PA to RN

[ILoveFL]

Hello Everyone,

I am a PA student who has just withdrawn from a program due to the fact that I was getting straight Cs and Ds. I also was a Physician Assistant Major for 3 and a half years, and I even got through Gross Anatomy with a "B." However, when the didactic year came it was very difficult for me mentally and physically, I was practically dedicating my entire life to studying but was still struggling. In order for me to stay in my program I had to maintain a 3.0 GPA but my grades were not high enough so I had to leave. Moreover, I had to save my 3.6 GPA so I could get into a nursing program. In addition, due to this I have decided to change my career option to nursing because I still want to help people. However, I am disappointed that I got into a program that I was smart enough to be in and failed. Additionally, even though I am changing my career, I will not be a nurse until I am 25 because nursing courses are sequenced and I cannot start next semester, I will not be able to start my nursing courses until the fall. Lastly, even though I am becoming a nurse I would like to get paid as much as a PA. Is it possible for nurses to make as much as PAs? What are the highest paying specialties in nursing? I am just really depressed, I thought I was going to live a good life, I thought I was going to make enough to provide for a family. Any advice is appreciated.

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[Paseo Del Norte]

I would say take some time to pull back and reconsider your goals and options. Nursing is a completely different route with a very different culture and expectations versus physician assistant. You already seem like you are disappointed in having to consider nursing and have issues with what you believe your lifestyle will be like as a nurse. This is certainly not the attitude that you want to bring to the table as a new nursing student. While nursing school may not be as academically rigorous as PA school, you can expect to experience a fair amount of suffering and it will only be compounded by having a poor attitude. Additionally, there is no guarantee that you will be accepted because some nursing programmes are exceptionally competitive and have long waiting lists even among highly qualified candidates.

Again, take some time to think about your options and about your overall situation. In addition, the universe does not owe us anything and sometimes it is unhealthy to assume you will be living the "good" life simply because you made it through PA school. Best of luck.

 

[deleted6669]

you could always become an np after finishing nursing school or give pa another try with the rn and some experience under your belt.

 

[ILoveFL]

The other day, an elderly woman in my building was begging for help because she could not get into her apartment, and she was in need of her insulin injection, which was in her apartment. I helped the woman by contacting her daughter via cell so her daughter could open up her mother’s apartment. Additionally, I comforted the woman so she could relax. I was first resistant not to help the woman because I wanted to study for my PD exam. However, after I helped the woman, I was happier than I ever was in a long time. After this experience, I believe I deserve a second chance. The people who never fail are those who never try. At least I tried my hardest to get through my PA program, and I know whatever health care field I transition into I will give my heart and soul into. Overall, health care is the only field that makes me happy because how "different" the field is from other career paths. For example, you are able to help and change people's lives in a world of great stress, sadness, and struggle. Therefore, I do want to be a nurse to have a health care career and help people. I have worked as a PCA on the hospital floors, and I know that the role of a nurse is different from PA. I know that nursing school is hard and is certainly not in anyway easy. In addition, I know it is very stressful at times, and you must study everyday, deal with a variety of personalities, and be in class and study from 8:00 A.M. to 11:00 P.M on certain days. As a nursing student you also have to be extremely motivated all the time to do well. I have learned all these things from friends who are nursing majors. At this time, I know it is the hardest it has ever been to get into nursing school, due to the high amount applicants with good grades who want to become one. But you know what I am one of them, I will do whatever it takes to get there and care for those who need it. The PA-path is just not meant for me, and I think that nursing is a great viable, option for me.

 

[Temperature101]

The other day, an elderly woman in my building was begging for help because she could not get into her apartment, and she was in need of her insulin injection, which was in her apartment. I helped the woman by contacting her daughter via cell so her daughter could open up her mother’s apartment. Additionally, I comforted the woman so she could relax. I was first resistant not to help the woman because I wanted to study for my PD exam. However, after I helped the woman, I was happier than I ever was in a long time. After this experience, I believe I deserve a second chance. The people who never fail are those who never try. At least I tried my hardest to get through my PA program, and I know whatever health care field I transition into I will give my heart and soul into. Overall, health care is the only field that makes me happy because how "different" the field is from other career paths. For example, you are able to help and change people's lives in a world of great stress, sadness, and struggle. Therefore, I do want to be a nurse to have a health care career and help people. I have worked as a PCA on the hospital floors, and I know that the role of a nurse is different from PA. I know that nursing school is hard and is certainly not in anyway easy. In addition, I know it is very stressful at times, and you must study everyday, deal with a variety of personalities, and be in class and study from 8:00 A.M. to 11:00 P.M on certain days. As a nursing student you also have to be extremely motivated all the time to do well. I have learned all these things from friends who are nursing majors. At this time, I know it is the hardest it has ever been to get into nursing school, due to the high amount applicants with good grades who want to become one. But you know what I am one of them, I will do whatever it takes to get there and care for those who need it. The PA-path is just not meant for me, and I think that nursing is a great viable, option for me.

If you already have a BS/BA degree, there are 1 year accelarated nursing program outhere that you might have a shot at due to your prior healthcare experience and your good GPA. If you dont have a BS/BA, find a private nursing school since they are easier to get into. See if you can get into one of these programs and then try to become a NP. You will pretty much be doing the same job a PA does and making about the same salary that PAs make. Best of luck....

 

[bigkahunaburger]

It's easy to get down on yourself about performing poorly in school, but you were smart enough to get in so I guarantee under the right mindset you can make it through. Nursing is a great field, but really I would focus on either getting a second shot at your PA school or going to NP school. You've already put the work in, don't settle for less, you deserve this. I can't tell you how many NP's I've met that use double negatives in their day to day vocab, you can definitely make it through NP school.

Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm.
Winston Churchill

 

[fab4fan]

Hello Everyone,

I am a PA student who has just withdrawn from a program due to the fact that I was getting straight Cs and Ds. I also was a Physician Assistant Major for 3 and a half years, and I even got through Gross Anatomy with a "B." However, when the didactic year came it was very difficult for me mentally and physically, I was practically dedicating my entire life to studying but was still struggling. In order for me to stay in my program I had to maintain a 3.0 GPA but my grades were not high enough so I had to leave. Moreover, I had to save my 3.6 GPA so I could get into a nursing program. In addition, due to this I have decided to change my career option to nursing because I still want to help people. However, I am disappointed that I got into a program that I was smart enough to be in and failed. Additionally, even though I am changing my career, I will not be a nurse until I am 25 because nursing courses are sequenced and I cannot start next semester, I will not be able to start my nursing courses until the fall. Lastly, even though I am becoming a nurse I would like to get paid as much as a PA. Is it possible for nurses to make as much as PAs? What are the highest paying specialties in nursing? I am just really depressed, I thought I was going to live a good life, I thought I was going to make enough to provide for a family. Any advice is appreciated.

Find another career. You will never be satisfied in nursing if you are going into it with the mentality that it was a fall-back option and a disappointment to be a nurse.

It's possible to get a high paying job in nursing if you're somewhere like CA, but cost of living takes a big bite into your income. CA is also one of the worst states right now when it comes to job opportunities.

Some of your questions can be answered at www.allnurses.com

 

[ChillyRN]

You are extremely unlikely to earn as much as a PA as a registered nurse, not by half. I also think you are going to be extremely unhappy as a nurse, based on your first post. I might be wrong about that, but in all likelihood you are going to be working twice as hard (physically) and earning half as much salary with very, very little respect. Starting hourly rates vary around the US from $18 to 24 an hour, on average. I am inferring that is not what you had in mind.

I think before you proceed you should find out exactly what the starting salary for a new grad RN is like in your geographic area; depending on where you live (Florida?), you could be in for a rude surprise. I also don't know if you are aware that the job market for new graduate RNs is very poor right now in many parts of the country as well.

Pay rates do not vary by specialty a great deal. Pay rates go up with credentialing and specialty certifications, which may be earned with continuing education and experience. Critical care nurses do not necessarily make more money than labor and delivery nurses, for instance. Time on the job, merit raises, clinical ladder, aforementioned certifications, advanced degrees, that is how you earn more money.

My first RN position out of school in 1992 paid $11.05 an hour. After 18 years in practice in critical care, a master's degree, a host of specialty certifications too numerous to list, I maxed out my hospital pay scale at $29.45 an hour. The starting salary for PAs is easily $35/hour in a poor paying area, $45 is probably average. As a new grad NP I started at $47 and change. I hear some new RNs get $30, but that is nights and weekends, and it's probably rare. You aren't going to get that in FL as a new grad. And even if you do, you are going to earn. every. freakin.penny. It is the worlds hardest, most thankless job. Nothing at all in common with being a provider, and I really, really think you should be sure that you understand what is involved. It is a damn site more difficult than you realize, and has precious little to do with "helping people."

I am not trying to be all debbie downer on you. I just don't think being a nurse is a very good fallback to being a PA. They are not anything approximating similar careers. Nothing at all in common, and I think you are in for a major shock and disappointment.

 

[khristy]

I will graduating from nursing school in WA state in about 3 quarters and will be applying for PA school in a couple of years. Although I obviously don't have any understanding about the difficulty of PA school, I can tell you that nursing school is not academically challenging for me but it takes a tremendous amount of time. I am holding a 3.9 GPA, but I work my ass off for it (married with 3 kids and working at UW hospital as a Nurse Tech part-time). School takes about 60 hours per week and it is very stressfull. My school loses about 20% of each nursing cohort due to not making the grades.

As far as RN work and salary - new grads in WA state working at either UW (one of the top rated in the US) or Harbor View (the only level 1 trauma hospital in 4 states) make 64k per year. The schedules are rough with long hours. I suggest you shadow an RN and a NP to see if you would like the work. Anything in the medical field is going to tough but don't think that you are not "smart enough". You just might need to study and learn in a different way for it to sink in.

Best of luck to you - and never give up on your dreams!

 

[deleted6669]

Harbor View (the only level 1 trauma hospital in 4 states)

Which 4 states are you counting? WA/AK/ID/WY ?
some of the other neighboring states do have level 1's....

 

[khristy]

Washington, Idaho, Alaska and Montana

 

[Deltaflaze]

You are extremely unlikely to earn as much as a PA as a registered nurse, not by half. I also think you are going to be extremely unhappy as a nurse, based on your first post. I might be wrong about that, but in all likelihood you are going to be working twice as hard (physically) and earning half as much salary with very, very little respect. Starting hourly rates vary around the US from $18 to 24 an hour, on average. I am inferring that is not what you had in mind.

I think before you proceed you should find out exactly what the starting salary for a new grad RN is like in your geographic area; depending on where you live (Florida?), you could be in for a rude surprise. I also don't know if you are aware that the job market for new graduate RNs is very poor right now in many parts of the country as well.

Pay rates do not vary by specialty a great deal. Pay rates go up with credentialing and specialty certifications, which may be earned with continuing education and experience. Critical care nurses do not necessarily make more money than labor and delivery nurses, for instance. Time on the job, merit raises, clinical ladder, aforementioned certifications, advanced degrees, that is how you earn more money.

My first RN position out of school in 1992 paid $11.05 an hour. After 18 years in practice in critical care, a master's degree, a host of specialty certifications too numerous to list, I maxed out my hospital pay scale at $29.45 an hour. The starting salary for PAs is easily $35/hour in a poor paying area, $45 is probably average. As a new grad NP I started at $47 and change. I hear some new RNs get $30, but that is nights and weekends, and it's probably rare. You aren't going to get that in FL as a new grad. And even if you do, you are going to earn. every. freakin.penny. It is the worlds hardest, most thankless job. Nothing at all in common with being a provider, and I really, really think you should be sure that you understand what is involved. It is a damn site more difficult than you realize, and has precious little to do with "helping people."

I am not trying to be all debbie downer on you. I just don't think being a nurse is a very good fallback to being a PA. They are not anything approximating similar careers. Nothing at all in common, and I think you are in for a major shock and disappointment.

What's important here is the fact that the jobs are not similar. Your "pay" idea of nursing is out of date / specific to areas. I'm a new graduate nurse (9 months) and am making $40 (nights, every 3rd weekend) in Wisconsin (Almost at 90k for this year after overtime).

To the OP: Nursing is clearly not your goal. Your goal is money. Try radiology tech (similar to nursing pay) or go into accounting/business since you seem so interested in money.