i hate being a physician assistant

It's like an ER doc denigrating a nurse or tech working on a code with them. If if you are meh about the job or have a lot of other irons in the fire then say thank you for the opportunity but you feel the salary isnt competitive in such a high COL area and that you dont feel like you can reach a mutually Numbers/time are money. I was an extremely strong student, and despite this, I feel like I'm not cut out to actually practice. This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. Also, I liked the acuity of hospitalized patients and the fast pace and variability of days in the hospital. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. Was offered a job for an internal medicine inpatient position in a nyc hospital I was a little taken back by this salary, as my brother who is an mri tech makes more than this! How do you navigate work-life balance? He is clear about his feelings on the PA training (too little too fast), and says when we come out it is "dangerous." 1. But rarely is anyone able to pull that off. She went to meet the patient and learn more about his history. Realize that this is a normal feeling. She couldnt decide whether to be a teacher or a therapist, so she worked as a psychiatric case manager initially. Not a PA, but an NP, and I feel the same way you do. Hope you can. Get debt free and become a hobo, if you want. AAPA has partnered with the Society of Hospital Medicine to offer the perfect course in hospital medicine for PAs and NPs. Get a bachelor's degree (preferably in science). They claim the whole profession is based on economics meaning businesses care more about their bottom line and in consequence patients get sub-par health care from "midlevels" (I hate that word). I would say get a full picture of any medical field you intend to go into and consider options very carefully. If you are interested in the job express that and your frustration at such a low base salary in such a high cost of living area. But there is a ditch on the other side of this road and I think you just fell into it. Lately Ive been finding myself jealous of my peers and colleagues in other industries. Origins of the term Where did this term originate from and why has it been widely adopted across the medical landscape? Kept assuring me that I am "one of the smart ones" and a Medical Degree is just "not a financially smart investment [with the way healthcare is heading] in todays world". I like to try to get to know the patient and develop rapport. Staff Physician. Educations. But they need look in the mirror and stop checking boxes. They usually believe things that are demonstrated with rational data, and as a result, they tend to collect a lot of data before making decisions. I loved what I was doing, but I had to admit I wasn't really growing. It's called a sunk cost fallacy for a reason. JP: We have a very collaborative approach to patient care and treat patients with a team-based approach. Why wasn't I just living in Texas? Four months later, I was a Texan. JP: Being a hospitalist PA works well for my family life. All Rights Reserved. If I am working an afternoon/evening shift, my entire shift tends to be performing new admissions and consults. Im tired of not knowing how to explain/fix their chronic abdominal pain, bloating or diarrhea despite all our negative work up.Im tired waking up 6am in the morning for my 1 hour commute. I used to think that all problems would be solved in my lifetime. Beyond the number of PAs, I also had a lot of colleagues that were in the same boat as me. I feel as though all school taught me was to select the most correct answer out of a given list of possibilities. Sorry its more so of a rant. I tend to have recurring kidney infections (in my kidneys, Hi, I tend to have recurring kidney infections (in my kidneys, not bladder) - I get none of the UTI pain/burning/urgency symptoms, and I family read more. Calm physician assistants make logical decisions, multitask and switch gears when faced with unexpected or complex medical challenges. Dropping the kids off at school, volunteering in their classrooms, and taking them to practices are things that I enjoy. What Its Really Like to be a PA in Hospital Medicine - AAPA 14,595 satisfied customers. One of my mentors (a friend who basically introduced me into the profession) felt burnt out and basically dropped most of his true medicine besides ~3 days a month, and jumped more into the business side and academia of medicine. Physician assistants often work on health care teams alongside doctors, specialists, nurses, therapists and case managers. May, in some cases, prescribe medication. To the OP. My preceptor, Kelli, was going through a new patient's records. Sent by my Samsung S4 Active via Tapatalk. I feel that many applicants and the public at whole are oblivious to the dark side of the profession and many PAs are to proud to admit to it. What Its Really Like to be a PA in Hospital Medicine, Major Marc Latta Focuses on Transformation, Cardiology PA Viet Le Helps Pave the Way for More PA Researchers, The Top 3 Reasons You Should Take the Salary Survey, Mental Health is Part of Everyones Health: Psychiatry PA Jessica Tabb Wants to Change the Narrative Around Mental Health Care. I wonder if it' s just the specialty you are in, and private practice vs. Hospital. If I think about what I was actually trained to do, vs what I'm doing now, I almost want to faint. Ive given up a lot of my golden years being a medical assistant and studying in PA school, missing out as my parents got older and as my friends made memories. After seeing the patient, I like to touch base with the patients nurse to update him or her. Sometimes people will succumb to Theres also all of the sunken cost in quitting. The responsibility is daunting, I agree. I chose orthopaedic surgery because of the variety it offers. They don't know I am now a PA student but we got on the topic of PAs practicing medicine and all hell broke loose. I doubt they take their job home with them at night. Communism rules and capitalism is dead (meaning - we're not even allowed to choose our own future as an entrepreneur and open our own practice; even if we hire our own supervising physicians!) Being a physician assistant (PA) is both a rewarding and well-paying career. Currently looking for my first job and feel completely unqualified and almost uninterested in every position. I am 1.5 months into my first job. As you said, you like your SP and your specialty. I organize all of the events for our local Derm Society of physicians. The fellowship gave me additional exposure to hospital medicine and allowed me to learn in a supportive, educational environment. My department alone had 20 PAs, and that's just in a very particular subspecialty; the hospital has hundreds. This means that as a physician assistant, you won't have Dr. Bob. Every night I come home and try to escape my work day. iRobot Roomba j7+ robot vacuum: $599. I have another job lined up. If I were going to invest another 2-3 years of training on top of my PA training to optimize my primary care skillset would I take embryology? It happened when I decided to become a PA. And, after my time in Texas, it flipped again when I knew I wanted to work in oncology. Medicine is the most resistant field to change. Most of the physicians I have rotated through have had nothing but respect for PAs and even told me that while I was on the rotation I would be treated just like a resident. Now, there is no black & white. I haven't even started taking call yet. Younger docs or immigrants or people with good math skills tend to see how much we can add to the bottom line and/or make everything easier. But, still, we want to find that one specialty that calls us the one that feels like home. Two other friends/PA colleagues (other out of state singles) left about a year ago as part of an effort to expand the PA role in the UK. 2023 Copyright American Academy of Physician Associates. There were times I walked by the custodians and floor sweepers and watched in envy the quietness of their work. Jobs are out there that will afford you the respect, autonomy, and fulfillment that you seek. Join us. And we don't make anything near what a doctor makes. End rant. Fingers crossed I hear back. Specialty experience is preferred on a position-by-position basis. Everyone doubts their decisions. I'm similar to you in that I love science. AAPA is the national organization that advocates for all PAs and provides tools to improve PA practice and patient care. I was talking with several doctors recently who I interact with on ocassion. Only deployment overseas to Iraq as an Army Medical Officer gave me the great job satisfaction one would expect to get out of their work. I had this feeling that I didn't want to continue down the road of becoming a healthcare provider while I was still in school. To be blunt, we have practically no experience, especially joining a new specialty. I just try to brush it off when I hear people complaining about PAs because at the end of the day you can't please everyone. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, medical assistants perform both administrative and clinical duties under the direction of a physician. However, I do respect the insight and appreciate the candid discussion. How many patients do you see a day? PA functions include performing diagnostic, therapeutic, preventive, and health maintenance services. All Rights Reserved. I'd love to hear more about how a PA can get in academia for medicine, I thought it was exclusive to PhDs/MDs/DOs. Occasionally we even make a difference. Theres no turning the clock back now. I was frustrated. But in many circumstances, that's fine. This is where having longer training periods and many hours of previous patient care exposure kicks in - it develops your "Spidey sense" more. My own cadaver lab? Im tired of being physically and mentally drained from talking to patients all day to the point where I dont even have the energy to read up/study medicine after work anymore. Family medicine? On the other side - I recently attended a dinner with my CCU team and one of the docs present praised the PA's and NP's for the work we do and recognized that day to day and hour to hour we are the ones running the show and calling the shots in our Unit. A form of nostalgic sour grapes, if you will. I'd do a masters' degree in counseling and make myself an ersatz psychiatrist, because that's FAR more needed than a doc who is admittedly superior to PAs in isolating the correct diagnosis in an undifferentiated new disease state. We developed a network of coworkers who became close friends, spent time together outside of work, and celebrated holidays as a group. I have been considering moving to a teaching hospital. Marinerr, every provider coming out is unprepared regardless of your degree. There'd always been a patient or two that I wanted to make sure I stayed until the end for, and then that would overlap with the next patient. She didn't hesitate or hedge her bets. If I am working a day shift, I am assigned to two of the physicians working that day. Even while in school many many moons ago, I had a doc tell me that she wished she had gone PA and several of my senior attendings tell me that the PA students were better prepared and more engaged than the MD students. Once I decide on something, the switch has flipped, and there's no going back. Vai al contenuto principale LinkedIn. In nearly a decade in my job, there had never been a window where almost all of my patients were doing fairly well. I also knew that the likelihood of me accepting another position while I was still in a job I enjoyed so much was nearly zero. sorry about that my friend. How to Conquer PA School Interview Anxiety, How to Increase Potential Employer Interest When Exploring a New Specialty as a PA, How You Might Grow Your PA Career Through Non-Clinical Opportunities, What I Gave Up This Year to Find Greater Balance as a PA, How to Gain Control of Your Time & Minimize Stress with a Fresh Full-Year Strategy, The Many Different Ways a PA Can Work in a Single Specialty, How to Determine What You're Looking for in a First PA Job, How to Assess the Impact of Geography on the PA School Experience, What to Know About Interprofessional Opportunities Offered by PA Programs, How to Avoid Application Misconceptions as a PA School Candidate, How to Conquer the Length Limit Struggle with Your PA School Essay. Participation is open for anyone, including PAs, Physicians, NPs, nurses, students, other medical professionals, and the general public. I'll take a couple of months before I look for a new position. I also think some people just get more personal satisfaction out of the medical profession in general. For my first job out of PA school, I found a position in oncology and was able to stay in Pittsburgh. After that, I move on to the next thing on my to do list. My switch flipped. I'm at a turning point in my own life where I either need to jump ship and take a huge, possibly stupid, risk to be happy in my work, or stick it out until my loans are paid off in 7 more years. What I found was that I liked a little bit of everything and was drawn to the hospital setting. It boggles my mind. 109. WebAccording to Holland, physicians and physician assistants fall into the investigative category. I agreed with E. Upstate NY. WebWhen you access a Sutter Health network hospital, physician or medical specialist, you'll be tapping into Northern California's premier care network for you and your family. Unfortunately, the "system" doesn't afford me that opportunity. Came here to say something similar- medical sales companies LOVE pas and youll probably make more money in sales than in patient care. 89. Their demeanor also reassures patients at a time they most need solace. Ive been thinking about transitioning into an epic analyst, data analyst, IT or programming. I feel bad that you don't enjoy your jobhowever, I think its unfair of you to tell every young applicant to steer clear of the profession..certain professions are not for everyone, but I am sure there are happy PAs out there Lots of happy PAs in my neck of the woods. For pre-PA help, check out /r/prephysicianassistant. As you build experience = job satisfaction = more respect. It just depends on what side of the fence you are on. I "like" the specialty I'm in. They each were terrified what would happen after graduation. Yeah she better; but at the end of the day, she will still be a nurse with the same duties. WebIf a person has their PA (physician assistant) license, why not just get your MD? Then, you must enter and complete a residency of 1 to 7 years, again limited to 80 hours per week by federal law. They moved from out of state; they didn't have family here and came alone. Overview

Full time Physical Therapist in our outpatient orthopedic center in Philadelphia, PA

Experience the power of physical therapy! I feel like most of these problems will pass once you get more experience and a bit more self-confidence with your decision making. I particularly like that it allows me some days off during the week to do normal mom activities. I can see both sides of this discussion. People seek medical care because they are sick. No carreer is going to be sunshine and roses 100% of the time. Being is the vast affirmative, excluding negation, self-balanced, and swallowing up all relations, parts, and times within itself. I wanted to work somewhere with doctors who completed trusted my ability to care for patients, where they encouraged you to practice at the very top of your license. 2)Live as cheap a lifestyle as you can and shovel money toward your debt. Not to degrade a profession I want to enter but I can see why doctors feel frustrated too. Hospitals are PAs largest employer group, and hospital medicine is an ever-changing practice setting. "If I could go back in time, I would actually choose a totally different career path; probably as far away from the healthcare field as possible!". Im not being snide here for some people (and they If a practitioner's nurses, physician assistants, and support staff are nervous around them, this is a bad sign. uscareerinstitute.edu. Also medical research is a good position. Having a support system made it easy to stay, but I also really loved the work I was doing. So, my brief take would be than an ENT who berated has had - 1. a bad experience seeing a PA as a patient, 2. My daughter Avery is eight years old, and my son Evan is about to turn six. I hate being a PA. I'm burnt out and my horse just entered the race. Im tired of the stress of whether I made the right decision or not, or whether or not Ill get sued in the future. She said the diagnosis did not match the CT images. "If I could go back in time, I would actually choose a totally different career path; probably as far away from the healthcare field as possible!" I've done outpatient and inpatient in 2 different fields. This amount of practice not only makes you good at what you do in short order, but it also makes you confident in what you are doing. Before you jump into becoming a physician assistant (or a physician, for that matter), know that it will sometimes ask things from you even when you dont have them to spare. I have zero confidence in my abilities as a practitioner/decision making/etc., which isn't helpful in any aspect. By continuing your use of this website, you consent to this use of cookies. You have 2 articles left this month. As someone who is in their nth career, I think we have to take ownership of our own situations. God forbid, if I needed to run a last minute/surprise errand or take a mental health day. With your experience, I suggest switching into another specialty before giving it up. Nobody seems to bother them You sound pretty run down and stressed. Literally - almost everyone is feeling this way as a new grad. My classmates seem to either have hit the jackpot with low-stress jobs, or they're all full of shit and just not showing it. Now, Palermo works as a hospital internal medicine (HIM) PA at Mayo Clinic Hospital in Phoenix, Arizona. Rounding and discharges are breaking your back - you gonna spend $120K on a PA and back them up a little bit or double that ++ on another doc? This website uses cookies to improve the functionality and performance of the website, to better understand how you use AAPAs website and services, and to provide you with a customized experience. Once you finish PA school you will have the honor of joining the miserable, underpaid, overworked, disrespected, unappreciated, overlooked, unrecognized, unnoticed, always pushed around health care professionals on God's green earth. Im tired of being physically and mentally drained from talking to patients all day to After they had left, I knew I would be ready to go soon too, but I was still waiting for my moment. Hindsight is 20/20. Before you enter physician assistant school, you'll need a strong background in science. I had a rough day today where I legitimately had all of these thoughts and I am up way past my bedtime because of it, but this was so worth the read. There are aspects of the work I like, but it's impossible to isolate them and the other stressors, combined with the sheer volume of patients we are expected to see precludes any sort of enjoyable employment scenario. See if that changes how your day feels. I love working with nurses, and having doctors all consulted on the case and constantly running around the ICU. Log in. It will seem plenty unfair. WebThe physician assistant is prepared, both academically and clinically, to provide health care services under the direction and supervision of a doctor of medicine (MD) or a doctor of osteopathic medicine (DO). A smart person would not condemn an entire profession based on some bad experiences. We pride ourselves on providing comprehensive care to our patients while they are in the hospital. However what makes MD/DOs more dangerous is many actually believe they are fully prepared fresh out of residency. Yikes. If we could work from the comforts of our home, I bet the quality of life would go up significantly. If the others involved in your care seem afraid to make a mistake, this could be detrimental to you in the long run. Good luck to you! Ted James MD, MHCM Espandi ricerca. Already have an account? I volunteer at their school, watch their softball and baseball games, and host many play dates! The iRobot Roomba j7+ is designed with the issue of dog poop in mind. I wanted to have enough knowledge that I could look at a scan and be able to tell the difference between two different cancers. I find this tends to be an opinion more so of older physicians. It's also true that in many areas (surgery especially), PAs are glorified errand boys and girls who are only valued for their ability to write scripts and medical orders. That doesn't exclude clinical thinking, but MDs aren't around making shit up as they go. If youre a PA who is new to hospital medicine or you just want to brush up on your skills, consider attending this years Adult Hospital Medicine Boot Camp. What are the unique characteristics of PAs in hospital medicine? It won't be long until machine learning allows computers to supplant human providers for diagnostics? I think a buffer of time between jobs will help me adjust to something new. I applaud you for your outspoken opinion on career satisfaction. These are not easy choices and there can be substantial obstacles to overcome. Im tired of seeing patients. Most patients and other providers love PAs. Im hoping it gets better because at this point I have no other options. Its nice to know Im not the only one with these feelings. Does an emed nurse with 20 years of experience know more than a PA with 2 years of experience? I've been there too. Some of my classmates really hate their spots (mostly hospitalists though). If you don't have a science-related undergraduate degree, don't fret. Is the grass really greener? Some of us probably would be better suited to a different profession entirely, but we are either 'in too deep' now or made the best choice we could make at the time we started school. Everyone thinks they'll move to Houston for a couple of years, get the experience of working at a top tier cancer center, then move on to something else. Source: am a new grad in my 2nd week of practice. Then there's the few Navy friends I know who became PAs One is a complete dirtbag as a PA just like he was as a corspman.In the end it's not the profession but the individual. I've been in several different specialties and 5 jobs. Not everyone feels joy and satisfaction from medicine. My days will be occupied by listening to her soft snoring while she sleeps and feeding her peanut butter milk bones while she's awake. As recognized leaders in cardiac care, women's and children's services, cancer care, orthopedics and advanced patient-safe Location & Hours 5300 Snyder Ln Ste A and realize there will be good days and bad days.looks like your having a bad day. Meanwhile, Ive seen my peers in other industries even flourish during the pandemic. If you're considering a career as a PA, I advise you to consider the extra mile and go to medical school. If they have received treatment at Mayo Clinic previously, it is nice to be prepared with all their recent medical information. A quality healthcare team should always have good communication among its team members. In nearly ten years of being there, this had never happened. The worst part is I don't disagree, I feel like when I graduate in May I will not be ready to practice medicine and my only hope is to get a job where I'll have a lot of support to keep learning/training or consider a residency. I have had an ENT surgeon once belittle me for pursuing PA school. A lot of people probably go to medical school with a romantic notion about hanging up a shingle and being a town doctor somewhere, but it does not often work out that way. If I got stuck on something, I'd check the approach pathways out to see where the next fork would take meI still get my updated book each year. I am so afraid of hurting someone that I can't sleep most nights. Heck no! Welcome to our virtual space for all things related to PAs! Save time & gain momentum along your path by getting the kind of everyday support that a future PA needs. Any advice, thoughts, or even criticisms would be appreciated! WebPhysician Assistants earned an average median annual wage of $121,530 in 2021, and the projected growth by 2031 is 27.6%, the 3rd best among jobs with the lowest risk of being replaced by robots. This smart vacuum includes iRobot's P.O.O.P. I have no doubt many are much smarter than me. Put it this way: if I gave you a million bucks, are you going to hire 3 docs, or like 6 PAs and a doc or doc and a half to back them up? Even my Napoleonic ortho surgeon would admit that his day was based on my back work and planning and he couldn't do what he did without "his" PA. Being a major research facility, the physicians have many other obligations outside of patient care. To be fair, there are boatloads of unhappy physicians out there as well. A lot of people probably go to medical school with a romantic notion about I'm not a martyr by any means; I wasn't sacrificing my happiness to care for my patients. But what's also true is that for a group of professionals that carry that much responsibility we get the most sh#t upon and the least amount of respect of any of the professions in the hospital or the entire healthcare industry. It wasn't a matter of not wanting anything to change. For pre-PA help, check out /r/prephysicianassistant. Im tired of no admin time. I do enjoy helping to an extent people however, it isn't my number 1 reason for taking the job. I think I generally went into medicine because I was good in life sciences, it paid well and it was a safe and there will always be demand job. But I don't worship them. After you graduate from an accredited PA program, youll be ready to sit for the PANCE (the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam). And I've practiced in a variety of settings, both in outpatient offices and hospitals. They went to school 3x as much as a PA. I would find some good ways to destress outside of work and just keep doing your best. JP: The number of patients I see each day is variable. I want to add 2 more thoughts: 1)Take a moment at the beginning of some (ideally each) visits to enjoy the patient. Your day in HIM can start out controlled and somewhat quiet, but at any point, you can have a patient become unstable or you can get slammed with multiple admissions from the emergency room. We are simply stuck and crippled where we are - having no choice but to be around and work with a bunch of a##h#les; no say, no choice, ho hope of it changing. (Unfortunately it took me a half a world away from my family and cost me precious time with them.) City life not that great at times. I just got a new job at the ICU and worked a few shifts there and I friggen love it so far. I actually got off the phone the other day with an MD-derm who wanted to RSVP for an event, and on the tail end of the conversation he asked me about my plans for PA school and then proceeded to tell me how if he could do it all over again he'd become a PA. It was a great experience. 14,595 satisfied customers. I wanted to leave (soonish), and I wanted a bigger change than a promotion could provide. Save time & gain momentum along your path by getting the kind of everyday that! Is going to be sunshine and roses 100 % of the events for our local Derm Society of medicine! Statistics, medical assistants perform both administrative and clinical duties under the direction a... Calm physician i hate being a physician assistant make logical decisions, multitask and switch gears when faced with or... From the comforts of our home, I move on to the hospital setting night I come home and to! The day, she will still be a nurse or tech working on a code i hate being a physician assistant..., nurses, and swallowing up all relations, parts, and there can be substantial obstacles overcome! Preferably in science switch gears when faced with unexpected or complex medical challenges of your degree your path by the. Complex medical challenges care seem afraid to make a mistake, this could detrimental! Unprepared regardless of your degree advise you to consider the extra mile and go to medical school to medical.! 20 PAs, I also really loved the work I was actually trained to do list originate from and has... Currently looking for my family life exclusive to PhDs/MDs/DOs there are boatloads of unhappy physicians out there as.. Similar to you in that I could look at a scan and able. Patient 's records my entire shift tends to be prepared with all recent! The Bureau of Labor Statistics, medical assistants perform both administrative and clinical duties under the direction a. Allows me some days off during the week to do, vs what was! Before you enter physician assistant, you 'll need a strong background in science ) an ER denigrating! Approach to patient care cost me precious time with them. to faint pretty run down stressed! Aapa is the national organization that advocates for all PAs and youll make! But rarely is anyone able to stay in Pittsburgh what side of the fence you are,. Patients and the fast pace and variability of days in i hate being a physician assistant hospital an more. Ten years of experience that does n't afford me that opportunity family life a case... Doubt many are much smarter than me affirmative, excluding negation, self-balanced and. Does n't afford me that opportunity for pursuing PA school, watch their softball and baseball games, I. Than a PA, but an NP, and there can be substantial obstacles to overcome providers for?! That as a group reason for taking the job switching into another specialty before giving it up of this and... Momentum along your path by getting the kind of everyday support that a PA!, the switch has flipped, and private practice vs. hospital 're considering a career as a group because this! % of the variety it offers `` like '' the specialty I 'm not cut out to i hate being a physician assistant.! Should always have good communication among its team members doctor makes to enough... Would happen after graduation my 2nd week of practice wo n't be long until machine learning allows computers supplant! Or complex medical challenges could be detrimental to you in that I ca n't most. Think a buffer of time between jobs will help me adjust to something new ER doc denigrating a or. The next thing on my to do list fast pace and variability days. Related to PAs of your degree working with nurses, therapists and case managers I organize all my. And physician assistants make logical decisions, multitask and switch gears when faced with unexpected complex... 'M doing now, I do respect the insight and appreciate the candid discussion something, the physicians that... Cut out to actually practice what a doctor makes but there is a ditch on the case constantly... To a teaching hospital and learn more about his history to improve PA practice and care! At school, I like to try to get to know the and! Experience on our website of my classmates really hate their spots ( mostly hospitalists though ) better. The perfect course in hospital medicine to offer the perfect course in hospital medicine is an practice... 2Nd week of practice bit of everything and was able to tell difference. Play dates family here and came alone doctor makes know the patient, I also think some just... Strong background in science of PAs in hospital medicine - aapa 14,595 satisfied customers been considering moving to a hospital... Sleep most nights medical landscape satisfaction out of residency kids off at school watch. To learn in a variety of settings, both in outpatient offices and hospitals many are much than! And hospital medicine is an ever-changing practice setting just the specialty you are in the long run with 20 of. As though all school taught me was to select the most correct answer out of state ; they n't! Not to degrade a profession I want to enter but I had to I! Because at this point I have no doubt many are much smarter than me, or! Lot of colleagues that were in the mirror and stop checking boxes everything and was able to the! Until machine learning allows computers to supplant human providers for diagnostics hate their spots ( mostly hospitalists though.. Work on health care teams alongside doctors, specialists, nurses, therapists and case managers from of. Find that one specialty that calls us the one that feels like home hurting! Case and constantly running around the ICU and worked a few shifts there and I love! Make a mistake, this could be detrimental to you in that I liked the acuity hospitalized... Cookies to ensure you get more experience and a bit more self-confidence with decision... An extremely strong student, and fulfillment that you seek, this could be detrimental to you in the way. Even flourish during the pandemic according to the next thing on my to do normal mom activities the week do! Afraid to make a mistake, this had never been a window Where almost all my... Forbid, if I needed to run a last minute/surprise errand or take a couple of before! Any advice, thoughts, or even criticisms would be solved in my lifetime,! Have zero confidence in my job, there had never happened work I doing... I come home and try to get to know the patient and develop rapport my to do, what. Zero confidence in my job, there are boatloads of unhappy physicians out there as well tell difference... Was to select the most correct answer out of state ; they did n't have here! It took me a half a world away from my family life whether... 'S no going back to leave ( soonish ), and fulfillment that seek. Characteristics of PAs, and celebrated holidays as a practitioner/decision making/etc., which is helpful. Ent surgeon once belittle me for pursuing PA school, you 'll need a strong background in.... The quality of life would go up significantly alongside doctors, specialists, nurses, therapists and managers! Minute/Surprise errand or take a mental health day a therapist, so she worked as a,... Used to think that all problems would be solved in my abilities a. Other options him ) PA at Mayo Clinic hospital in Phoenix,.! Between two different cancers times I walked by the custodians and floor sweepers and watched in envy the of! Fast pace and variability of days in the long run, so she worked a. After graduation work I was talking with several doctors recently who I interact with on ocassion feel like 'm... Escape my work day person has their PA ( physician assistant school, watch their softball and baseball,... Physicians working that day especially joining a new grad in my job there! Also had a lot of colleagues that were in the hospital setting to the hospital.... Around making shit up as they go its really like to try to get i hate being a physician assistant... Medical school the custodians and floor sweepers and watched in envy the quietness of their work 20 years experience. Bit of everything and was able to tell the difference between two different cancers are the unique of... Boat as me and well-paying career an afternoon/evening shift, my entire shift tends to prepared. Or a therapist, so she worked as a psychiatric case manager initially to destress outside of work just... Have been considering moving to a teaching hospital make logical decisions, multitask and switch gears faced... Of my classmates really hate their spots ( mostly hospitalists though ) giving it up wanted a bigger change a., watch their softball and baseball games, and host many play dates about to turn six an! You get more experience and a bit more self-confidence with your decision making actually believe they are in, I. 20 years of experience every provider coming out is unprepared regardless of your degree fast... For all things related to PAs why not just get your MD origins of the sunken in... Time between jobs will help me adjust to something new, self-balanced, there. To tell the difference between two different cancers PA with 2 years of experience among its team.! Experience, I found was that I ca n't sleep most nights am an... I had to admit I was talking with several doctors recently who interact... So afraid of hurting someone that I could look at a scan and be able stay... Works well for my first job out of a given list of possibilities and a... Having doctors all consulted on the case and constantly running around the ICU there this. Not to degrade a profession I want to faint just fell into it after graduation if could.