I cant decide on which Medical field of study

[ICANHITHIMMAN]

Hay guys I'm at a cross roads in my schooling. I'm 3 years out of the mil and have been going to school for a few years now. I want to go into the medical field but I cant decide which diciploine to focus and I need to start applying to programs.

I'm considering Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant I know some of you here are EMTs, Medics, Corpsman, PAs and Doctors can you tell me what you think? I want to do more trama related stuff so whats the best choice.

I dont want to go to medical school right now, I'm not even considering it at this point. I live in Rochester NY so there is no shortage of great schools in the area and with the GI bill its a no brainer.

Jon

[Kegger]

As a medic I have always aspired to be a PA.

For NP, you need to go to nursing school, then on to NP. Too much redundancy.

For PA, just get a bachelors and apply to school. You can continue with your current major and not have to take a bunch of classes that just add another year or two onto your schooling.

But that's just me, YMMV.

[kiwi57]

ICANHITHIMMAN

As usual, it depends. What are your professional goals?

I was a DUSTOFF medic (91B2F) from 1977-1980 in West Germany and started PA school in 1981. Thirty years later, I am grateful to be a PA and could not imagine doing anything else. Getting into school is a real challenge (the school where I teach has 780 applicants for 44 seats this year).

I'd suggest devising a pro and con list after carefully researching the various professions open to you with your military experience (presumably medical) and further education. This would include talking with people who have been in the professions for a few years. An important question to ask is: "Would you do it all over again knowing what you know now?

http://www.aapa.org/
http://www.paeaonline.org/

Good Luck

Kiwi57

[Hmac]

Physician Assistant. Licensure in most states allows for a much broader scope of practice than Nurse Practicioner and you'll have much more flexibility and have many more options available to you. As mentioned, you need a Bachelor's degree in something, preferable science-related. I'd recommend finding a couple of good PA programs and go talk with a counselor - get recommendations as to how best to prepare your education for that track and how to make your application stand out. Consider a BS degree following a pre-med course of study. It may help you if you later decide to go to medical school.

The Physician Assistant concept was initiated to provide a civilian role for all the talented and experienced military coming out of the Viet Nam era. There's still a soft spot in their hearts for ex-military.

If and when you do go the PA route, consider a specialty track. There are some post-graduate fellowship programs after PA training for specializing in some areas of medicine, especially in some of the surgical specialities and Emergency Medicine. The demand in Orthopedics is especially high. Our orthopedics department has been looking hard for an Ortho PA...they're hard to come by and salaries start around $100,000.

[norinco982lover]

I say PA. Might as well get started on your BA now!

[GIJew766]

It depends on what you want. When I got out of the Fleet, I'd have never believed you if you told me I would go into any medical field whatsoever. Yet, a few years later, after doing the whole CBP thing, here I am. I worked a 911 ambulance service as an EMT, then did Medic, working in a hospital as an ER Tech while going to school to prep for med school. I want to do trauma and emergency medicine. For me, this choice works.

For you, if you want to do some trauma, you can do it as a tech, but you can also do it as a nurse or PA. It comes down to how much time you want to invest, and what end result you're chasing. For some, taking the time away from working is a difficult sacrifice. Others work while in school. It comes down to how much time, money and all that you're willing to part with.

No matter what, the medical field is probably one of the best to get into right now. A DoL report a while back said something about the field expects to see 16-19% growth over the next few years, so it's a good time to get in.

Hope this helps.


H

[ICANHITHIMMAN]

Thanks guys

RIT and UofR both have PA programs and I have already geared my current degree in the science/bio/med direction. So I'm on track for any one that I pic right now. There are alot more school options for Nursing in the area.

Thaks for the links and the advice I suppose I will ask the NPs and PAs at my doctors office the questions you poised to me.

I didnt do anything medical in the military beyond CLS traning. I just like helping people and when ever someone went down or needed stiches, bandages etc I liked to watch and help when allowed.

[WS6]

Hay guys I'm at a cross roads in my schooling. I'm 3 years out of the mil and have been going to school for a few years now. I want to go into the medical field but I cant decide which diciploine to focus and I need to start applying to programs.

I'm considering Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant I know some of you here are EMTs, Medics, Corpsman, PAs and Doctors can you tell me what you think? I want to do more trama related stuff so whats the best choice.

I dont want to go to medical school right now, I'm not even considering it at this point. I live in Rochester NY so there is no shortage of great schools in the area and with the GI bill its a no brainer.

Jon

RN,BSN here. I work Stepdown and SICU. We are a surgical hospital and don't get much trauma, but you don't have to work at a surgical hospital. Work ER at a place like LSU or other state hospital, and you will get your fill of it.

As I am a nurse, and none of the other you have mentioned, obviously I advise nursing if you think you would like it. Talk to a few people in all those professions, etc. and see what jives best with you.

Lots of "clashing of ranks" in a hospital. Just don't get involved in it. Respect everyone, expect (and show that you expect) respect from everyone. This has never failed me yet. Everyone from MD's to house-keeping smiles and says "hey, how are you?" when they see me, unless I see and greet them first.

[panzerr]

Think twice before becoming a PA. Licensure can be a hassle state to state and everything you do has to be signed off by an MD.

Dentistry is a good line of work so long as you don't have chronic thoracolumbar or cervical-thoracic problems (think being hunched over someone day after day). The work evenvironment would be much more laid back than a hospital and you would likely make more money than many MDs.

Chiropractic is what I am going in to and honestly I wouldn't suggest it unless you get the VA to pay for school (that's what I did). Many of my mates are looking at $200,000 in loans and so far the government only forgives loans for MDs, even though DCs are primary care physicians as well (little known fact). You also need to be business savvy as a Chiro because as of yet if a hospital has a DC on staff it is unusual so you will probably end up in private practice....although this is one of the aspects that drew me to the profession. This means if you aren't personable you will likely fail and default on your student loans because people will not like you and thus not seek out your care.

[Hmac]

Think twice before becoming a PA. Licensure can be a hassle state to state and everything you do has to be signed off by an MD.

Maybe it varies state to state. I work with PA's, and while I'm obligated to take responsibility for their work, I certainly don't have to sign off on everything, or even anything, that they do.

Chiropractic .....