PAslay Posted January 30, 2017 Share Posted January 30, 2017 I am a veteran with a lot of volunteer in health care such as cardiac rehab aide and physical therapy aid currently 1250 hours. I am considering a fast pace CNA course that will end April 02 and allow me to start getting paid patient contact. How will that look on the application if I am trying to apply as early as June 2017? I'm really nervous that I have a lot of work experience outside of the medical (currently working as a statistician with a BS in exercise science the pay is awesome for my family) I am nontraditional but I really want to move forward with my overall goal as a PA. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlottew Posted January 30, 2017 Share Posted January 30, 2017 I too was a career switcher to PA, had to apply multiple cycles (long story). One of the things I did in between cycles was take a CNA course, my backup plan if I didn't get in was to try to get a hospital PCA job. I think taking the course at least demonstrated that I was serious about a career in healthcare, and I think it probably did help me gain acceptance to the program. So yes, I would take the CNA course, then try to get some paid work. PA school is going to be a big financial hit, so scaling back your statistician hours (to free up time) - you might look at it as 'practice' for the financial hardships of going back to school. In any case, if you're applying to school you're clearly dissatisfied with being a statistician, so why continue to torture yourself? If you want to move forward, you should do so... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PAslay Posted January 31, 2017 Author Share Posted January 31, 2017 Yes, I have a very supportive spouse. I just hope I look as competitive as the others application wise with life experiences outside of medicine. Thank you for the reassurance. I am going from a $30 hr full time 9-5 to a $10 hr 12 hour shift weekends and nights rotation :( but hopefully it will pay off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JenForstner Posted November 27, 2018 Share Posted November 27, 2018 Hi there! I am newly into researching PA schools, career switching, and working on retaking all my prereqs - my BS was > 12 years ago - so all my prereqs have been fulfilled but are expired. I am considering getting my CNA this summer after my husband finishes his masters so that I can get the PCE hours. I have already been able to connect locally with a PA to shadow. Outside of these current efforts, do you all have any other words of wisdom you'd share along the way? Realistically, the earliest I could even start a program would be January 2021. Since I'll still be working full time until I am accepted to a program, my PCE will only come late at night and on weekends rendering my hours low (~ 1,000) compared to the average. If I hold off until January 2022, it would allow me to get closer to around ~1,700. I appreciate any input you all have or care to share! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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