Quitting job to get PCE

[oakfly]

Hi guys, I'm a pre-PA looking to get PCE and apply next cycle. I am a non traditional student with a non-healthcare job that pays 50k. There are very few to none EMT programs in my area and so I've enrolled in a CNA program, but there are not too many jobs available - plus they make around $10-11/hr.

I am not sure I can live on that salary for that long. What do other students do? Do they just accept the low pay?

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[Makati2008]

Hi guys, I'm a pre-PA looking to get PCE and apply next cycle. I am a non traditional student with a non-healthcare job that pays 50k. There are very few to none EMT programs in my area and so I've enrolled in a CNA program, but there are not too many jobs available - plus they make around $10-11/hr.

I am not sure I can live on that salary for that long. What do other students do? Do they just accept the low pay?

I wouldn't. I would work on my off days/nights to get the PCE.


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[pamac]

For sure don't quit your job. To begin with, you don't know how long it will be before you get into pa school. Second, the health care experience you'd get from being a CNA or emt basic isn't going to impress the major HCE focused schools, and if it did you'd need a bunch more of it than you would reasonably want to spend time getting. And if it's a program the isn't focused on high quality HCE, then you can get by with the minimum and then it's up to your grades and volunteer experience, essay, GRE.... basically your candidate profile, which is really the main focus for low HCE schools. Grades are King. If you don't have great grades, you need way better HCE than entry level stuff. If a school accepts entry level HCE, get enough to check the box and nothing more, because it won't do much more for you. It's handy to have some exposure so at least you can have something to talk about in interviews, as well as demonstrate you know a little bit of insight into what you want to go into.

 

[nontrad100]

I found myself in a similar dilemma a few months ago. I took the leap and quit my 9-5 financially secure sales/desk job that i absolutely hated and i now work in direct patient care making much less. I couldn't be more happy. Working where I am at now, has solidified my passion for healthcare and working with patients. I am also taking classes to raise my GPA (already have a BS degree), but the HCE personally has just been the best move I could have made!! As far as living off the hourly wage- it is possible but you will have to make lifestyle changes. I have had to come to terms that selling my car might have to happen, but I am ok with it because I am doing what I love! Also, what is great about HCE is picking up overtime and more shifts. So, I have found that there are options to make more money if you are willing to put in the extra hours. With anything too, as you gain more experience just ask for a higher wage. hope that helps- i didn't want to pay for CNA classes, and currently I am a rehab tech. at a nursing facility (entry level, no prior exp in HC or certifications were required). I will be looking for another nurse tech part-time position in a hospital in upcoming months.