PA vs. NP vs. RN vs. CNA?

[Seniorstatus14]

I honestly thought I knew what I was going to do with my life, until I registered for classes. I was aspiring to be a pediatrician one day, but after I registered my parents started trying to talk me into being a PA. I didn't realize when I go to the pediatrician's office, 90% of the time I see a PA or NP.

While looking up PA's I came across a whole list of medical jobs that from what I understand do mostly the same thing. (This probably isn't true, so please don't take offense if you find that last statement insulting. I'm just confused) I don't know the difference between the schooling and job descriptions of a PA, NP, RN, & CNA. And the more I google, the more confused I get. All I know is that I want to work in the pediatrics field. I just don't know if I should be a PA, NP, RN, or CNA. Apparently it's becoming harder to be an actual pediatrician. Not only are they increasing the length of the MCAT by two hours, but a lot of insurance companies don't want to pay the money for a pediatrician and would rather just pay for the PA/NP/RN/CNA etc.

I don't really care about the salary each of these careers make. (I do care about my student loan amounts though) That's not why I want to be in the medical field. I want to be in it to help people (or in this case, children) grow up to be happy and healthy.

So any advice/ tips/ or explanations regarding these fields would be greatly appreciated!

[Nola]

I don't know much about NP, RN or CNA positions, but I do have a story about a PA vs. a doctor...

So, my roommate back in college had the idea that he was smart enough to be a doctor (he wasn't, but this isn't important, he's just an asshole and saying this makes me feel vindicated hahah) so he makes an appointment with a physician to basically tell him he is smart enough to be a doctor. Well, he only got to talk to the PA who told him that he does nearly everything a doctor can do, but isn't allowed to sign away for prescriptions, and also has more face time with the patients.

Another gal I know (who is not an asshole) is going to be a PA, and she says the schooling is two years shorter than that of an MD, and that is without the specialization that you would need to be a pediatrician. (it is six vs. eight years).

All this being said, I think you just have to find out what is important to you. You seem to like kids (seeing as you said similar I am no Sherlock), so it is more of a matter of what capacity you would most like to be around them. You could go into pediatric surgery, pediatric oncology, the midwife stuff (not sure what the clinical terminology is), or you could be a pediatric nurse, or a PA in a pediatric setting. There are more, but I'm not totally familiar.

I guess, what I'm saying, is the sky should be your limit. If you are capable of going the distance and becoming an MD, go for it! There are ways to bypass some of the costs that medical school will bring, and sometimes there are signing bonuses and the like...But if you think you'd be happier elsewhere, that is just fine as well.

I guess, personally, I've always been more comfortable with my PA than with my actual doctor, but that's just me.

Ask your adviser, though, for more details on the separations between each, because that's what they are there for.

Hope this helps, and good luck dear!

[Seniorstatus14]

Thanks Nola! When I think back on all the times I've had a PA instead of my pediatrician, I kind of feel more comfortable with them too. Like when my doctor talks about personal stuff I'm like "Well you've never seen me except for my physicals once a year so I'd really rather have this conversation with the PA who sees me every time I'm sick." I don't think I could do Pediatric oncology. I think I would burst into tears the moment I walked into a room that contained a child with a life threatening illness. I do kind of like the less schooling, just because I can't wait to start the job. I read somewhere that when applying to PA programs you should have like 2000 hours of time in a health related career and that seems like a lot! I don't know...

I'm hoping my Pre-health orientation classes will tell me more. (I have 2 of them. One specific to my learning community and the other one general)

Edited June 26, 2014 by Seniorstatus14

[Nola]

Thanks Nola! When I think back on all the times I've had a PA instead of my pediatrician, I kind of feel more comfortable with them too. Like when my doctor talks about personal stuff I'm like "Well you've never seen me except for my physicals once a year so I'd really rather have this conversation with the PA who sees me every time I'm sick." I don't think I could do Pediatric oncology. I think I would burst into tears the moment I walked into a room that contained a child with a life threatening illness. I do kind of like the less schooling, just because I can't wait to start the job. I read somewhere that when applying to PA programs you should have like 2000 hours of time in a health related career and that seems like a lot! I don't know...

I'm hoping my Pre-health orientation classes will tell me more. (I have 2 of them. One specific to my learning community and the other one general)

I hope they do, too. I think that is what is lacking in colleges in general, they want you to know what to do, but aren't all that helpful to those of us (me, anyways) who are unsure of what is out there. But, again, talk to your adviser, so you get that one-on-one. That way they'll get to know you and can maybe tailor their specific advice to what might suit you best.

Furthermore, just more of my two cents...you seem like a really caring person, and so I think that could propel you to do either the MD or PA. Also, you don't have even the slightest cadence of arrogance about you, and that makes me think you could do either, too. *shrugs* Just blabbing here, as I spent a good chunk of my college days with arrogant sods who thought they were already scientists, doctors, physical therapists, etc. Hahah...

Let me know how it works out for you, okay?

[Seniorstatus14]

Thanks Nola! When I think back on all the times I've had a PA instead of my pediatrician, I kind of feel more comfortable with them too. Like when my doctor talks about personal stuff I'm like "Well you've never seen me except for my physicals once a year so I'd really rather have this conversation with the PA who sees me every time I'm sick." I don't think I could do Pediatric oncology. I think I would burst into tears the moment I walked into a room that contained a child with a life threatening illness. I do kind of like the less schooling, just because I can't wait to start the job. I read somewhere that when applying to PA programs you should have like 2000 hours of time in a health related career and that seems like a lot! I don't know...

I'm hoping my Pre-health orientation classes will tell me more. (I have 2 of them. One specific to my learning community and the other one general)

I hope they do, too. I think that is what is lacking in colleges in general, they want you to know what to do, but aren't all that helpful to those of us (me, anyways) who are unsure of what is out there. But, again, talk to your adviser, so you get that one-on-one. That way they'll get to know you and can maybe tailor their specific advice to what might suit you best.

Furthermore, just more of my two cents...you seem like a really caring person, and so I think that could propel you to do either the MD or PA. Also, you don't have even the slightest cadence of arrogance about you, and that makes me think you could do either, too. *shrugs* Just blabbing here, as I spent a good chunk of my college days with arrogant sods who thought they were already scientists, doctors, physical therapists, etc. Hahah...

Let me know how it works out for you, okay?

Haha thank you! I will definitely let you know. And also, thanks for telling me that I seem caring and aren't very arrogant, because I really needed the pick me up today . The past four years in that program I was in was really a humbling experience. Hahaha

[Nola]

The past four years in that program I was in was really a humbling experience. Hahaha

We've all been there in some way, shape or form. It sucks, but thankfully, we only blush for awhile and then we're able to move on! But yes, to me, you seem like you're a genuinely caring person, and I give kudos to you for wanting to work with kids, especially kids in hospitals. *shudders just thinking about it* Hahaha, anyways, I'll be here, just rooting for ya!