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Any nursing or physician assistant students out there?

clearheavensclearheavens member
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I got my BS in Biomedical Engineering in 2008, was miserable working for a commercial jet engine company, and decided to pursue my original love of working with people and healthcare and am going back to school.  My goal is to get into a physician assistant program.  However, the one that I am aiming for requires 1000 hours of clinical experience.  I don't have that!  That's where I ask you ladies for advice.

To fulfill my minimum 1000 hours of clinical experience, I'm thinking of becoming a nurse aide and work in a nursing home.  Do you know what I have to do to do that?  I googled it and the programs in my city that offer a nurse aide certificate range anywhere from 3 weeks to almost 2 years.  They can't be the same thing.  I'm so confused.

And if not nurse aide, is there anything else in healthcare I can do that doesn't require a degree or certificate, or the certificate is fast to get?

Help!
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Re: Any nursing or physician assistant students out there?

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    clearheavensclearheavens member
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    edited June 2010
    Yeah, you got a point.  This is straight from the website:

    "Applicants must provide documentation of health care experience, either paid or voluntary, that reflects direct patient care with decision-making process necessary to become a successful PA student and graduate professional. It is highly suggested that applicants have 1,000 hours of experience, which could be obtained in but not limited to the following roles: nurse, nurse’s aide, emergency medical technician or paramedic, laboratory technician/phlebotomist, medical office assistant with patient care responsibilities, military medical specialist, respiratory care practitioner, radiological technologist, or mission worker."

    So it appears they require direct contact with patients with decision-making process, so that's why I thought nurse aide was the fastest way to go since I've been in school since 2003 and don't want to prolong my career any longer.
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    cheercmlcheercml member
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    I am a nursing student right now going to school full time and I graduate in December.  To get experience for my application I volunteered in an emergency department as a patient representative and on a cancer ward as a visitor to patients.  It was wonderful experience and I could kind of do hours as I had time.  If they require patient care I would recommend getting your CNA license/certification.
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    clearheavensclearheavens member
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    edited June 2010
    OK, I'll do what I can to get a CNA license.  After reading your post, this is what I found online for those in the Cincinnati area.  Thanks for helping me, ladies!

    There are three schools in the Cincinnati area that offer the coursework necessary to prepare for this test:Cincinnati State Technical and Community College
    9-week program with 4 and one half hours two times a week or a two-week, full-time program 513-569-1669Greater Cincinnati Nurse Aide Training
    75-hour basic nurse aid training course, which covers OBRA standards as required by State and Federal Law to train nurse aides.Health Professionals Academy/Great Oaks School of Practical Nursing
    75-hour nurse aide training course over four-week period from 8 am to 12 pm daily or 5 pm to 10 pm, Monday through Thursday. Located at the Jewish Hospital Professional Building, 3120 Burnet Avenue, first floor. For more information, contact Susan Rench at the Health Professionals Academy, 513-961-4220, ext. 19.
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    LauraT25LauraT25
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    Best of luck!
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    alinkchickaalinkchicka
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    I am not sure where you live at or with the restrictions are but I live in ohio and before I became an lpn while I was going to school I worked at an assisted living facility as an aide.  Not very good pay but if you are a hard worker you can get plenty of hours and they do not require getting your stna (state tested nursing assistant).  Also community colleges usually offer a couple week long programs to get you stna to work at a nursing home, little better pay but usully harder work.  Plus the test cost probably $150. 

    I was kind of like you I went to school to be a physical therpist and after I got my Bachelors I decided I didn't want to go into physical therapy school so I started nursing school.  I have my lpn right now working on my RN.

    I would check out any local assisted living facilities in your area and see if you need any training.
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    alinkchickaalinkchicka
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    Ohh I see now that you are from Ohio.  You can diffinately save some time and money by looking into assisted living.  I recommend it!  good Luck
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    tmwagnertmwagner
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    I graduate from nursing school in August and I currently work as a nursed aide.  I am not a CNA, my hopital does not require this, they train you.  Look at the hospitals in you area, I'm sure you can find something that doesn't require certification!

    Good Luck!
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    futuremrshofffuturemrshoff member
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    Nurs aid certificates are VERY fast and inexpensive to obtain I got mine in 3 weeks and have since decided to become an RN....that is taking a bit longer to obtain but will be sooo worth it!
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    LiciaCole16LiciaCole16
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    I'm Pre-PA getting a biology degree right now. The school I hope to attend (Trevecca in Nashville) doesn't require clinical hours, but does require letter of recommendation from a PA or MD
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    bethy04bethy04 member
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    Most PA programs are graduate programs and require a bachelors, which can be in any discipline.  I would investigate the pre-reqs for multiple programs.  I find it hard to believe you would need to obtain your CNA to go to PA school as they are unrelated.  Focus you interview/ resume on your other traits to make up for your lack of patient care.  Typically, PAs worked in healthcare (often RN or RT), and it sounds like the program you are applying to is geared towards these students.

    My background: RN, BSN going to graduate school for a doctorate in nursing.
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    clearheavensclearheavens member
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    edited July 2010
    In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_students_nursing-pa-students-out-there?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:684Discussion:e17ee26f-45ac-4eab-bb18-1de01e514880Post:991d30f0-620b-4f58-9b85-adf390d966cd">Re: Any nursing or physician assistant students out there?</a>:
    [QUOTE]I find it hard to believe you would need to obtain your CNA to go to PA school as they are unrelated.  Focus you interview/ resume on your other traits to make up for your lack of patient care.  Typically, PAs worked in healthcare (often RN or RT), and it sounds like the program you are applying to is geared towards these students. My background: RN, BSN going to graduate school for a doctorate in nursing.
    Posted by bethy04[/QUOTE]

    <div>I have to clarify, the program I'm aiming for <strong>doesn't require </strong>a CNA, just direct experience with patients.  I just wanted to get a job that would give me the<strong> best chance </strong>at this.  But some of the girls told me I don't need a CNA, I could search through some of the hospital jobs.</div><div>
    </div><div>So let me give a try at that first and update everyone later on what I find!</div>
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    Goff2010Goff2010 member
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    I just completed a CNA training course and am waiting to take the state exam. It was VERY easy, the course consisted of 10 5 hour classes in a two week period, and then four clinicals after. All in all, it will have cost me less than five hundred dollars. I'm getting ready to take nursing pre-reqs in the fall. Definitely take a CNA course as it will help familiarize you with the terminology and give you a chance to start working in healthcare. I would suggest not doing it in a nursing home because you will mostly just be helping people with ADLs, but it is not a bad place to start. Good luck!
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    JKLieneckJKLieneck member
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    I worked at Nova Southeastern University (Ft. Lauderdale, FL campus) Physician Assistant Program (I'm attending law school there, but i'm not a PA-C).  They asked for medical experience, but really just wanted you to shadow PAs to know that was the field you wanted to go into (ie you didn't REALLY want to be a doctor).  So why don't you just talk with the admissions counselors at the school you are applying for to get their opinion.  It may help or at least reaffirm your thoughts about getting your CNA license (which I think getting a job like that would.)
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