PA Vs Nurse Practitioner

[RB_Dez]

Hello, this is my first post and I am new here, so what's up lol.


I just graduated highschool, and I want to become a PA like my dad. I am going to major in Biology, and getting all my prerequisites for the PA school I want to attend that my dad attended. But I was researching stuff about PA school's, and I noticed I needed alot of HCE to be accepted to most schools. My dad did not become a PA until he was like 35 ( he used to be a teacher), and now I am in a pickle. He told me alot of the students in his class where also in thier mid-to-late 20's with bunch of experience in the health field. How would I stand a chance freshly graduating college applying to PA school with very little hours in HCE vs older people?

I know that NP and PA's are pretty much the same in the sense that they both get paid equally and nearly do similar work. Should I just major in nursing, and work as an RN for a while, then apply to become a Nurse Practioner? I think it's a better route since I can find more highly paid jobs as an RN, then a biology major before PA school.



thanks for the advice/help

[Convertable]

You should definitely go nurse, or learn the difference between "then" and "than" before applying PA.

 

But seriously, you should search this topic. It's been done a lot. Boiling it down: schools don't require much HCE anymore for PA. You can also get into a PA program for freshman in college that is direct entry (will have to poke around to find these, but they exist). That option is a good one for someone in your shoes I would think.

[EMEDPA]

if you think you ever want to own your own practice, do psych, nicu, or women's health, go NP.

if you want to do EM, surgery, ortho, critical care, or anything hospital based, go PA.

[RB_Dez]

if you think you ever want to own your own practice, do psych, nicu, or women's health, go NP.

if you want to do EM, surgery, ortho, critical care, or anything hospital based, go PA.

I really don't mind anything. But then again I am only 18 so alot can change over the years once I am exposed.

 

 

I was mainly asking which would be a better route

[Convertable]

It's difficult to understand at your age (I remember !), but the route is much less important than the destination. That is, decide which is right for you and worry less about the route. If you hate being an NP, the fact that you could work as an RN for a few years will be small comfort. Your career will last much much longer than the pathway you take to reach it.

[Topsy]

If I were you, I'd do RN. Your RN degree/experience will be relevant regardless of if you decide later in life if you want to do PA or NP. Plus, there are lots of RN jobs out that that aren't strictly working on the floors. You could end up doing more administrative things. Work on a team that sells med software or trains hospital staff about new developments. Stuff like that. The RN degree can be applied in a lot more ways than just being a floor nurse. I think there's no down side - you can get a job, you will get experience in the healthcare field, and it leaves your options open for NP or PA if you decide in the future to take that route.

[Diggy]

Take this from an uprising senior. If I could do it all over again I would do RN, only because I am guaranteed a job upon graduation and passing the NCLEX. That is quality HCE if all else fails...and as a current Health Science major, I had to put up a fight to get into a hospital setting where I could've been here 3 years ago as a RN student.

 

 

...that said, I never wanted to be a RN so that's why I found an alternative. No regrets there. Also, with a RN degree, you can branch out into MANY avenues; clinical (PA, NP, CRNA, MD, DO, etc.) or administration. Be smart about it though.

[Glorious_Ignoramus]

http://directory.paeaonline.org

 

Go there and find schools which have low/no HCE requirements.  They are out there - Western U in Pamona, CA, for example, prefers students who have no prior clinical experience.

 

I know you may have some preferred prospective schools, but for the average student a good strategy is to apply to the schools which are most likely to accept you, regardless of where they are located.