EMNP Posted July 18, 2013 Share Posted July 18, 2013 Hello everyone-I am looking for advice/recommendation on what to do to be able to achieve my next goal in life.I hold a B.S. in Public Health, GPA is barely in 3.0. This happened in 2008. I took a year off working on EMS, then I decided to apply to nursing school which I completed in December 2012. From December 2010 there is a clearly upward trend of only A and B grades, including the nursing program [Associates Degree]. Currently, I work as an RN in a critical care for and I have learned so much!I want to apply to PA school next year to be able to start in the summer of 2015. The question is how to better prepare myself:I will have the clinical experience due to EMS and also working in critical care as an RN. I applied to an RN-BSN program and was accepted, this program will start next month. It seems to be logical since I will be obtaining the BSN after the associates, this will also show the I will keep the upward trend in my grades since 2010. Apart from these, I could take 2-3 more classes as electives in the Biology Department.If I opted to get a second bachelor's degree in a science, it would take longer and financial aid wont approve me since I would have more units to complete.Do you guys feel that doing this is a good idea? I will be applying to PA programs with the BS in Public Health, BSN and great hands on experience. Apart from that I will have involved in research, volunteering and other ECs. I live and want to work in a medically underserved area here in California; not sure if that would make a difference.In all honesty/sincerity, what would you do/advice?P.S. One of the programs I am looking at is the UC Davis, which offers the dual FNP/PA program, so I understand for that program this is a requirement. I prefer the PA model because of the general medicine background and ease of switching specialties if it came down to that in the future. Also, I feel I can identify myself more with the medical model than the nursing model. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator EMEDPA Posted July 18, 2013 Moderator Share Posted July 18, 2013 Seems like you are on the right path. just keep working on getting As and you should be in good shape. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
winterallsummer Posted July 18, 2013 Share Posted July 18, 2013 Definitely don't do the the 2nd bachelor's degree. Consider retaking any prereqs you got a C in; if you got below a C in any, def retake. Consider taking other upper level bios and getting A. BSN in RN is not necessary IMHO and could infer further debt. While NP = nursing model and PA = med model, both practice medicine at the end of the day, and NP's have better licensing than us, currently, so I don't see any problem with the dual program if you do your research. Good luck and you can do it, do not give up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdobbs Posted July 19, 2013 Share Posted July 19, 2013 Yeah unless you really want dual fnp/pa, I wouldn't hassle with the BSN. Do well on the GRE and retake prerequisite courses in which you made C's. I think you will be a solid applicant. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PM2PA Posted July 20, 2013 Share Posted July 20, 2013 Don't waste your time with a BSN. If you really want to be a PA, finish your prerequisites and apply next year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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