requires a Bachelors to practice which limits you a little. In addition if you already have a bachelors you have a lot of limitations on financial aid for associates programs. For what its worth most of them have an option for masters degree through another program. So the vast majority of PA grads have a masters degree.

The best direct comparison is nursing. There are multiple degrees (cert, ADN, BSN, MSN or cert, associates, BS, MPAS) all leading to the same basic certification (RN or PA-C). Both use a defined structured academic pathway. Both utilize competence based testing (NCLEX or PANCE) to ensure that the student has the fundamental knowledge to practice.

[Guest717236]

Thanks for the link. I was unaware of any associates degree for PA. I wonder if the PAs that I know wish they would have just had to do the Associates degree.

It appears with PA's like nursing, the move is toward the Master's Degree.

If you look at the website, it appears that the move for a Doctorates degree

is in debate.

[tyvin, BSN, RN]

What doctor is going to want a PA who only has a 2 year degree? The PAs work directly under the MD so what MD is going to hire a PA with a 2 year degree? And what in the world would a PA get a PhD for ... why not just become a doc?

[Zookeeper3]

Honesty, I'd suggest just one single semester with A&P, microbiology and some other junk. If you can hang with the crowd and pass those, then and only then should you even talk about a PA degree. Know what you're looking at getting into.

Sure a PA doesn't turn, bed pan, clean crap, boost and do all the physical labor once boards are passed. getting there, is a whole other issue. Do some classes first and get back to us. See what it really entails. A generic question will get many... "oh sure you can do that"... but can you pass the classes... and the entrance exams? That is the real question!! Do your prerequisites and see.... It just maybe a great fit for what your looking for. You have to do the jump in to really know. Health care is different than anything, and I hope it's what your want it to be. Good luck, but know it is very difficult and very great once you've done it!

I'm continuing my journey of trying to determine how I can incorporate a career change to healthcare at 35yo with injuries (bad knees, hip, wrist, back, and neck due to being hit by a drunk driver).

Thanks to reading the experiences of others on this site, I'm starting to see/accept that while my passion is to be an RN (since I've been caring for others since I was a child), that perhaps I need to accept my current physical limitations and entertain other options.

Sooo, while I realize this is a nursing site, please don't throw tomatoes when I ask, would being a Physician Assistant be less taxing physically, than being an RN?

If it wouldn't be, are there *any* jobs where I can have patient interaction that wouldn't involve 12-hour shifts of endless standing, stooping, and lifting that my body couldn't handle?

Thank you in advance.

[dclamb3]

Honesty, I'd suggest just one single semester with A&P, microbiology and some other junk. If you can hang with the crowd and pass those, then and only then should you even talk about a PA degree. Know what you're looking at getting into.

Sure a PA doesn't turn, bed pan, clean crap, boost and do all the physical labor once boards are passed. getting there, is a whole other issue. Do some classes first and get back to us. See what it really entails. A generic question will get many... "oh sure you can do that"... but can you pass the classes... and the entrance exams? That is the real question!! Do your prerequisites and see.... It just maybe a great fit for what your looking for. You have to do the jump in to really know. Health care is different than anything, and I hope it's what your want it to be. Good luck, but know it is very difficult and very great once you've done it!

Thank you for your input. Agreed. I'm certain I can pass the classes and exams. I'm not worried about that. I'm worried about making a career change in my mid-30s, incurring significant student loan debt, taking a dramatic pay cut and then getting into a hospital and realizing I can't physically be a RN, NP, PA, etc (but the trouble is, you don't KNOW you can't because there's no way of trying without the degree for obvious reasons - so I'm on here asking for advice on which healthcare positions fall within my physical limitations since I don't know because I currently work in a different industry). Despite that most people think I'm crazy, I *am* willing to make all of those sacrifices for a career I'm passionate about, but only if I know that the end result will be something that is realistically within my physical limitations.

Of course, no one can answer that but me, but receiving suggestions on which roles within healthcare have patient interaction and are the least physically demanding is very helpful (as is learning which roles are less physically demanding but for which are rare to come by like clinic work - things you'd only know if you're in the industry).

I really appreciate all the advice. Please keep it coming.

[dclamb3]

I think that you have to have a realistic view of what you can do. Whatever route you take their will be physical activities that are required. For nursing school you have already described them. Once you are done with your RN there are lots of jobs that do not require lifting or endless standing. For example clinic nursing does may require some lifting and standing but not to the extent that a med surg nurse has. Also it may allow 8 hour shifts. There are care coordinator and other administrative jobs that require no patient interaction. The rub is that these jobs are relatively rare and frequently require experience.

For PA you will most likely not have the same physical demands of bedside nursing. There are a lot more clinic positions that have don't require a lot of standing. However, during school, you will have to do surgery, EM, IM inpatient rotations which may require a lot of standing and lifting. I would wonder if you could hold retraction in surgery. On the other hand programs have been known to make accommodations. I know someone who went through PA school in a wheelchair. The program made sure her sites were accessible and she did a hand surgery rotation for her surgery rotation.

Most (if not all) PA programs will have a technical standards requirement such as this:

http://paprogram.mc.duke.edu/Admissions/Technical-Standards/

You would have to discuss with each program whether you meet the technical standards.

As far as different programs, there are around 8 certificate/associates programs left. They all require substantial (years) of medical experience. There are a few bachelors programs but the vast majority are masters programs. Some require health care experience some don't (although since the overall average is two years HCE having some will make sure you are not an outlier). Most programs are 2-3 years of full time (40+ hours) work usually with one year of didactic and one year of clinical.

Good luck

You've given some really fantastic advice. Thank you!

[dclamb3]

You would still have to get through nursing school, but I work in NICU, which in my opinion is less physicaly taxing. We work 12 hour shifts, but on most nights, we get to sit pretty frequently, because a lot of our job is monitoring. Plus moving patients is super easy. You can hold your baby in one hand and change your linen with the other, or if they are on a ventilator, someone can hold your baby for you, while you change your linen. I think my heaviest patient was 12 pounds.

That is a very good suggestion. Thank you!

[ashleyisawesome, BSN, RN]

That is a very good suggestion. Thank you!

regarding the NICU suggestion, just be aware it is very unlikely to get hired straight into a NICU after graduating, so I wouldnt bank on it right away and make it your only option.

nursing school itself is very physically demanding, we do anywhere from 8-12 hour clinicals twice a week for 2 years. I dont have any major health problems and I am in pain when i come home from clinical usually.

so if you can get through that, then you'll need to find your first nursing job. If you want to work in a hospital, getting a med surg job is your best bet, but it will be physically demanding.

If you could find an office nursing job, it would be best, but the pay is usually quite less, and more and more offices are hiring medical assistants.

another idea is maybe dialysis nursing? i dont know about everywhere, but at the hospital i do clinicals at they have several dialysis nurses that will come up to the patients rooms, hook them up to the machine, then sit next to them and monitor them 1:1 for 4 hours +, then move on to the next. im not familiar with how outpatient dialysis nursing works.. and i also dont know how easy it is to get a job as a new grad in dialysis. good luck whatever you decide!

[core0]

What doctor is going to want a PA who only has a 2 year degree? The PAs work directly under the MD so what MD is going to hire a PA with a 2 year degree? And what in the world would a PA get a PhD for ... why not just become a doc?

Hmm just replace PA with RN here. Would this be objectionable?

[roser13, ASN, RN]

Hmm just replace PA with RN here. Would this be objectionable?

You're attempting to compare apples to oranges. The comparison is invalid.

PA vs. RN is NOT apples to apples. One has prescriptive authority. The other doesn't. Other comparisons exist.

Now if you were to compare NP to PA, that would be comparable. But you won't ever, ever find a NP program that accepts an associates degree-prepared practitioner.