If you had 2-3 years to set aside for schooling, which health programs would you consider?

[Anonymous]

Family Nurse Practitioner. I did the schooling when my kids were small and I love my job. There's a lot of different working scenarios (hospital, private practice, independent practice in DC, clinic), and there is opportunity to move around in the field areas. I was also on a track for medical school but realized I couldn't make the time commitment to do the school/training, and be as present as I wanted to be at home. I also liked to NP model of care and knew my interest was primary care.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thanks very much for all of your responses and insight. I have a lot to think about!

[Anonymous]

I'm a 20-year RN and if I had to do it all over again, I would go for PT. With a master's degree, I could hang out my shingles. I have a friend who had a BS in Physical Therapy and has her own PT practice. She has two other therapist with master's degrees working for her. Recently she completed her PhD in PT taking 18 months.

If I didn't have to go full time, I would consider going back to school. Unfortunately, in this area there are only 3-4 programs, and competition is fierce for admittance,

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm a 20-year RN and if I had to do it all over again, I would go for PT. With a master's degree, I could hang out my shingles. I have a friend who had a BS in Physical Therapy and has her own PT practice. She has two other therapist with master's degrees working for her. Recently she completed her PhD in PT taking 18 months.

If I didn't have to go full time, I would consider going back to school. Unfortunately, in this area there are only 3-4 programs, and competition is fierce for admittance,

+1 on the PT, except I was going to suggest PT assistant for salary reasons. Since insurance determines how much a procedure is worth, a business can only recover a certain amount. This stifles the salaries available to PTs. Check out the salary differences, but I'm pretty sure my sister pays $80k for PTs and $60k for PTAs (she has several clinics in Boston) - not a huge difference considering one is an associates degree and the other is a doctorate (PhDs are required for PTs now).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a 20-year RN and if I had to do it all over again, I would go for PT. With a master's degree, I could hang out my shingles. I have a friend who had a BS in Physical Therapy and has her own PT practice. She has two other therapist with master's degrees working for her. Recently she completed her PhD in PT taking 18 months.

If I didn't have to go full time, I would consider going back to school. Unfortunately, in this area there are only 3-4 programs, and competition is fierce for admittance,

+1 on the PT, except I was going to suggest PT assistant for salary reasons. Since insurance determines how much a procedure is worth, a business can only recover a certain amount. This stifles the salaries available to PTs. Check out the salary differences, but I'm pretty sure my sister pays $80k for PTs and $60k for PTAs (she has several clinics in Boston) - not a huge difference considering one is an associates degree and the other is a doctorate (PhDs are required for PTs now).

$60k for a PTA? That's an excellent salary. I wouldn't mind having that to complement my RN. Thanks for the insight!

[Anonymous]

PT is another great option. Just to clarify, though, the degree PTs get now is a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT), not a Ph.D. The DPT takes about three years (I don't know of any Ph.D. program that can be completed in less than five years). APTA website has more info: http://www.apta.org/PTEducation/Overview/

So, OP, another good possibility! But, if a PTA is really just an associate's degree, and the salary difference is that little, I might be tempted to go that route, too. Look into it, though, sometimes there are differences in what you can do that may matter to you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I went back to school for my MSW after 10 years in another career and am now working as a therapist. I find it to be very interesting, but the pay is terrible (I make 40K and that salary is unlikely to go up unless I go into private practice).

I am also a MSW (though not a therapist) - but work in healthcare and make double this. There are other things that one can do (aside from private practice) that pay better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PT is another great option. Just to clarify, though, the degree PTs get now is a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT), not a Ph.D. The DPT takes about three years (I don't know of any Ph.D. program that can be completed in less than five years). APTA website has more info: http://www.apta.org/PTEducation/Overview/

So, OP, another good possibility! But, if a PTA is really just an associate's degree, and the salary difference is that little, I might be tempted to go that route, too. Look into it, though, sometimes there are differences in what you can do that may matter to you.

I'm a PT. PT is a rewarding professional with good earning potential, but the schooling is very tough. It would certainly be more intensive than OT or SLP school. If you're strong in the sciences though, I'd say go for it. Becoming a PTA could be an option, but you would sacrifice autonomy. You would always have to work under the direction of a PT. good luck!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I went back to school for my MSW after 10 years in another career and am now working as a therapist. I find it to be very interesting, but the pay is terrible (I make 40K and that salary is unlikely to go up unless I go into private practice).

I am also a MSW (though not a therapist) - but work in healthcare and make double this. There are other things that one can do (aside from private practice) that pay better.

I'm the MSW that wrote about working as a therapist. I actually don't work in private practice. I'm curious what sort of job you have in healthcare where you make 80K. Everyone in my office makes 40-50 K with their LCSWs.

[Anonymous]

What about pharmacy? Most programs are 4 years, but the salary is excellent and the hours tend to be quite flexible.

[Anonymous]

4 years of pharmacy school since you already have your bachelors degree.

[Anonymous]

Have you considered Medical or Health Informatics? It's a well paying field with online programs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I went back to school for my MSW after 10 years in another career and am now working as a therapist. I find it to be very interesting, but the pay is terrible (I make 40K and that salary is unlikely to go up unless I go into private practice).

I am also a MSW (though not a therapist) - but work in healthcare and make double this. There are other things that one can do (aside from private practice) that pay better.

I'm the MSW that wrote about working as a therapist. I actually don't work in private practice. I'm curious what sort of job you have in healthcare where you make 80K. Everyone in my office makes 40-50 K with their LCSWs.

Different LICSW here and you are underpaid. I work for a nonprofit city contractor mental health agency and I am underpaid at $58k. If you are a licensed experienced therapist you should be making at least $55k. Do you work for a grassroots agency on a shoestring budget?