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Riley
Student
Hattiesburg, Mississippi
1
Question
Updated
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What should I do to be sure that a Physician Assistant is what I actually want to do before I continue to take classes and work towards a degree ?
I really want to be a part of the medical field and I have recently learned that physicians assistants are in a growing need. I just want to make sure that before I take out loans and spend money on a degree that this is actually what I want to do for life.
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1 answer
Yasmin Mohamed Alamin
Clinical Nutrition Student
63
Answers
Cairo, Cairo Governorate, Egypt
Updated
Yasmin’s Answer
Hi Riley👋🏻 ...
It’s smart that you’re thinking carefully before committing to a big investment like a degree One of the best ways to figure out if being a Physician Assistant (PA) is right for you is to get first-hand experience in healthcare, Here are some steps you could take:
1. Shadow PAs: Try to spend time observing PAs in different specialties This will give you a real sense of what their day-to-day work looks like.
2. Volunteer or work in a healthcare setting: Hospitals, clinics, or even EMT/medical assistant roles can help you understand patient care and the healthcare environment.
3. Talk to current PA students or graduates: Ask them about their experiences, challenges, and what they love (or don’t love) about the job.
4. Research the lifestyle and responsibilities: PAs often work long hours, sometimes nights or weekends, and need strong communication and problem-solving skills Make sure it aligns with your personal goals and lifestyle.
Doing these steps before you start your degree can give you confidence in your decision and help you avoid regrets later The more exposure you get, the clearer it will be whether this path truly fits you.
It’s smart that you’re thinking carefully before committing to a big investment like a degree One of the best ways to figure out if being a Physician Assistant (PA) is right for you is to get first-hand experience in healthcare, Here are some steps you could take:
1. Shadow PAs: Try to spend time observing PAs in different specialties This will give you a real sense of what their day-to-day work looks like.
2. Volunteer or work in a healthcare setting: Hospitals, clinics, or even EMT/medical assistant roles can help you understand patient care and the healthcare environment.
3. Talk to current PA students or graduates: Ask them about their experiences, challenges, and what they love (or don’t love) about the job.
4. Research the lifestyle and responsibilities: PAs often work long hours, sometimes nights or weekends, and need strong communication and problem-solving skills Make sure it aligns with your personal goals and lifestyle.
Doing these steps before you start your degree can give you confidence in your decision and help you avoid regrets later The more exposure you get, the clearer it will be whether this path truly fits you.