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- Feb 25, 2017
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Hello all,
I wasn't sure where to put this topic, apologies if not the correct forum.
I graduated in May 2018 with a Bachelor's in nursing and biology. I took mostly non-nursing bio classes. I thought about going to medical school, and decided against it.
I started working in a hospital as a nurse, really loving every chance I had to learn from a physician. Anyway long story short. I was accepted into the University of Alabama at Birmingham for nurse practitioner in a pediatric dual primary and acute care and first assist program. I struggled between physician assistant and nurse practitioner for a while. What changed my mind was considering how nurse practitioners have the numbers, and will continue to grow. NPs will have the numbers to influence the policies and politics, and protect their profession, and I feel like eventually they're going to wean PAs out more and more (this may not happen at all or may take decades). I don't necessarily want to see NPs scope of practice expand, but I want the job availability to increase and be protected. Some NP programs are terrible. I did a lot of research to choose mine, and would begin this fall.
That said. I have the opportunity to move to Raleigh, NC. Duke's PA program is something I had had my eyes on since I graduated. The deadline for the CASPA is Sept 1, then I'd need to take the GRE and get some more shadowing in by Dec 31, and I may not be accepted for Fall 2020 anyway. The program is the same length as my NP program would be at UAB, and twice the cost. I have a decent chance to get in being non-traditional and also my cumulative undergrad GPA is very competitive, but I still might not get into such a popular and top notch school.
The reason I'm asking on this forum is because physicians have worked with both NPs and PAs. I would like to know your opinions please on which profession you think comes out more prepared, an NP or PA. Please only consider NPs with a good educational background, if possible. In my mind, if I want to specialize in pediatrics, it makes more sense to devote 3 years to mainly pediatrics in an NP program, than 3 years of having my didactic work and clinical rotations in varying areas, as is the case in PA programs. When I look at Duke's curriculum for the PA program, I'm not as impressed it's the best way to go...or I should say if I didn't have a background in nursing then yes. (not saying a nurse is comparable to a PA, just saying I want to get the most from my time, education and money). In the end, I just want to do what will prepare me the best.
Thanks in advance for your opinions, and thanks for reading.
I wasn't sure where to put this topic, apologies if not the correct forum.
I graduated in May 2018 with a Bachelor's in nursing and biology. I took mostly non-nursing bio classes. I thought about going to medical school, and decided against it.
I started working in a hospital as a nurse, really loving every chance I had to learn from a physician. Anyway long story short. I was accepted into the University of Alabama at Birmingham for nurse practitioner in a pediatric dual primary and acute care and first assist program. I struggled between physician assistant and nurse practitioner for a while. What changed my mind was considering how nurse practitioners have the numbers, and will continue to grow. NPs will have the numbers to influence the policies and politics, and protect their profession, and I feel like eventually they're going to wean PAs out more and more (this may not happen at all or may take decades). I don't necessarily want to see NPs scope of practice expand, but I want the job availability to increase and be protected. Some NP programs are terrible. I did a lot of research to choose mine, and would begin this fall.
That said. I have the opportunity to move to Raleigh, NC. Duke's PA program is something I had had my eyes on since I graduated. The deadline for the CASPA is Sept 1, then I'd need to take the GRE and get some more shadowing in by Dec 31, and I may not be accepted for Fall 2020 anyway. The program is the same length as my NP program would be at UAB, and twice the cost. I have a decent chance to get in being non-traditional and also my cumulative undergrad GPA is very competitive, but I still might not get into such a popular and top notch school.
The reason I'm asking on this forum is because physicians have worked with both NPs and PAs. I would like to know your opinions please on which profession you think comes out more prepared, an NP or PA. Please only consider NPs with a good educational background, if possible. In my mind, if I want to specialize in pediatrics, it makes more sense to devote 3 years to mainly pediatrics in an NP program, than 3 years of having my didactic work and clinical rotations in varying areas, as is the case in PA programs. When I look at Duke's curriculum for the PA program, I'm not as impressed it's the best way to go...or I should say if I didn't have a background in nursing then yes. (not saying a nurse is comparable to a PA, just saying I want to get the most from my time, education and money). In the end, I just want to do what will prepare me the best.
Thanks in advance for your opinions, and thanks for reading.