Can I get back on a prestigious track? Ideas?

Emt

The EMT is always a good start in the Healthcare world.

Reasons:
1. It takes about three months and relatively cheap.
2. It allows you to explore the medical career.
3. It gives you the opportunity to see if you are cut out for a career in healthcare while enriching and enlightening you about advanced medical and first aid concepts.
4. Most medical/healthcare programs have highly competitive admissions and want to see if you have a background in the medical field.
5. You would be very surprised to see how many nurses, doctors, PA's, NP's started out as an EMT!
6. Your analogy of a bronze medal to gold medal is foolish! Your knowledge base has to start somewhere and you have to have a foundation in the basics. If you never master the basics you will never be a master. In my opinion, a sleep lab technician certification does not give you a foundation in the "basics".
7. When I was in the Army many years ago, an Army nurse told me to get my EMT first. I already had a Bachelors degree but wanted to dive into the healthcare industry just as you do now. I don't regret for one minute taking the three month course and becoming an EMT. It opened my eyes to the medical field and I liked what I saw but like I said before, the medical field isn't for everyone. The minimal investment in time and money was well worth it!
8. It gave me 6 college credits of free electives
9.You are wise to ask these questions and do your due diligence. Good luck!

 

Well... if I use the subject GRE, then finishing my Excelsior BA is really quite easy. Esp if I go with the Psych GRE. Biology I'll have to study three times as much for since I forget Biology. And for Biology I believe I need to take one or two ECE's at the minimum. Not sure how much more I have to do for a BS.

Oh, of course. The whole point in them wanting trained PAs or AAs is that the PA or AA basically does the job of the MD, unless the case becomes complicated in some way, then they know enough to get the MD to step in or ask a couple questions. You're right though, I guess I've been thinking of the AA job as being easier than PA which is silly of me.

I actually like working under pressure. I think that's what is happening to me in this world of self-employment... no structure and honestly not a lot of challenge? Well, I feel like the challenge is "place better ads and get more customers" and that kind of thing, which just turns me off.

And it's pretty amazing that I could do a PA program from here. The first short semester residential and then the rest of the clinical parts here.

With a DL program (whether PA or RT or whatever), I wonder if I would end up with less skill or knowledge at the end. Their aim would be to make it similar, but I wonder.

Tom, congrats on getting this far!

Don't hate me too much, but as you could probably guess, I'd have family to pay my way (at least lend the money), so yeah... that helps a lot in opening certain doors. I might really need it especially if I have to go elsewhere and pay rent AND mortgage, travel back and forth, etc. Also. While I have a very independent streak, my other freedom-loving side sort of likes the idea that I could just live an excellent lifestyle and maybe not work, because of my boyfriend's income. He is actually a physician. Yes, I know things can happen. And as I said, for me it's a lot about the personal achievement.

From the brainstorming recently, it seems I have narrowed down my potential choices pretty well. Mostly it's 1) work super hard for PA or AA 2) otherwise RT (for sleep lab) or sonography. Maybe medical librarian. 3) Not go to school and do the self-employment track I've been on for a while and stop feeling down about it. It could have some good possibilities if I really worked at it, even if if I spent 1/2 the time and effort that those degree programs would take. Maybe invest in real estate, try to get a writing career off the ground, whatever. If I do that, I'd still get the bachelors though (with Psych, maybe Bio GRE).

Re: Medical Librarian, If I went into this profession, it seems like I'd dislike some workplaces. So that's not good because I might not be able to pick the best one for me especially when starting out and I might not even know what workplace had the certain things I disliked until I began working there. (I mean, that's true for a lot of things like if I started at a sleep lab / sonography place and then later the boss was rude, but I think generally it's more controlled.) But Medical Librarian is good because the degree would be in L & IS and that would be pretty flexible.

 

Thanks. I will consider the EMT thing or something else that is more serious like that (if other options exist, along those lines). When I was in high school, my friend and I decided we'd be pre-med in college and then obviously go to med school. She did the EMT training and I believe it (was the key thing that) actually turned her off from going into medicine. (Everyone including me thought she should clearly be a physician!) However, maybe that was a really good thing and it's just not for HER. As you said.

A number of PAs end up thinking they should've just gone to med school. Or they want to go back. At least with the PA route, specialization is possible. In surgery even (being the highest paying). Then again AAs make more than specialized PAs in general.

If I am working toward a BS/BA Biology at Excelsior, I believe I'm not allowed to enroll in the nursing/health courses or take nursing/health ECEs since those are a different School? Maybe I can take some but they just don't count toward that degree, then I can apply them later if I enroll in another School (at Excelsior or anywhere)?

 

I read in an earlier thread that Excelsior College allows non-nursing students to challenge the Adult Nursing, Psychiatric Mental health Nursing and Maternal and Child Nursing ECE exams each worth 8 upper level credits. You can go to Amazon.com to purchase used textbooks in those areas. I am amazed people are passing them without a background in nursing. Certainly not an easy 24 credits. Purchasing a textbook that is one edition outdated is probably okay to save money because these ECE exams are not the most up to date content anyway. just make sure the reviews show numerous 4 or 5 star reviews.

 

You would have to check with Excelsior but I would expect that you could take nursing/health courses and apply them as applied professional credits (up to 60 credit hours for a BS and 30 for a BA -- see catalog).

 

The Dantes Pass Rates

http://www.dantes.doded.mil/DANTES_WEB/library/docs/examinations/paper_based_exams.pdf


http://www.dantes.doded.mil/DANTES_WEB/library/docs/examinations/computer_based_exams.pdf

Having taken many of these exams 20 years ago, I feel somewhat qualified to offer an opinion on the use of these pass rates as an indicator for taking these challenge exams. This is an overall generalization and everyone has different areas of strengths and weaknesses.

Pass rate of 0 to 40% = Difficult and requires intensive study.
Pass rate of 41 to 69 = Moderate to average exam difficulty
Pass rate of 70 to 100% Relatively easy.
Caution: Never underestimate an exam!

If you look at the pass rate for the exam in Adult Nursing for example, it has a pass rate of 33%. We don't know what kind of students took this exam. Are they Army nurses with a lot of experience or are they student nurses? Let us assume they have nursing experience. This is a low pass rate and therefore a difficult challenge exam.

Also, the larger the sample (Volume of Test Takers) the more accurate the measurement of difficulty.

Example: Public speaking has a sample of 8932 test takers and a pass rate of 83%. Conclusion: a relatively easy exam with a little study.

I just thought this could be an interesting and possibly valuable tool in evaluating challenge exam potential difficulty. This assumes that the sample of military test takers has an intelligence and test taking aptitude similar to a
civilian sample. Of course the military always taught me that the word assume
can make an a$$ out of u and me.

 

Have you asked your physician boyfriend for career advice? He obviously has experience in health care and perhaps he can give you some perspective on these potential career choices.

I would really encourage you to pursue what you love. Don't do what I have done and waste 10 years of your life sitting in a cubicle. Yes, I make decent money (especially for someone without a bachelors degree), but if I could do it all over again, I would have gone to college right out of high school and I would be in a helping profession right now (medicine, counseling or something related). Of course, I'm still relatively young and I have options available to me, but I now have a family to consider. It sounds like you are also young and possibly without children to look after. If this is the case, then perhaps you should take some time off of work and allow your parents and boyfriend to help out financially while you attend school. Just some food for thought. Of course, you could continue working while going to school part-time. See, there are a number of options, the trouble is just selecting one and sticking with it to completion (been there and done that too many times to count!).

If you have some obvious gaps that you know could be filled with CLEP and/or DANTES exams, then perhaps that can be your first step - pick up some study guides and hit the books! I can tell you that the CLEP exam "Analyzing and Interpreting Literature" was very easy and it is worth 6 credits. Just make sure that the exams you select will line up with a degree program at one of the "Big 3" or your college of choice (yes, many other colleges also accept these exams, but not to the same extent as the Big 3 schools).

 

Medical librarian

If you are looking at becoming a librarian of any kind, the largest distance learning program for librarians is located at San Jose State University in California. With over a thousand students, they have folks specializing in all sorts of things. It is, as you suggest, a flexible master's degree as well. SJSU graduates end up working for all sorts of entities besides the public library systems.

It has a strong reputation in the field and uses cutting-edge technology (including Second Life). It's worth a look.



Tom Nixon

 

Ok, that's good news about the Nursing ECEs! Sure, I don't think they are easy.

I was under the impression that I couldn't take DANTES. I have zero connection to military anything. Or maybe I didn't like something about the grading of those tests.

Yeah I had figured out that I just needed maybe 6 CLEP plus Psych GRE to get the BA. Or Bio GRE then add 2 ECE to get a BA, something like that. I am a very good standardized test taker and plan to use that.

I've seen others talk about the difficulty and pass rates for CLEPs, ECEs, etc... and that info is helpful.

Sure, I have been getting info from my boyfriend and others. I'm sure my father (w/ advanced healthcare degree too) will give me some really good advice too but also probably say way too much and tell me that it'd be much harder than I am expecting :\ It's cool when someone knows the field and also know about my own personality. Of course any time you get any info, you have to realize it's colored by their own experiences and abilities and so on.

Yep. Compared to most others who are looking at going back to school, I have a great situation, I know I do. No kids, financial help, etc. Of course I do have some things to deal with. So that very fact makes me think I am almost "obligated" to go for the best program I can get into that I think I can handle (pass) and that I would enjoy. But I am pretty interested in those other choices ("mid" level to me) like especially an RT working in a sleep lab. And I could be involved in some clinical research on the side most likely! (The sleep tech I know was.)

Regarding AA, I guess it'll likely take a WHILE before they have DL and a school right in my backyard... bleh... I think I was just being really optimistic and hopeful before. But that one school opened a new branch it seems, so that one site is now saying there are 6 schools. It's really just 5, IMO. The new branch is in FL too. Then again, I believe there are 4 medical schools within 2 hours of me... I think they really NEED an AA program HERE. lol.

Thank you for the tip on SJSU. That sounds excellent.

 

Am I right in thinking there are no other "advanced" healthcare degrees that take less than 3 years? I mean... pharmacy, podiatry, optometry, chiro, naturopathic, etc are all 3-4+ I believe.

Oh, I would be interested in being a licensed physical therapist but that is physically demanding.

Genetic counseling could potentially be good for me.

*Maybe* regular counseling like an MSW degree but I really don't want to listen to people's negative thoughts all day every day, to be blunt about it.

I think PA would be funny if I could work w/my boyfriend all day. Or maybe not, I guess you aren't supposed to do that or you might snap at each other. Kind of sucks that even after a ton of work my degree would be far "inferior", but yeah, med school seems far too much for me these days and back then too probably. PA seems way easier to me than MD.

 

I'd like to sign up for the quick and easy GRE everyone keeps talking about.

In any event, bio GRE or CLEP science credits won't count as pre-reqs for anything health/medical without labs.

 

Meaning that you don't think it's quick or easy? Well everything is relative, and I am considering studying to get a good MCAT score.

Yeah, that's been discussed here. I'd have to add up the different credits and see, as it is possible the GRE won't do much -- IF I am going to try and load up on those prereq courses now. I'm pretty sure I'll take it no matter what, as sort of a backup, and maybe it will look good if I get a really great score on it, and it will give me a deadline for knowing some biology.

 

If you know (and have instant recall of) all the material for your GRE, then it's as easy as staying awake. But getting to that point for most people is a challenge. Don't underestimate any of these standardized tests, they do require serious work and study for most people to score well.

I definitely recommend taking a practice MCAT and/or GRE. And I'll pass along the advice that is commonly given to medical and health majors -- if you're in it for the money/prestige alone, you will probably wash out. In addition to money, there is also a lot of headache involved in having clients (psyc, medical, etc).

But also I agree with a previous poster that BS to Harvard would be a very prestigious option.

 

Dantes

Yes, Dantes exams are available to the public for a nominal fee. They offer Lifespan developmental Psychology. I got a B.

www.getcollegecredit.com

In addition to ECE, Clep and GRE TECEP exams through Thomas Edison are also available.

When studying for the MCAT KAPLAN has some excellent books.

Also, The GRE Subject Psychology I recommend Kaplan GRE Subject Test Psychology
http://store.kaptest.com/catalog/templates/product.jhtml?PRODID=kprod9781419551420&rcid=T00150000

GRE practice book by ETS free:
http://ftp.ets.org/pub/gre/Psychology.pdf

Princeton Review Cracking the GRE subject exam
http://www.amazon.com/Cracking-GRE-Psychology-Subject-Test/dp/0375764925/ref=pd_bxgy_b_text_b

and a couple used textbooks in Psychology, Lifespan psych and abnormal psychology. ECE offers an Abnormal Psych exam (upper level), I got in A on that one. It is too bad GRE does not offer the Sociology Subject exam anymore. I earned 30 credits on that one and 15 were upper level.

 

I met my wife at work and we work in the same department (although we don't usually work together on projects, it does happen on occasion). We have been together for 2 1/2 years and so far, so good. BTW, she is also a physician.


Maybe it would help if you let us know you academic background to date (i.e. how many credits you have and in what subjects). In that way, we might be able to help you with some options.

There are a number of "advanced" healthcare (or related) degrees out there, that take less than three years to complete (most require a BA or BS w/ a number of pre req's): PA, AA, MSN (direct entry program), Speech/Language Pathologist, Occupational Therapist.

Since you mentioned Optometry - have you considered a career as an Orthoptist? It's a small profession, but it might just be of interest to you.

From the Orthoptics.org website:

Orthoptics is an ophthalmic field pertaining to the evaluation and treatment of patients with disorders of the visual system with an emphasis on binocular vision and eye movements. Orthoptists are uniquely skilled in diagnostic techniques.

Orthoptics is a versatile field with opportunities and responsibilities in a variety of clinical settings. Orthoptists may serve their communities in private ophthalmology practices. Others may work in hospital or medical university settings with involvement in patient care, academics and clinical research. Orthoptists may serve as directors or advisors of state and local vision screening programs.


Orthoptists commonly work in pediatric ophthalmology settings. Orthoptists serve patients of all ages, but because of the nature of many binocular disorders, the majority of patients are children. Adult care in the field of Orthoptics is uniquely challenging and rewarding, found in settings of ophthalmology specific to neuro-ophthalmology and adult eye muscle disorders.


Orthoptics offers opportunities for dynamic individuals who desire to exercise leadership ability and for those who enjoy involvement in a professional organization. The American Association of Certified Orthoptists (AACO) is a membership organization with a mission to promote and advance the professional and educational competence of orthoptists. The AACO is governed and administrated by member orthoptists.

 

>>

All the best to you.

 

Yeah, I have the books I need to study for Bio and Psych GRE, have an MCAT book to glance at, have about 6 CLEP books, other textbooks, etc. I know how to prep for those tests. The harder part for me is getting through a normal class :\ I feel like if it's clinical/hands-on and something hard, I might be better at staying with the program. But I'm trying to learn better study skills and will probably get decent practice before I apply to a program.

I was looking at the TECEP list the other day and I thought they had only 2 science exams which ECEs already covered. DSST on the other hand... very good chance I'll do some of those. Thanks for bringing that to my attention. In the past when I originally planned my degree, I didn't want letter grades on those, but now I really would like letter grades on them.

Although I am a bit stressed about trying to make all A's on ECEs, DSST, and any courses. If I want into an AA or PA program, since I would have a DL degree, a GPA of under 3.7 would be bad most likely. For ECEs they don't care if you go open book? Yes, I know open book tests can be even harder, but I guess I feel more secure with them in case my mind goes blank on me here or there :\

Cool.

A little funny/unusual in my case about his career + my having only a little bit of college credit.

I don't have much credit yet All I have is AP credits for Bio, Chem, Physics (both exams), Calc AB, and English. I have those credits banked at Excelsior and ended up dropping out, but plan to re-enroll soon. As I said a bunch, I was hoping to 'just' take a subject GRE, 6 CLEP... now I plan to do as many science DSSTs and ECEs (incl at least one nursing probably) and take DL science courses if I am missing any prereqs. Back when I was young I did take B&M courses in A&P and microbiology and maybe a tad more -- and I cannot use those for credit now, but I hope some of that knowledge is still in there for ECEs

Thanks for the suggestions! Never heard of being an orthoptist before. Very interesting to learn about. Not a great fit for me b/c of working mostly with children.

Thanks!

In case anyone knows: With Pharmacy, it seems that the lower degrees (below PharmD) have already been phased out a lot? Or perhaps there is some degree in Pharmacy that would lead to a job I would like I could consider? (I am doubting this is the case.) I wouldn't want to be a pharm rep for example.

 

I hear that a D.Aud. can be earned in three years - two years of courses plus one year internship. I do not know if a D.Aud. can be earned via DL or what the prerequisites are.

A PA I see occasionally recieved his qualifications thru this community college program:
http://www.rcc.edu/academicPrograms/physicianAssistant/

 

Audiology seems like a decent field. A bit competitive. "Job prospects will be favorable for those possessing the Au.D. degree. Only a few job openings for audiologists will arise from the need to replace those who leave the occupation, because the occupation is relatively small and workers tend to stay in this occupation until they retire." I feel like it's not a good fit for me unfortunately because I think I have a minor auditory/speech issue myself - nothing really noticeable or that causes much problem and with practice I could compensate/mask it more? - but probably enough that I shouldn't have this career. (Same with my lack of abilities with children - it is unfortunate but it's a weakness of mine.) Overall audiology IS very much the TYPE of career I am interested in.

I really wish the AA program were right here. I wonder if writing a letter (or letters) to anyone would make a difference. i.e. Tell the local med school that I would be very interested and mention how in-demand the AAs are, etc. However it seems like even if there were an AA program here, I'd want to apply to all of them to increase my odds of getting into 1 or more, meaning that I would still have to be willing to live elsewhere for years.

 

I had never heard of this occupation until I read this thread. I looked the qualifications for California and found that one could qualify in two years through a certificate program offered through ROP/Community colleges.
http://www.labormarketinfo.edd.ca.gov/cgi/databrowsing/traProgramSummary.asp?menuChoice=&cipCode=510809&geogArea=0601000000