Older male...FNP or PA

Due to the economy I'm having to reconsider returning to school. I've already seen the comments about older adults (>50)going into the PA arena, but I'm having difficulty making up my mind about going the FNP route (more independence, more preventive care/education akin to my philosophy, less overall cost) because of the "nursing model". Forgive my ignorance, but are there nursing schools (esp. accelerated and/or post-bac entry MSN) that are more male oriented?

No school is going to be more male oriented than another for nursing. There are lots of men in nursing, it's no longer the "woman" role as it used to be 50 years ago.

I would go to PA school if I were you. I'm finding that it's the doctors and hospitals that do the hiring of NPs and PAs, there are a lot of doctors who do not like NPs and feel we compete for their job vs being an assistant. I've had friends working in the ER as an RN for 10+ yrs but the doc in charge of hiring only hired PAs, so my friend had to seek work elsewhere even though there were open positions for PAs in the ER! Some jobs I apply to as an NP say they want a PA and I never get a response.

Then there are doctors who are secure in thier position and seek out NPs for the nursing background we bring and the bit more independence as we have medical experience as RNs whereas PA have no experience outside of school.

So, I guess it depends on what side of the fence your on. Although I'd still do the PA route if I were not already a nurse.