Comments on: Pros and Cons of being a Physician Assistant http://www.thestudentpapath.com/2008/02/18/pros-and-cons-of-being-a-physician-assistant/ The Physician Assistant Path to the Career and Life You want. Thu, 02 Feb 2012 23:55:51 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.4 By: ANNA http://www.thestudentpapath.com/2008/02/18/pros-and-cons-of-being-a-physician-assistant/comment-page-1/#comment-3331 ANNA Thu, 02 Feb 2012 23:55:51 +0000 http://www.thestudentpapath.com/pros-and-cons-of-being-a-physician-assistant/#comment-3331 Bruce, Thank you for taking the time to reply to my comment. I am still in my basic classes in community college. I desire more than anything to be in the medical field. I'm thinking from RN to PA to a doctor. What suggestions do you have, to help me get more knowledge on the career. I.E, books? Non credit classes? Websites? Programs? Any thing helps! Sincerely, Anna Bruce,
Thank you for taking the time to reply to my comment. I am still in my basic classes in community college. I desire more than anything to be in the medical field. I’m thinking from RN to PA to a doctor. What suggestions do you have, to help me get more knowledge on the career. I.E, books? Non credit classes? Websites? Programs?
Any thing helps!
Sincerely,
Anna

]]> By: Bruce http://www.thestudentpapath.com/2008/02/18/pros-and-cons-of-being-a-physician-assistant/comment-page-1/#comment-3330 Bruce Tue, 31 Jan 2012 20:43:29 +0000 http://www.thestudentpapath.com/pros-and-cons-of-being-a-physician-assistant/#comment-3330 Pre-med likely won't get you into PA school. The prerequisites for PA school are more rigorous because they expect you to come with a certain knowledge base. You only have 27-36 months to build on that. If you are switching from Pre-Med to PA, be prepared with some really good reasons and get some good recommendations. As far as time goes, you can count on 50 hours as a typical full time professional work week. If you are in an academic center and work for one of the docs with a clinic, research and other duties, you can expect 60-70 hours. People do that to get the reference and the institution name on their resume. If you want to work part-time, no real benefits, just practice clinical medicine 5 days a week, if you work 30 hours of seeing patients, expect 1-2 hours per day admin time. You can usually get a higher salary per hour because you are not drawing benefits. You can negotiate other untaxed benefits also. It all depends on your specialty. I know family practice docs who split a job, each working 20 hours of patient care and 3-5 hours of admin. The admin hours are usually unpaid because you are salaried. If you want to be in a surgical specialty, you are going to put in lots of hours at either level. When medicine was more male dominated, the career was compared to having a mistress. Lots of time, money and emotional energy are required to keep things happy. Pre-med likely won’t get you into PA school. The prerequisites for PA school are more rigorous because they expect you to come with a certain knowledge base. You only have 27-36 months to build on that. If you are switching from Pre-Med to PA, be prepared with some really good reasons and get some good recommendations. As far as time goes, you can count on 50 hours as a typical full time professional work week. If you are in an academic center and work for one of the docs with a clinic, research and other duties, you can expect 60-70 hours. People do that to get the reference and the institution name on their resume. If you want to work part-time, no real benefits, just practice clinical medicine 5 days a week, if you work 30 hours of seeing patients, expect 1-2 hours per day admin time. You can usually get a higher salary per hour because you are not drawing benefits. You can negotiate other untaxed benefits also. It all depends on your specialty. I know family practice docs who split a job, each working 20 hours of patient care and 3-5 hours of admin. The admin hours are usually unpaid because you are salaried. If you want to be in a surgical specialty, you are going to put in lots of hours at either level. When medicine was more male dominated, the career was compared to having a mistress. Lots of time, money and emotional energy are required to keep things happy.

]]> By: Bruce http://www.thestudentpapath.com/2008/02/18/pros-and-cons-of-being-a-physician-assistant/comment-page-1/#comment-3329 Bruce Tue, 31 Jan 2012 20:33:20 +0000 http://www.thestudentpapath.com/pros-and-cons-of-being-a-physician-assistant/#comment-3329 If you are an RN already, going to a really great NP course is going to save you time and money. Who you work for and how you get mentored in your first couple of positions makes a huge difference. In the ER, you have direct access to the doc you are working with. You get critiqued on your thought process immediately so you learn how they think and see gaps in yours. Post graduate mentoring is critical to your development as a practitioner. Going to PA school is probably going to require you to take 2-3 full time semesters of courses to get the minimum to qualify for admission. You won't need that for NP school. Taking some of them would make you a better NP like cadaver lab anatomy and microbiology. Liability is about the same for both professions. Nurses have typically made a little less even in NP dominant states but that depends some on your negotiating skills. The salary gap is slowly closing. If you are an RN already, going to a really great NP course is going to save you time and money. Who you work for and how you get mentored in your first couple of positions makes a huge difference. In the ER, you have direct access to the doc you are working with. You get critiqued on your thought process immediately so you learn how they think and see gaps in yours. Post graduate mentoring is critical to your development as a practitioner. Going to PA school is probably going to require you to take 2-3 full time semesters of courses to get the minimum to qualify for admission. You won’t need that for NP school. Taking some of them would make you a better NP like cadaver lab anatomy and microbiology. Liability is about the same for both professions. Nurses have typically made a little less even in NP dominant states but that depends some on your negotiating skills. The salary gap is slowly closing.

]]> By: ANNA http://www.thestudentpapath.com/2008/02/18/pros-and-cons-of-being-a-physician-assistant/comment-page-1/#comment-3327 ANNA Sat, 28 Jan 2012 20:45:42 +0000 http://www.thestudentpapath.com/pros-and-cons-of-being-a-physician-assistant/#comment-3327 Bruce, I have read the above statement in which you indicate that after 5 years, you dont see much of difference between PA's and NP's in the ER's. Aforementioned, I would like to get your opinion on the salary. From a RN, would it be wiser to go straight to NP (since you are well familiar with the job)? or try an pursue a career in PA (and still get the almost-same pay with more liability)? I read about the pro's and con's and frankly, I'm stressing out about it. Bruce, I have read the above statement in which you indicate that after 5 years, you dont see much of difference between PA’s and NP’s in the ER’s. Aforementioned, I would like to get your opinion on the salary. From a RN, would it be wiser to go straight to NP (since you are well familiar with the job)? or try an pursue a career in PA (and still get the almost-same pay with more liability)? I read about the pro’s and con’s and frankly, I’m stressing out about it.

]]> By: Lauren http://www.thestudentpapath.com/2008/02/18/pros-and-cons-of-being-a-physician-assistant/comment-page-1/#comment-3326 Lauren Mon, 23 Jan 2012 22:25:38 +0000 http://www.thestudentpapath.com/pros-and-cons-of-being-a-physician-assistant/#comment-3326 I am currently a Pre-Med student, I am preparing for my MCAT in April and have already picked what schools I would love to go to. However, I am now starting to doubt if whether medical school is for me. I know that the medical profession couldn't be a better fit, I just worry that as a doctor I won't have the home life I want. My question for you is how much time does a PA put in at the hospital or work place compared to a doctor? I am currently a Pre-Med student, I am preparing for my MCAT in April and have already picked what schools I would love to go to. However, I am now starting to doubt if whether medical school is for me. I know that the medical profession couldn’t be a better fit, I just worry that as a doctor I won’t have the home life I want. My question for you is how much time does a PA put in at the hospital or work place compared to a doctor?

]]> By: Bruce http://www.thestudentpapath.com/2008/02/18/pros-and-cons-of-being-a-physician-assistant/comment-page-1/#comment-3323 Bruce Tue, 17 Jan 2012 21:08:40 +0000 http://www.thestudentpapath.com/pros-and-cons-of-being-a-physician-assistant/#comment-3323 your problem I think, will be that you qualify for NP school with your current education and you might need 2-3 semesters more to qualify for PA school. After 5 years I don't see a lot of difference between PA's and NP's in the ERs where I have worked. You get a masters either way and most NP programs are going to the PhD. here is the blog http://www.mypatraining.com to some fellows in PA school at UC Davis. They also have an NP track there and I think they take similar courses. Good luck on what ever you decide. your problem I think, will be that you qualify for NP school with your current education and you might need 2-3 semesters more to qualify for PA school. After 5 years I don’t see a lot of difference between PA’s and NP’s in the ERs where I have worked. You get a masters either way and most NP programs are going to the PhD. here is the blog http://www.mypatraining.com to some fellows in PA school at UC Davis. They also have an NP track there and I think they take similar courses. Good luck on what ever you decide.

]]> By: Urijah http://www.thestudentpapath.com/2008/02/18/pros-and-cons-of-being-a-physician-assistant/comment-page-1/#comment-3304 Urijah Thu, 22 Dec 2011 15:18:03 +0000 http://www.thestudentpapath.com/pros-and-cons-of-being-a-physician-assistant/#comment-3304 Hi Bruce, your website is great and your responses are even better. I have been an RN for 3 years in PICU but I am not interested in becoming an NP, however, the PA profession appeals to me. I have worked with both great NPs and great PAs. I recently relocated to California (seems like more of a nurse friendly state). What is your stance on RNs who opt to go the PA route versus the NP route? I have read on PA forums, which I have since stopped reading due to the increased negativity, that it would be a waste of time and money when NP school is an option. Thank you in advance! Hi Bruce, your website is great and your responses are even better. I have been an RN for 3 years in PICU but I am not interested in becoming an NP, however, the PA profession appeals to me. I have worked with both great NPs and great PAs. I recently relocated to California (seems like more of a nurse friendly state). What is your stance on RNs who opt to go the PA route versus the NP route? I have read on PA forums, which I have since stopped reading due to the increased negativity, that it would be a waste of time and money when NP school is an option.

Thank you in advance!

]]> By: Bruce http://www.thestudentpapath.com/2008/02/18/pros-and-cons-of-being-a-physician-assistant/comment-page-1/#comment-3276 Bruce Mon, 24 Oct 2011 14:12:30 +0000 http://www.thestudentpapath.com/pros-and-cons-of-being-a-physician-assistant/#comment-3276 Jessie, There are 3 types of programs for civilians. (the military has its own top 25 program) The associates degree, the BS degree and masters degree programs. If I know I want to be a PA, I would select a 5 year program that gets me a BS in 3 and a masters in 2 more all in the same place. Most of those programs are in PA and NY. Some are state programs and some are private. You have a steep learning curve post PA program as all it does is get you qualified to receive a license, then the real learning begins. Jessie, There are 3 types of programs for civilians. (the military has its own top 25 program) The associates degree, the BS degree and masters degree programs. If I know I want to be a PA, I would select a 5 year program that gets me a BS in 3 and a masters in 2 more all in the same place. Most of those programs are in PA and NY. Some are state programs and some are private. You have a steep learning curve post PA program as all it does is get you qualified to receive a license, then the real learning begins.

]]> By: Jessie http://www.thestudentpapath.com/2008/02/18/pros-and-cons-of-being-a-physician-assistant/comment-page-1/#comment-3275 Jessie Sun, 23 Oct 2011 20:58:35 +0000 http://www.thestudentpapath.com/pros-and-cons-of-being-a-physician-assistant/#comment-3275 Wow, i've been trying to look for someone to answer my questions regarding me becoming a Physician's Assistant. I'm in High School and I want my major to be PA. Can i go directly to MASTERS? or Do i have to finish my Bachelors first? What are some information and tactics you can give me to succeed well in college? Thank you so much!!! Wow, i’ve been trying to look for someone to answer my questions regarding me becoming a Physician’s Assistant. I’m in High School and I want my major to be PA. Can i go directly to MASTERS? or Do i have to finish my Bachelors first? What are some information and tactics you can give me to succeed well in college? Thank you so much!!!

]]> By: Umida http://www.thestudentpapath.com/2008/02/18/pros-and-cons-of-being-a-physician-assistant/comment-page-1/#comment-2656 Umida Mon, 29 Aug 2011 01:18:23 +0000 http://www.thestudentpapath.com/pros-and-cons-of-being-a-physician-assistant/#comment-2656 Btw, the reason I'm asking about sunny downstate is its all campuses are in Brooklyn, and I live in Brooklyn. Btw, the reason I’m asking about sunny downstate is its all campuses are in Brooklyn, and I live in Brooklyn.

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