[SatinDoll]

hey guys.


does anyone know someone who is a Nurse Practitioner (NP)--[NOT A REGISTERED NURSE (RN)!!]

or a Physician's assistant (PA)??


I'm having a really difficult time trying to figure out which to be and what to major in.
My aspiration is to help people while maintaining a life where I will continually learn from my job. I have thought about being a social worker, but I want something more exciting than that...and I have considered being a doctor...but I figured I don't want to spend THAT much time in school....and as for being a psychologist....I dunno, I just feel like I want to do more than just making money from having conversations with my patients.

I know physician's assistant (in certain states) are able to write prescriptions, but the con to that career is that they will always have to work under the supervision of a doctor.
And nurse practitioners are able to work with doctors, write prescriptions (i think), and open a private practice if they desire.


I have many questions though.

~Like, how does the salaries differ between these two careers?

~Which of the two careers would require more school time? --and what degree would you need for each?

~Which is more "in need"/easier to get jobs?? (I live in New York)

~Which is more stressful?

~Best school for either?


If anyone can contribute or offer experiences, advices, other suggestions, etc...that would AWESOME...
I'm in need of ANYTHING right now.

THANK YOUU!!!

[rromeo]

I dunno about the nurse, but I know that you can prob automatically get a job for nursing.
Just don't go to UW for nursing school though. It's REALLY tough to get in.
But my mom, and someone else that we know is a PA and apparently the pay is reeaaally good.
You might want to check out the salary stuff out online though


ohh and my friend's ex-gf is going to nursing school in vegas b/c apparently its easier to get in.
I dunno how great it is though

[SKY.PIRATE]

~Like, how does the salaries differ between these two careers?
PA: Median salaries $74,980 in May 2006
NP: Median salaries -- $79,176

~Which of the two careers would require more school time? --and what degree would you need for each?
PA: 5 years in a PA program --OR-- 4 years + 2 years of medical school


~Which is more "in need"/easier to get jobs?? (I live in New York)
I personally think that both occupations are in need. Don't know which one is easier to get though...

Errr, for the other information, you can just google it up. Quite easy, really.

[felinius]

~Which of the two careers would require more school time? --and what degree would you need for each?
PA: 5 years in a PA program --OR-- 4 years + 2 years of medical school

I'm seeing from the UC Davis School of Medicine that both PA and Family Nurse Pract. are both 8 quarters long. Of course, I think you need to have some kind of 2 years experience in the field before entering though.

[jUNk1e x 508]

im not too sure but i think in order to become a NP you have to at least be an RN first or most schools won't accept you into their masters program. but as an RN, theres still schools that will take you if you have experience..i believe....pay is good, but im pretty sure that working in a hospital at that level can be stressful too...

oops lol i didnt see your other questions...i saw on a website that both nurses and PAs are in very high demand right now and both offer job stability...

and as for the school i can only tell you about nursing schools in cali....i would think its just as hard to get in since over here, the wait can sometimes be as long as two years depending on the school and their waitlist....i would say try a community college bc you would save so much money in the long run...hmm what else...nursing would be good for you if you are good at prioritizing and detail oriented and of course if you love to be hands on with patients..like actually caring for them on a more personal level..~"~!...

[litoxshortaii]

yea, to become a NP, you first have to get an RN or equivalent license. the years of schooling depends on when you decide to become a NP. if you're an undergrad, you first become an RN which takes 4 years. then it's about 2-3 years for your master's to become a NP. however, you can become a NP during your graduate years- i know some schools that train you for 1 year for RN license and then 1-2 years for NP. it's a lot harder and more stressful if you're older though, because when you're a grad student, you usually have to balance a job on top of schooling, plus it's like 4 years of work crammed into 1-2 (for RN). anyway, bottom line is, you most likely have to become an RN before you can become a NP. like most jobs, you dont immediately jump into the high positions without experiencing the lower ones. btw, NPs are more and more considered to be on a similar status as doctors because the jobs they do are similar. you should research it more before you decide. the differences between the NP and PA (i think) are that NPs are actually able to diagnose/prescribe medications/treatments, whereas a PA is only there to assist a physician (ie. the person who takes your height/weight etc. before you see your doctor). might be wrong though. i also definitely thought you only needed an associate's degree to become an physician's assistant but eh.

[starstrewnnight]

PA: You need a BS or BA in anything but you must fullfill the premed courses like chem, bio and some other stuff (I don't remember) You also need 3000 hours of medical related jobs/volunteer which is about two years (this is for the Stanford PA program).

For NP it is almost the same track, except you have to be an RN first. The good thing is that if you become an RN, you'll contribute to those 3000 hours. My best friend is at UCLA doing psychology and she plans to do the PA program, but the thing is, she might have a hard time finding a medical related job that's not secretary work. She's planning to become a medical assistant, but in the bay area, there are not many positions for it.

[Beth-RN]

Hi there,

The best way for you to become a NP is to get your BSN (Bachelors in Nursing). Then, I would suggest getting nurse jobs which will help you to decide what you want your specialty to be in. From there, you should go back to school and get your masters degree in nursing which will be your schooling to become a NP.

Beth

[erure]

I'd get a BSN first before NP OR PA, because you need a lot of clinical experience to apply for PA master's anyway. So if you guys have a nursing major at your school, try to get in that. Otherwise you can graduate from college with a BA/BS with all the prereqs done and then maybe become an EMT, MA, or CNA. I feel like the path to NP is more set than PA since PA is a newer field.

[elainee]

im a 2nd year PA student in NY, im not sure about the requirements of a RN but for a PA all you need is 4 years in total, 2 years of gen requirements which you will then need to apply to PA school. PA school is is 2 years, which includes your clinical rotations and such. Getting a bachelors in PA and then passing the national exam is enough to allow you to practice. If you want to get your masters (which allows you to teach and research, etc.) it will require another 2 years, i was told that you also need about 800(?)hrs of clinical experience before applying . you also have to take re-certification exam every 6 years....  but yea thats what i know.
also the benefit of becoming a PA is that you can always change your specialization at any time, whether its pediatrics or surgery, etc..... 
and yes i believe PAs can prescribe in NY,  as their job they can also diagnose and treat patients. 
and to answer your question alot of 3rd year PA students say its pretty stressful (my school is 8 hrs straight with 1 hr lunch break in between and has shorter winter breaks then usual and no summer breaks), its like med school all bunched into 2 years. but i think with REALLY good studying habits and motivation it may not be too hard.