The ULTIMATE Healthcare Experience Tier List (WARNING: BIAS)

[@skohayward]

READ THIS BEFORE YOU COMMENT: This video is not meant to say any HCE/PCE is better than any other. All experience is valid in AA school admissions. This is meant to illustrate the many different healthcare careers one can gain experience in prior to their application in a unique and entertaining way. This list contains my own personal bias and lack of expertise in each category. So remember this is all in good fun and all HCE/PCE is AWESOME!!

[@kkobejohnsonj]

Fun video!! And while I think your disclaimers put this video is great context, I, nevertheless, think that it’s important to make this broader note about the selection of HCE/PCE for advanced healthcare careers: The “best” positions are those that help develop some of the underlying SKILLS (both technical and non-technical skills) needed for the advanced profession. Applying that concept more specifically here, the “best” HCE are those that require some combination of more-than-minimal critical thinking, more-than-minimal physical patient contact, and more-than-minimal technical skill. I believe that under that general framework, this list would be notably different (and again, I recognize your disclaimers…I just think this note will be helpful to people) What would be different? I believe that RN, RT, and Paramedic (which you didn’t include) would be the professions that comprise “S” tier. They are the ones that have the most autonomous decision-making authority that’s directly translatable to the OR environment. They have the most experience making legitimately consequential decisions in times of medical emergency and often have to exercise independent judgment when doing so. They are the “best” Below that I would put CNA, EMT, along with all of the other licensed healthcare professionals (PT, SLP, etc.). While as a CNA, you are not the RN, and as an EMT, you are not the Paramedic, you must employ many of the same skills as the professions that delegate to you. You learn to prioritize patients and their needs. You learn to recognize sick vs. not sick. You learn to juggle different responsibilities and tasks as opposed to just one. With a ton of respect to you and your experience, I would absolutely place phlebotomy on the same level as an EKG tech. They are directly comparable, they are just obtaining different pieces of diagnostic data. But at the end of the day, both (often) perform a singular function (drawing blood, for example) with little critical thinking about the patient and their care. Yes, there is prioritization, but someone else has done that for you. When a STAT order comes in, it’s higher priority, but the phlebotomist was not involved in that decision process. Yes, there is technical skill…but it’s a single skill: venipuncture. Compare that to a CNA, who must oftentimes perform VS, safely ambulate patients to the bathroom, perform venipuncture at some facilities, feed patients (while maintaining a safe airway). And the CNA does all of these tasks while having to prioritize the order in which to do them. I think as a healthcare community, we need to do a better job of emphasizing that the “best” roles, meaning the roles that prepare you the most for advanced practice are often roles that have some notable barrier to entry, which I think is a good thing. We push people towards phlebotomy and anesthesia tech positions type positions simply because these are easy jobs to get with very little training. Especially in the context of APP careers, there simply needs to be a higher standard for previous HCE. I firmly believe that this is why CRNA is the most well-regarded mid-level profession and why CAA may struggle to expand to more states. The CRNA barrier to entry is simply the most robust. Out of NPs, PAs, Nurse Midwives, CAA, and CRNAs, the CRNA profession has done a fantastic job of expecting its applicants to have high quality previous experience. Thanks for coming to my TED TALK - A CVICU RN who is considering CRNA vs. PA school but who has tremendous respect for all of the APP professions.

[@skohayward]

This is pure gold!! I love hearing about all of this from the perspective of someone who has actually been down the nursing route and has CRNA/PA in their future. Especially in this day and age where many people take many gap years prior to entering AA/PA/Med school, I completely agree that it is a great perspective to always be pursuing something greater. If you are an anesthesia tech, pursue CAA. If you are an EMT, look to advance to paramedic. If you are a CNA, look towards nursing school. As you move up in terms of position and autonomy, it will almost always result in a more favorable view from an admissions committee. Overall yes there are so many ways to rank these healthcare experiences. And we can all have our own framework on how to prioritize them. This is all completely subjective on my part. (And yes as a side note, Phlebotomy is only in S-Tier for the jokes) Love hearing your input and wish you the best on your way to CRNA/PA school!!

[@amateurems]

Yessss!!! More medical tier lists!!! wooooooo keep it up!

[@skohayward]

Absolutely!! Got some inspo from your channel keep it up too 🙌

[@amateurems]

@ thank you, you too!!

[@tulab3856]

I worked my way through my scrub tech program by being a pharmacy tech. Then through my scrub clinicals I actually decided that I wanted to become a CAA. Truly a great career that I'm so excited to pursue!

[@skohayward]

Scrub tech + Pharm tech is actually such a baller combo for CAA admissions. You get the OR experience and have a good base in pharmacology. It’s so cool you are pursuing CAA now, good luck!!

[@joefolsom6755]

Phebolomist above EMT? As medics we also put needles in veins, plus we can intubate and cric, perform physical assessments, take histories, form a differntial diagnosis, interpret ECGs, provide ACLS, give dozens if not hundreds of medications, and manage literally any and every condition at any and every point in the progression of disease.

[@skohayward]

I am a phlebotomist. That’s basically the only reason phlebotomist is in S-tier. Read the top comment and the description, don’t take this too seriously.

[@chrisstevens-y5d]

Hey Jesse, great video! I had a quick question, I am going to be graduating from a certified phlebotomy program soon, and was wondering if you had any tips to get a first job. A lot of positions are asking for 2-3 years prior experience, so I was wondering if you knew the best places to apply that are open to new phlebotomists. Thanks!

[@skohayward]

That’s awesome!! Congrats on finishing up your CPT certification. I would say look for entry level jobs such as outpatient plasma donation centers or something of that sense. Often times these are entry level positions and don’t require experience like some other positions do. Also check with your program to see if they offer some sort of externship. Lastly connect with your classmates and teachers and hear from them on where they plan to start working or if your instructors have any connections with clinics or hospitals. Hope this helps and good luck!!

[@RockyMontisan]

I'm obviously not Jesse. However, if I could offer you some advice, I'd say don't be afraid to cast your net wide. Look for positions open at plasma donation centers (CSL,Biolife), IV therapy clinics, outpatient diagnostic labs (Quest/Labcorp), or even in urgent cares/hospitals. The Healthcare field is growing everyday and you may be surprised that these positions "prefering" 2-3 years experience may give you a shot so long as you demonstrate a willingness to learn and a great degree of responsibility and humility. That being said I would caution you to check glassdoor reviews and determine if their are any workplace red flags. Don't let a job hurt other aspects of your life especially if your future goals involve more school. I'm not a phlebotomist but I do a fair amount of IV's/blood draws as an emergency room technician, and we recieve students (EMT,nursing,phleb) of all skill levels. Wish you the best luck in your job search homie.

[@skohayward]

@@RockyMontisan Absolutely this ⬆️

[@cam609lee]

I worked as an OMFS assistant. Got lots of direct patient care hours, OR time, and exposure to anesthetic drugs (since in-clinic cases are TIVA GA w/o airway and in-OR cases are GETA). I would rank this position as S tier (which is the level above A). :)

[@skohayward]

That’s so funny you say that, there was another applicant at my interview day that was an OMFS assistant! We talked a lot about his job and being in the OR, and he knew a ton about airway and pharmacology!! It sounds like you know a lot about that too. Completely justified slotting that in S-tier 😎

[@ericl0741]

Hey man what is your suggestion when it comes to college selection? I'm currently a junior in HS. Should I go to a college that offers a pre anesthesiologist assistant program like purdue, mercer, milikin, etc or should I maybe look at a good pre med college? Thanks

[@skohayward]

My honest opinion is that it doesn’t matter a ton at all what college you go to for your undergrad. My top two priorities when choosing a college was cost, and proximity to family (support system). I view a college having a pre-AA or premed program as an added benefit, not a reason to choose a school. Short answer: go wherever you want (as long as it’s an accredited program), crush your prereqs, and you’ll be all set. Good luck choosing a college that’s super exciting!!

[@ericl0741]

@@skohaywardthanks for the insight

[@victorolmedo1240]

if an RN applies to CAA school what do you think about that? and what would possibly be a good response to “why not CRNA?”. thanks

[@skohayward]

That’s a great question!! Skip to 21:44 to get a longer answer, but my short answer is that I would always encourage RNs to pursue CRNA (you’re already halfway there!) and you are given more overall geographical flexibility by going the CRNA route. However, some nurses don’t have the means to relocate them and their family to where they could attend a CRNA program. And some really don’t enjoy the required ICU experience. If those are hold up’s for you, I would say give CAA a look. Either way you are going to be prepared to be an amazing anesthetist. Hope this helps!!

[@victorolmedo1240]

@@skohayward thank you

[@kkobejohnsonj]

I would be seriously prepared to answer questions about why you avoided the ICU, if that’s comprises any part of your reason to not do CRNA. And if the time commitment to ICU is a factor, I would keep in mind that CAAs have a much more rigorous basic science foundation than RNs do, so the time it would take to obtain prerequisites for CAA school would be very comparable to the time commitment of working in the ICU. I would say that time in the ICU would be more valuable!

[@skohayward]

Absolutely!! I believe ICU experience is incredibly applicable to the OR. Always sit down and consider all of your options and the pros and cons of each before you make a decision.

[@victorolmedo1240]

@@skohayward i’m doing RN program at a community college, and also taking the the science pre reqs for caa. I currently have bio 1, chem 1, calc, stats, a and p 1 and 2 and taking physics 1 rn. I’m stuck on deciding which one I should go for. I’m leaning more towards CAA because it would be the shorter pathway to take. Thanks for your time bro

[@heiressnaturalhall1418]

Do you mind adding the discord to your profile?

[@skohayward]

Yes I tried but for some reason the link never works for me on my profile 😭 I’ll try to copy and paste it here for you!!

[@skohayward]

discord.gg/caa-706407688359247924

[@mythical322]

Lol this is supposed to be a joke right?

[@skohayward]

Yes read the description

[@user-eo1nt2xs6b]

its a CAA's take, if youre premed then take this with a grain of sand (smaller than salt i hope). CRC is for sure S tier for premeds esp if its t5 and under a great PI. LORs are important for premeds idk about CAA

[@skohayward]

Exactly this ⬆️ don’t take it too seriously just have fun learning about all the ways you can get HCE