I want to be a Physician Assistant..Which is the better route?
Question:
1. Go to a University and get a Bachelor's in Nursing (BSN) then work for some time as an Registered Nurse then apply to Physician Assistant (PA) school that offer a certificate program. (PA-C)
2. Go to a community college get my RN degree (A.S.) there then apply to PA school that offer a Bachelor's degree. (which is only one school)
3. Forget nursing and just apply straight to PA school that offer A.S. or Bachelor's without RN degree.
(My patient experience prior appying to PA school is gonna be from CNA and MA)
Answer:
Third choice, and since you won't be working as a nurse--you'll have plenty of time to shadow an actual PA and volunteer at the hospital. You would benefit more from shadowing someone in the field you are interested in. Volunteering will allow you to continue patient care, but shows you actually want to do it--and weren't just trying to make a buck off it. When I applied to grad school, they looked more favorably upon my unpaid internships and such. They knew I wanted to go into Physiology because I had been working, for free, in a lab for several months.
Majoring in a science would probably be your best bet, but at a minimum, make sure you take plenty of science courses. I would say taking the standard pre-med curriculum with be most beneficial to you. Good luck!
**I didn't pick 1 or 2 because I think getting your RN would be overkill (and not necessary) if you truly want to work as a PA. If your grades are not strong, pick 1 so you can get more work experience behind you.
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