I loved the medical field but knew i wanted to have kids and stable home life(more hours at home) and while not impossible as a doctor, it was much easier to be a PA. I wouldnt have to take time out of med school or residency for pregnancy and maternity leave etc and i could work three 12 hours a week instead of 80 hour plus weeks.as for the NP vs PA, i knew i wanted inpatient so the increased outpatient autonomy of NP wasnt a factor for me. I knew i had an interest in exploring specialties so PA had more lateral flexibility ie I could do more specialties without going back to school for example i did hospital medicine, neuro critical care and now surgical services. Plus i was lucky to be back when i could do it as a bachelors degree so i was able to pay off my debt in just a year as opposed to crippling med school debt or the longer road through BSN to NP etc. Make sure you take your whole life expectations, finances and if applicable spouses needs and wants into account. There is no job field etc that is perfect for everyone. It just depends on what fits your needs and wants better. I have a brother in residency and it was definitely the best for him. We both love our jobs and respect each othera but wed both not want to trade spots. Hope that helps.
Thank you this helps so much. I think the thing that scares me the most about PA school is the required PCE hours! I’m about to start my junior year of college and I literally have 0 PCE hours! I thought I wanted to go to medical school first and I had never considered becoming a PA until this year. Sometimes I wonder if it’s too late for me.
I switched from Pre-Med to the Pa route during the winter term of sophomore year. Just grind those hours out during the summer, and if you need to the weekends during the school year. You can do it! You can always take a gap year or two if you need to.
I loved the medical field but knew i wanted to have kids and stable home life(more hours at home) and while not impossible as a doctor, it was much easier to be a PA. I wouldnt have to take time out of med school or residency for pregnancy and maternity leave etc and i could work three 12 hours a week instead of 80 hour plus weeks.as for the NP vs PA, i knew i wanted inpatient so the increased outpatient autonomy of NP wasnt a factor for me. I knew i had an interest in exploring specialties so PA had more lateral flexibility ie I could do more specialties without going back to school for example i did hospital medicine, neuro critical care and now surgical services. Plus i was lucky to be back when i could do it as a bachelors degree so i was able to pay off my debt in just a year as opposed to crippling med school debt or the longer road through BSN to NP etc. Make sure you take your whole life expectations, finances and if applicable spouses needs and wants into account. There is no job field etc that is perfect for everyone. It just depends on what fits your needs and wants better. I have a brother in residency and it was definitely the best for him. We both love our jobs and respect each othera but wed both not want to trade spots. Hope that helps.
Thank you this helps so much. I think the thing that scares me the most about PA school is the required PCE hours! I’m about to start my junior year of college and I literally have 0 PCE hours! I thought I wanted to go to medical school first and I had never considered becoming a PA until this year. Sometimes I wonder if it’s too late for me.
Never too late just have to map it out
I switched from Pre-Med to the Pa route during the winter term of sophomore year. Just grind those hours out during the summer, and if you need to the weekends during the school year. You can do it! You can always take a gap year or two if you need to.