PAs are medical professionals who diagnose illness, develop and manage treatment plans, prescribe medications , and often serve as a patient’s principal healthcare provider. With thousands of hours of medical training, PAs are versatile and collaborative. A PA’s medical education and training are rigorous.
Why do I want to become a physician assistant?
I chose the PA profession because it allows me to work at the level of care I am comfortable providing , as well as being able to enter the work force after obtaining a master’s degree. I also wanted to be in a profession that allows flexibility and change throughout one’s career.
What do you hope to accomplish as a PA?
PAs are medical professionals who diagnose illness, develop and manage treatment plans, prescribe medications , and often serve as a patient’s principal healthcare provider. With thousands of hours of medical training, PAs are versatile and collaborative. A PA’s medical education and training are rigorous.
How do you answer the question why do you want to be a PA?
- Give specific reasons for choosing your career field. ...
- Provide some insight into how your skills are best suited to the role of a PA. ...
- Highlight your core values and relate them to the company’s. ...
- Describe a personal experience that influenced your decision.
How did you pursue learning about the PA profession?
How did you pursue learning about the PA profession? ... By attending pre-PA conferences I was able to network with current students and practicing PA’s who shared insights into daily life on the job, flexibility within the field, and impactful relationships with their patients.
Why being a PA is better than a doctor?
Becoming a PA is very rewarding
While doctors and physician assistants perform many of the same duties, PAs have a greater focus on patient care . They don’t need to worry about budgets and bureaucracy, so a greater percentage of their time is taken up by the work that drew them to medicine in the first place.
Do PAs spend more time with patients?
There’s a wide gamut of professionals that provide healthcare to people every day besides doctors and nurses. A physician assistant, for example, typically has more time than a rushed doctor to actually spend time with patients and provide care.
What is difficult about being a PA?
– There are going to be some people (patients, physicians, family) who just don’t get what you are doing as a PA, and who won’t trust you no matter how many times you explain how you were trained. ... It can be extremely difficult to have to work with physicians who do not think you are capable of quality patient care.
What is the difference between PA and doctor?
The main difference between a doctor and a physician assistant is that a PA works under the supervision of a doctor , whereas a doctor has full responsibility for a clinical situation. Both are qualified medical professionals, and very much work in collaboration with one another.
Can a PA become a doctor?
You’re thinking about taking your career from PA to MD. But first things first. ... You’ll need to apply to medical schools , obtain your MD, and complete residency training. Your experience will just be a little different than a student who goes straight from college to medical school.
Why a PA and not a doctor?
Physician assistants aren’t too different from doctors: They examine, diagnose and treat patients . They can conduct research and prescribe medicine. And they can work in all areas, including emergency medicine and surgery, Benson said. ... Unlike doctors, physician assistants don’t have to commit to a specialty.
Why I love being a PA?
I chose the PA career because I wanted to work in family practice and after working alongside doctors for several years I no longer envied their lifestyle. ... Med school teaches you how to memorize and regurgitate medical facts, life will teach you how to be a great doctor, or in your case, a wonderful pediatrician.
What kind of stress do you see associated with the PA profession?
Results of this national survey revealed that 21.4 percent of PAs felt some degree of cynicism , and 10.4 percent reported experiencing a low sense of personal accomplishment. Compared to male PAs, a higher percentage of female PAs had quit a job due to stress (25.6 percent versus 32.2 percent).
What do you think will be your biggest challenge in medical school?
Add to this workload a few life events–moving, getting married, break-ups, financial stress, a sick cat–and things can get a little overwhelming at times. One of the biggest challenges of medical school that every med student faces is time management , and so much of your personal and professional success depends on it.
What makes a PA unique?
PAs have greater horizontal flexibility in specialties .
PAs train as generalists and can practice in nearly any field with a collaborating physician. PAs can switch specialties without the need for new certification or education other than on the job training, and nearly 50% of them do so during their careers.
Is PA the right job for me?
Although PAs are paid well , that doesn’t automatically mean the PA profession is best for you. In fact, job satisfaction is much more important in establishing and enjoying a long-term career. The biggest reward as a PA-C is helping others live longer and healthier lives.
