Paramedics: If you could do it all over again...

[EMSrush]

Thank you for all the responses. I am really surprised at the number of folks that are interested in med school. I'm not sure why I have no interest in it- I don't know if it's the ridiculous malpractice insurance rates, the dances with the insurance companies, the indebtedness that is inherited along with the degree.... I don't know. Either way, it's great to have goals- and for what it's worth, you're never too old to change things and further your education.

I too, have this weird craving for knowledge. I see and learn new things in the field, and get the "aha moment", and then go home and research further. Even if I didn't want to change fields, I'd definitely go back and complete my degree. Is there anyone here who is a medic/RT, I wonder...?

 

[Christopher]

I wouldn't swap doctor for engineering personally unless I really hated being a doctor. You can potentially make more money as an engineer but it's way, way less certain.

I wouldn't swap it either...but I'm burned out from working at a corporation for 10 years. Money tracks with industry averages, work is...Work is work.

 

[eprex]

Thank you for all the responses. I am really surprised at the number of folks that are interested in med school. I'm not sure why I have no interest in it- I don't know if it's the ridiculous malpractice insurance rates, the dances with the insurance companies, the indebtedness that is inherited along with the degree.... I don't know. Either way, it's great to have goals- and for what it's worth, you're never too old to change things and further your education.

I too, have this weird craving for knowledge. I see and learn new things in the field, and get the "aha moment", and then go home and research further. Even if I didn't want to change fields, I'd definitely go back and complete my degree. Is there anyone here who is a medic/RT, I wonder...?

Being a doctor is the pinnacle of working in medicine, at least to most people, so a lot of PA's, NP's, etc will express that they wish they had become a doctor because they feel they can handle their job and then some, not to mention the prestige and money.

You don't have to accrue an insane amount of debt to become a medical doctor so long as you choose a school intelligently and live within your means. Many doctors live outside their means and then complain about their school loans or that they don't make enough.

You're not weird for wanting to be a doctor though, due to the nature of the job it shouldn't be for most people.

 

[eprex]

But to be fair it seems that PA is where it's at now. In fact my father said to me "don't become a doctor, most of them are miserable at my hospital". But it's okay to want to strive for the top and fall somewhere below, I figure.

 

[EMSrush]

PA is something I had halfway considered, years ago. What is the schooling difference between PA and MD? Can't be more than a year or so??

 

[MediMike]

Quite a bit.
Med School=4 years +4 years Residency
PA School=2 years (most places 24-27months) (Residencies are offered, and are getting more common, normally 2 years in duration, otherwise it's considered an OJT situation)

PA School also has less prerequisites for the most part, no MCATs. Now that being said, from the folks I've talked to over the last 10 years PA school crams more into a smaller amount of time, but doesn't go near as much in depth as med school.

Medical school seems to prepare you for the most complicated unique patients with a more indepth foundation of the sciences, while PA school gives you a broad range of knowledge and will prepare you with a great foundation to initially begin treating the less complex patients.

Now this is simply my interpretation of the whole thing With all that being said, just put my app in for PA school, we'll see how it goes.

 

[VFlutter]

How many classes would you need to take on top of that degree to be eligable for med school?


I believe NP you just need the BSN.

For med school or CRNA/ACNP you need physics, calculus, and organic chem. (+/- depending on the school). I should be able to do it in one semester.

For regular NPs you just need a BSN

 

[NYMedic828]

I've heard CRNA is very difficult to get accepted to a program.

People told me they wanna see a 4.0 in the sciences.

$170k+ a year is pretty substantial though.

 

[VFlutter]

I've heard CRNA is very difficult to get accepted to a program.

People told me they wanna see a 4.0 in the sciences.

$170k+ a year is pretty substantial though.

GPA is important along with quality ICU experience.

For perspective my school accepts 5 students a term (2 terms a year) and usually 40 apply

 

[Veneficus]

I would just like to mention, if your desire to become a doctor is motivated by how much you make, it is probably best to stick with the mid level stuff.

 

[Sandog]

For med school or CRNA/ACNP you need physics, calculus, and organic chem. (+/- depending on the school). I should be able to do it in one semester.

For regular NPs you just need a BSN

One semester would be tough. Calc is usually pre-req for Physics, and physics and O-chem are usually 2 semester courses. May be different at your school though. Despite that, taking those 3 classes in one semester would prove to be overwhelming I think.
And let us not forget about 2 semesters of Gen Chem.

 

[MSDeltaFlt]

I left RT because I was trying to further my career with knowledge, skills, excitement, etc. Went from EMS to flying there I nearly died. Left flying back to ground because I have become increasingly dissatisfied with the competitiveness of the entire HEMS industry. Am currently exploring the potential of education. Might still go back to RT full or part time.

Everyone has their moment(s) of greatness. I've had mine. Now I want to be an anonymous patient and student advocate benefiting them and me working smarter not harder and eventually fade away into mediocrity.

 

[eprex]

One semester would be tough. Calc is usually pre-req for Physics, and physics and O-chem are usually 2 semester courses. May be different at your school though. Despite that, taking those 3 classes in one semester would prove to be overwhelming I think.
And let us not forget about 2 semesters of Gen Chem.

You don't have to take calc based physics for medical school. You need 2 semesters of physics, bio, gen chem, and 1-2 semesters of organic.

It's definitely doable to take physics, orgo and another one of those classes in one semester. I took physics, orgo, and calc (plus another class) in one semester and I had never even seen physics before and had to relearn basic algebra in gen chemistry.

Just requires hard work and time management. The hard part is getting 3.6+ gpa while doing all those extracurriculars.

 

[MediMike]

I would just like to mention, if your desire to become a doctor is motivated by how much you make, it is probably best to stick with the mid level stuff.

If anything you do is motivated entirely by your compensation I beg you not to pursue it.

 

[eprex]

PA is something I had halfway considered, years ago. What is the schooling difference between PA and MD? Can't be more than a year or so??

PA is 4 years and add residency if you look to specialize. I've heard good things about surgical PA's

MD/DO is 4 years + minimum 3 years of residency (general practitioner and I believe internal medicine) could be up to 5 years + fellowship for more "serious" specialties.

It's actually a significant difference. But if time spent in school + money are your biggest concern, then go to dental school.

 

[terrible one]

I would still do the paramedic thing but instead of the B.S. I am currently completing now I'd just do a BSN.

 

[eprex]

Addendum: It would be impossible to take both chem, physics courses in one semester. You have to have completed one to enter the other. But you can definitely do it in 2 semesters.

 

[VFlutter]

PA is 4 years and add residency if you look to specialize. I've heard good things about surgical PA's

MD/DO is 4 years + minimum 3 years of residency (general practitioner and I believe internal medicine) could be up to 5 years + fellowship for more "serious" specialties.


It's actually a significant difference. But if time spent in school + money are your biggest concern, then go to dental school.

What kind of degree is that 4 year PA program? Most that I am familiar with are 2 year post graduate masters degrees with a short residency. Then 2 more years for EM or anesthesia assistant.

I would do anything to get into Washington University's medical school

 

[NYMedic828]

What kind of degree is that 4 year PA program? Most that I am familiar with are 2 year post graduate masters degrees with a short residency. Then 2 more years for EM or anesthesia assistant.

I would do anything to get into Washington University's medical school

There are a couple 4 year PA programs around here in NY.

Personally, I would rather have a masters to my name... For employment and self worth purposes.


My friend is graduating with a masters, surgical PA in December. Different friend finished last month and is working ER.



I've been told PA school is not very friendly to working while attending school. NP/Ph.D is probably the best long term goal for me.

 

[medicsb]

I would do anything to get into Washington University's medical school

Good luck with that. But, really, there is nothing to indicate that they are any better of a school despite their affinity for high MCAT scores. Remember, the best medical school is the one that accepts you.