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Do you like being a physician assistant? What are the pros and cons?
I'm currently a high school senior. College decisions are coming out right now, but most likely I'm going to UC Davis in the fall :)
I want to be in the medical field. I'm curious about what this job is like.
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5 answers
Updated
Tiffany’s Answer
Hi Athena,
I am currently a Physician Assistant and I can try to answer some of your questions. I went to UC Davis for college where I discovered all the different ways you can enter the medical field. I specifically chose Physician Assistant for a few reasons.
In the US, there are 4 types of medical practitioners who can diagnose and treat patients: MD/DO (physicians), NP (nurse practitioners) and PA (me!). I chose PA specifically because I can work closely with a physician who I can collaborate with to make medical decisions. That is not always the case, especially in rural areas where PAs or NPs are the only provider, but for the most part, that is what drew me to the profession. I like to see myself as a physician extender-- I help the physicians see and treat more patients, which helps with wait times and getting patients in to be seen faster.
Here are some pros to the career:
- I can diagnose, treat, prescribe, and order labs and imaging.
- If I ever have questions or do not know something, I can ask my physician and pick their brain
- I can assist in surgery if I would like to, and with more experience and training, perform certain procedures on my own.
- I have some level of independence and can see my own panel of patients
- PA programs are roughly 2-3 years, shorter than medical school + residency
- Because am trained as a "generalist", I can switch from family medicine to OBGYN to pediatrics. I know a little about a lot.
Here are some cons:
- PA school is competitive and can be difficult to get into. It is also intense and rigorous, since it is only 2-3 years.
- Debatable as a "con", but you must have direct patient contact experience. Medical assistant, CNA, LVN, EMT, paramedic. Some schools don't require this, but direct patient experience only makes you a better clinician. Also helps you earn money while applying to PA school ;)
- Many patients aren't familiar with PA, so you will find yourself having to explain why they aren't seeing the doctor.
- You will never be the top of your field. You will never be an expert on certain medical procedures or a leader on innovative new medical technology.
- You only know a little about a lot, whereas a physician knows a lot about a little (since they complete more training in a specific area of medicine).
- You may regret not going to medical school
Ultimately, I think PA is a wonderful career choice. There are many opportunities as a PA and work life balance can be great!
Meet with an undergraduate health career advisor to learn more about what prerequisites you should take (once you start college)
Volunteer at a clinic or hospital (some colleges have student-run free clinics)
Shadow a PA
I am currently a Physician Assistant and I can try to answer some of your questions. I went to UC Davis for college where I discovered all the different ways you can enter the medical field. I specifically chose Physician Assistant for a few reasons.
In the US, there are 4 types of medical practitioners who can diagnose and treat patients: MD/DO (physicians), NP (nurse practitioners) and PA (me!). I chose PA specifically because I can work closely with a physician who I can collaborate with to make medical decisions. That is not always the case, especially in rural areas where PAs or NPs are the only provider, but for the most part, that is what drew me to the profession. I like to see myself as a physician extender-- I help the physicians see and treat more patients, which helps with wait times and getting patients in to be seen faster.
Here are some pros to the career:
- I can diagnose, treat, prescribe, and order labs and imaging.
- If I ever have questions or do not know something, I can ask my physician and pick their brain
- I can assist in surgery if I would like to, and with more experience and training, perform certain procedures on my own.
- I have some level of independence and can see my own panel of patients
- PA programs are roughly 2-3 years, shorter than medical school + residency
- Because am trained as a "generalist", I can switch from family medicine to OBGYN to pediatrics. I know a little about a lot.
Here are some cons:
- PA school is competitive and can be difficult to get into. It is also intense and rigorous, since it is only 2-3 years.
- Debatable as a "con", but you must have direct patient contact experience. Medical assistant, CNA, LVN, EMT, paramedic. Some schools don't require this, but direct patient experience only makes you a better clinician. Also helps you earn money while applying to PA school ;)
- Many patients aren't familiar with PA, so you will find yourself having to explain why they aren't seeing the doctor.
- You will never be the top of your field. You will never be an expert on certain medical procedures or a leader on innovative new medical technology.
- You only know a little about a lot, whereas a physician knows a lot about a little (since they complete more training in a specific area of medicine).
- You may regret not going to medical school
Ultimately, I think PA is a wonderful career choice. There are many opportunities as a PA and work life balance can be great!
Tiffany recommends the following next steps:
Updated
Joseph’s Answer
Hi Athena,
I have been a PA for five months now in Interventional Radiology and I absolutely love my job! I have felt well-respected since I was a student (it’s all about how you present yourself and how you engage your patients), so I have no complaints in that realm. I also feel that I do very rewarding work with a noticeable impact on my patient’s lives. That ability is present in all specialities and it is a wonderful privilege we have as capable and flexible providers. There is great comfort in knowing that I can expand my knowledge base by working in multiple specialties easily and that my generalist training affords me to thrive and learn in any environment. Financially, I am very comfortable and I don’t anticipate that will change in my career.
The biggest con is not inherent to the job itself but there are some who want to go back to school to become doctors. Adequate soul searching, shadowing, and healthcare experience helps in making sure that being a PA is truly for you. You’ll never be payed as well as a doctor and in most situations, you’ll never be the head honcho. NPs are more marketable in certain markets as well as there is less legislative yellow-tape with needing supervisory agreements.
I highly recommend this career path if you know you love medicine and are ready to put in a substantial amount of hard work to get in this position. It gets more and more competitive each year and I would not go into the process thinking it’s an easier path than getting into medical school. In fact, there are fewer spots than there are in medical school though GPA averages are somewhat lower on average.
Wish you the best in your decision!
I have been a PA for five months now in Interventional Radiology and I absolutely love my job! I have felt well-respected since I was a student (it’s all about how you present yourself and how you engage your patients), so I have no complaints in that realm. I also feel that I do very rewarding work with a noticeable impact on my patient’s lives. That ability is present in all specialities and it is a wonderful privilege we have as capable and flexible providers. There is great comfort in knowing that I can expand my knowledge base by working in multiple specialties easily and that my generalist training affords me to thrive and learn in any environment. Financially, I am very comfortable and I don’t anticipate that will change in my career.
The biggest con is not inherent to the job itself but there are some who want to go back to school to become doctors. Adequate soul searching, shadowing, and healthcare experience helps in making sure that being a PA is truly for you. You’ll never be payed as well as a doctor and in most situations, you’ll never be the head honcho. NPs are more marketable in certain markets as well as there is less legislative yellow-tape with needing supervisory agreements.
I highly recommend this career path if you know you love medicine and are ready to put in a substantial amount of hard work to get in this position. It gets more and more competitive each year and I would not go into the process thinking it’s an easier path than getting into medical school. In fact, there are fewer spots than there are in medical school though GPA averages are somewhat lower on average.
Wish you the best in your decision!
Updated
Christina’s Answer
Hi Athena,
I'm a Nurse Practitioner and have loved my career. I went to UC Davis too, started in International Relations, but changed to Nursing after working a summer job with kids who had Juvenile Diabetes. I got my BSN from San Jose State, then worked in ICU for 5 years before getting my Adult NP /masters degree at UCSF.
I think the main difference between a PA and an NP is the nursing degree and experience you have before getting your advanced practice training. There is also a legal difference. NPs have a body of knowledge for which we are legally responsible. We do not have to practice under a physician. In my most recent job, I ran a Heart Failure clinic independently but had a team of physicians/cardiologists I could consult with when needed.
I found it really beneficial to have worked in the ICU before getting my NP degree. You learn a lot about how a seriously ill person presents which is very helpful when you are working in an office setting and you don't know what a might be going on with a person when they walk in the door.
Nurse Practitioners can also specialize during their training. They can work in an ICU, in the Emergency Room, in Surgery, or in a clinic/office setting.
I chose Nurse Practitioner over medical school for the work life balance. It allowed me to have the intellectual stimulation of medical decision making, the reward of the relationships you establish with your patients, and work part-time for awhile when I had my kids.
I think the advice others have given about shadowing a PA, NP and MD is an excellent way to experience the differences and decide what fits best for you. If you decide to go towards an NP degree, I would recommend you get the BS in Nursing first and get a few years of experience before getting the NP so you have experience with patient care. There are programs that combine the BS and MS programs so you come out as an NP right away but you won't have a lot of experience before you are expected to be making life impacting decisions for patients. (I recommend against getting an LVN first because you will spend the same amount of time in school and you won't have a degree that allows you to progress to the Masters program.)
Health care is a fantastic career. You can't go wrong.
I'm a Nurse Practitioner and have loved my career. I went to UC Davis too, started in International Relations, but changed to Nursing after working a summer job with kids who had Juvenile Diabetes. I got my BSN from San Jose State, then worked in ICU for 5 years before getting my Adult NP /masters degree at UCSF.
I think the main difference between a PA and an NP is the nursing degree and experience you have before getting your advanced practice training. There is also a legal difference. NPs have a body of knowledge for which we are legally responsible. We do not have to practice under a physician. In my most recent job, I ran a Heart Failure clinic independently but had a team of physicians/cardiologists I could consult with when needed.
I found it really beneficial to have worked in the ICU before getting my NP degree. You learn a lot about how a seriously ill person presents which is very helpful when you are working in an office setting and you don't know what a might be going on with a person when they walk in the door.
Nurse Practitioners can also specialize during their training. They can work in an ICU, in the Emergency Room, in Surgery, or in a clinic/office setting.
I chose Nurse Practitioner over medical school for the work life balance. It allowed me to have the intellectual stimulation of medical decision making, the reward of the relationships you establish with your patients, and work part-time for awhile when I had my kids.
I think the advice others have given about shadowing a PA, NP and MD is an excellent way to experience the differences and decide what fits best for you. If you decide to go towards an NP degree, I would recommend you get the BS in Nursing first and get a few years of experience before getting the NP so you have experience with patient care. There are programs that combine the BS and MS programs so you come out as an NP right away but you won't have a lot of experience before you are expected to be making life impacting decisions for patients. (I recommend against getting an LVN first because you will spend the same amount of time in school and you won't have a degree that allows you to progress to the Masters program.)
Health care is a fantastic career. You can't go wrong.
Updated
Caitlin’s Answer
PA's are wonderful! They work under a doctor (though really by themself most of the time, but under a MD license). PA training is very different than a NP if you are wondering. I finish my NP in just a few weeks. So to give you an idea of what an NP is like here is what my life has been like and a few differences between the two.
I opted for my Associates Degree with RN because I wasn't exactly sure what I wanted to do with my life early on. I had to meet all of the medical pre-req's which meant I had to take all of the pre-med courses along side the pre-med students which was great. After a couple of years as an RN I went for my BSN. I didn't get paid anymore but it looked better on paper. A few years ago I decided to keep going and get my MSN/Family Nurse Practitioner. Upon graduation I will still have my RN (I can still work as one if I so choose-I for one do not agree with this-it is a big debate) but I will be a Practitioner able to work in any field from birth to death.
PA training (I personally believe) is MUCH better than FNP. While we are trained for all ages, stages, diseases etc we do not rotate like PA's do with their rotations. FNP's depending on their school, get clinics and hospitals and Urgent Care's. I wish I could have the PA rotation but applicable to NP school. Our training is much different as well. PA is more of a treat the disease, while we as NP's treat the person. Each person is an individual and we use everything from holistic treatment to spiritual to medicine. It envelopes the whole person. NP's are also allowed to work without an MD/DO overseeing them in some states. We can do everything other than surgery on our own just like a PA. NP's tend to have more freedom.
Mostly, it boils down to what kind of training you want. Are you more of a holistic person? I would meet with a couple of each and see how they practice differently. Some states offer a mild pay gap too if this is an issue.
First and foremost, the class are the same to start with. Anatomy and Physiology. The basics. You can always change. Life is not set in stone. I would even speak with a doctor. I know a lot of FNP's in California who are doing very well for themselves. Medicine is a great rewarding career field no matter which way you go.
Caitlin
I opted for my Associates Degree with RN because I wasn't exactly sure what I wanted to do with my life early on. I had to meet all of the medical pre-req's which meant I had to take all of the pre-med courses along side the pre-med students which was great. After a couple of years as an RN I went for my BSN. I didn't get paid anymore but it looked better on paper. A few years ago I decided to keep going and get my MSN/Family Nurse Practitioner. Upon graduation I will still have my RN (I can still work as one if I so choose-I for one do not agree with this-it is a big debate) but I will be a Practitioner able to work in any field from birth to death.
PA training (I personally believe) is MUCH better than FNP. While we are trained for all ages, stages, diseases etc we do not rotate like PA's do with their rotations. FNP's depending on their school, get clinics and hospitals and Urgent Care's. I wish I could have the PA rotation but applicable to NP school. Our training is much different as well. PA is more of a treat the disease, while we as NP's treat the person. Each person is an individual and we use everything from holistic treatment to spiritual to medicine. It envelopes the whole person. NP's are also allowed to work without an MD/DO overseeing them in some states. We can do everything other than surgery on our own just like a PA. NP's tend to have more freedom.
Mostly, it boils down to what kind of training you want. Are you more of a holistic person? I would meet with a couple of each and see how they practice differently. Some states offer a mild pay gap too if this is an issue.
First and foremost, the class are the same to start with. Anatomy and Physiology. The basics. You can always change. Life is not set in stone. I would even speak with a doctor. I know a lot of FNP's in California who are doing very well for themselves. Medicine is a great rewarding career field no matter which way you go.
Caitlin
Updated
Hwal’s Answer
Athena,
I see your question is from a while ago. Have you made a decision yet? As a fellow PA, I find Joseph's and Tiffany's posts helpful and pretty realistic, and their experiences largely reflect my own experience so far. I ultimately enjoy being a family medicine PA and I consider other medical care providers (medical doctors and nurse practitioners) my colleagues, rather than some professions are above or below others. I chose to become a PA for the rigorous medical education, which is pretty consistent across the more than 200 PA programs, as far as I am aware.
Let me know if you have any specific questions for me, and I hope you're doing well whichever decision you've made.
Hwal
I see your question is from a while ago. Have you made a decision yet? As a fellow PA, I find Joseph's and Tiffany's posts helpful and pretty realistic, and their experiences largely reflect my own experience so far. I ultimately enjoy being a family medicine PA and I consider other medical care providers (medical doctors and nurse practitioners) my colleagues, rather than some professions are above or below others. I chose to become a PA for the rigorous medical education, which is pretty consistent across the more than 200 PA programs, as far as I am aware.
Let me know if you have any specific questions for me, and I hope you're doing well whichever decision you've made.
Hwal