Current Huge Dilemma - What to do, what to do?

[MexicanDr]

I am currently faced with a huge dilemma that is going to shape my academic/professional future.

I was very fortunate to have been accepted to a couple FNP programs (California State University System) and to the only PA program I applied, (Stanford University). After much thought, consideration and more thoughts, I asked if my spot at Stanford could be deferred for a year, which luckily it was so rather than starting July 2015, I can start July 2016 if I decide to. After much thought/consideration I decided to start an FNP program due to the following reasons:

Comparing/Contrast
​

FNP
-Can Continue to work at least PT ($ earned)

-20K Tuition
-Masters from actual University
-Keep my 60K savings
-Afford my first home ​

PA​

-Inability to work due to schedule (Salary Loss)
- 70-75K Tuition
-Stanford A.S. Degree/St. Francis Masters
-Spend savings on living expenses
-Delay my first home

As mentioned: I decided to start the first semester of the FNP program and currently am working 24-36 hrs a week and doing school. This is where the dilemma occurs: Did I make the right choice? I can complete this first semester of the FNP program and then not continue with the second semester and start my Stanford PA program July 2016. What would you do?

Both of these programs focus on primary care, but of course, with the PA program you do an emergency medicine, surgery and inpatient medicine rotation; These rotations I can do in my FNP program during the winter and summer breaks I would have.

If I decide to attend Stanford PA, I would graduate summer 2018, as compared to summer 2017 with my FNP, that would be a year salary loss. Am I going to be losing on money by going FNP instead of PA? Will I be limiting myself in the future by going FNP rather than PA?

At the end of the day where I reside and work FNPs and PAs both work in the ER, in family practice, for the neurosurgery and cardio-thoracic groups in hospitals. I guess I just want to make sure I am doing the right thing and would honestly appreciate your honest input/advice.

Thanks in advance,

Eddie

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[pamac]

Congratulations on your success. I remember from years ago you had this goal and worked your way through nursing school to be a good applicant, and now have fantastic options in front of you... You followed your dream. I had a similar set of circumstances. Obviously the money part gave me pause. For you, the associates degree should give you more pause, because realistically, you'll need to one day look at how you'll get a masters in PA. I know about the st Frances masters option (how much is that?). Forget that it's Stanford, because it's Pa school. A physician educated in the Caribbean will carry more weight than an Ivy League associates PA would.

The deck is so stacked against going to PA school and coming out ahead that I'd drop that and never look back. You said yourself, FNPs where you will practice are interchangeable. You will spend at least a hundred thousand more in expenses (not to mention lost income) to not even be an independent provider. Heck, just the 20k tuition to NP school is reason enough.

This is a hard thing for you to drop because you've worked so hard with the original goal of being a PA. Take a step back from it and ask yourself what you would tell someone else to do, and be very specific about exactly why you would choose to do PA vs NP given the cost. You get your NP and you have options in the field that a PA never would have (hospital management for one). Don't assume that one day you won't be interested, because you may be burnt out and looking for a desk job that pays quite a bit more than you'll make as a midlevel.

I just don't see how you will miss out on any money by being a PA, and you said yourself that you aren't restricted in your region by what field you could go into. Buy your house, become an NP, work sooner, keep your hard earned savings, and enjoy life. If you decide to go PA, make sure you have a dang good reason to throw away over 200k to have less latitude to practice.

 

[Makati2008]

Congratulations on your success. I remember from years ago you had this goal and worked your way through nursing school to be a good applicant, and now have fantastic options in front of you... You followed your dream. I had a similar set of circumstances. Obviously the money part gave me pause. For you, the associates degree should give you more pause, because realistically, you'll need to one day look at how you'll get a masters in PA. I know about the st Frances masters option (how much is that?). Forget that it's Stanford, because it's Pa school. A physician educated in the Caribbean will carry more weight than an Ivy League associates PA would.

The deck is so stacked against going to PA school and coming out ahead that I'd drop that and never look back. You said yourself, FNPs where you will practice are interchangeable. You will spend at least a hundred thousand more in expenses (not to mention lost income) to not even be an independent provider. Heck, just the 20k tuition to NP school is reason enough.

This is a hard thing for you to drop because you've worked so hard with the original goal of being a PA. Take a step back from it and ask yourself what you would tell someone else to do, and be very specific about exactly why you would choose to do PA vs NP given the cost. You get your NP and you have options in the field that a PA never would have (hospital management for one). Don't assume that one day you won't be interested, because you may be burnt out and looking for a desk job that pays quite a bit more than you'll make as a midlevel.

I just don't see how you will miss out on any money by being a PA, and you said yourself that you aren't restricted in your region by what field you could go into. Buy your house, become an NP, work sooner, keep your hard earned savings, and enjoy life. If you decide to go PA, make sure you have a dang good reason to throw away over 200k to have less latitude to practice.

Agreed. No reason to go PA in your case.