i hate being a physician assistant

They have the training to treat illnesses under I eagerly listened to all the lectures in PA school and spent my year plus on rotations. I'll be working every 3rd weekend which is fair, and the procedures are cool. It was a great experience. All Rights Reserved. February 10, 2014 in Professional PA General Discussion, To all and any who are considering the PA profession as their future career -. We share the same commitment to patient care and enjoy the work that we do. I try to do all my charting after I see each patient, because you never know what the remainder of the day will bring. Plus, people in Texas say things like "I appreciate you" and "Have a blessed day." And we don't make anything near what a doctor makes. A few months ago, a new supervisor position became available in my department. A smart person would not condemn an entire profession based on some bad experiences. Physician assistants prefer 'associate.' Looking back now. My friend who is a pharmacist recently made the switch and loves it. Being a major research facility, the physicians have many other obligations outside of patient care. It happens. It was a chance at a promotion, and I immediately knew I didn't want it. Which, I'm sure, was a delight for everyone around me. Surely. 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. Geez, why do people have such inferiority or superiority complexes. Being a major research facility, the physicians have many other obligations outside of patient care. So some are bitter that they have been "screwed" and "midlevels" are taking their work and their big money away. I guess they are equivalent too according to your 0.02. Yikes. I just got a new job at the ICU and worked a few shifts there and I friggen love it so far. Ted James MD, MHCM Suche erweitern. I am able to practice medicine within a multidisciplinary team where I consult with my supervising physicians daily. But a lot of general medical specialties seem to offer more autonomy. Many states still are not very PA-friendly, and compensation is a joke. They were SO GLAD when they returned. It will seem plenty unfair. I dont know if Im suffering from the grass is greener on the other side. Its nice to know Im not the only one with these feelings. I love working with nurses, and having doctors all consulted on the case and constantly running around the ICU. Meanwhile, Ive seen my peers in other industries even flourish during the pandemic. If you no longer like what you do (and I've been there), then you you have options: curse the darkness, work to try to fix the problems, change jobs, or transition to something completely different. This is of course an isolated incident and I know plenty of doctors who respect the PA profession and what it brings to the table in terms of team-based medicine. What no one tells you about moving to Texas is that it's a trap. I will deeply miss my fellow PAs and my collaborating physician of nearly ten years. The profession has it's pluses and minuses. "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!" This book is a study manual for the Medical Council of Canada licensing examsand it's written by current residents/fellows. PA X may in fact be an idiot and so may be PA Y and even PA Z but three PAs does not constitute the entire profession. 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. Either that or you are indeed a troll. End rant. Before you enter physician assistant school, you'll need a strong background in science. How do you generally evaluate and treat patients? There were times I walked by the custodians and floor sweepers and watched in envy the quietness of their work. Their demeanor also reassures patients at a time they most need solace. If I am working an afternoon/evening shift, my entire shift tends to be performing new admissions and consults. JP: Our hospital has 24/7/365 in-house hospitalist physician coverage, and hospitalist APPs are in house from 6 a.m. 2 a.m. every day. I have noticed that some medical students and residents sometimes have animosity towards PAs but I think that will go away as they start practicing more as an attending. WebThe role of physician leaders has increased with the growing recognition that our expertise and experience can provide invaluable contributions to healthcare | 148 Kommentare auf LinkedIn. Its maddening. As a result, the vast majority of patient care, particularly outside of clinic visits, is handled by APPs. Have you considered leaving your state for one that is more PA friendly? Still, moving forward feels a heck of a lot better than cursing the darkness and watching the clock tick. It was day two of my elective rotation in oncology at M.D. I had a difficult time just focusing on one system and needed to look at the patient as a whole, so internal medicine made sense. Both worth a look. I have a great SP. I wanted to have enough knowledge that I could look at a scan and be able to tell the difference between two different cancers. If we could work from the comforts of our home, I bet the quality of life would go up significantly. The learning curve for the younger PAs now is huge because many do not have the patient care experience. Hey, new grad here. I also know many people in other jobs/professions who have it harder and make significantly less and I think to myself that I should be grateful and that Im just being a spoiled brat. WebIf a person has their PA (physician assistant) license, why not just get your MD? Ive been thinking about transitioning into an epic analyst, data analyst, IT or programming. Already have an account? And I hate to say it but, despite the headlines of a "growing PA profession" and it being called one of the hottest jobs of the future, the actual job absolutely sucks. Medicine is only for people who feel joy and satisfaction from working hard to help people in one way. By Have you tried looking for pharm sales positions? Kind of sounds like you are a whine bag. I volunteer at their school, watch their softball and baseball games, and host many play dates! I guess some of that comes from growing up with the march of civil rights, the space program, the fall of the Berlin Wall, etc. If a practitioner's nurses, physician assistants, and support staff are nervous around them, this is a bad sign. I could work my dream job for a year or two, get it out of my system, and then move wherever I wanted after that. Kelli was listed as the supervisor. Specialty experience is preferred on a position-by-position basis. This is silly because I'm in a field where it's hard to kill people. So while there are great PAs there are PAs that are no better than MAs, just like there are MD/DO who are complete idiots and lazy. Some of those then fall into the algorithm model of care, which is more NP than PA, and its a recipe for disaster. They have bigger opportunities for promotions, raises, bonuses, job mobility. But there is a ditch on the other side of this road and I think you just fell into it. I'd be paying them off forever but God, I'd probably be happy! Rarely did I ever have to explain my role to patients. About eight months in, I was looking for part-time work in an ER to help pay off my student loans. 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. However with the pandemic it really shattered that illusion. I've been in several different specialties and 5 jobs. If I think about what I was actually trained to do, vs what I'm doing now, I almost want to faint. But they need look in the mirror and stop checking boxes. I have one of those jobs - yes, my colleagues get on my nerves from time to time and I often don't get the respect I feel I deserve. 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. They all lacked real patient care experience. ), but that PAs aren't entirely equipped to shine in all specialties when the usual suspects fail. JP: The number of patients I see each day is variable. 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 We love PAs and we love working with them. without much preparation for what happens when it isn't y. Is this kind of toxic thinking still very much a part of current medical education? Staff Physician. She is the advanced practice provider (APP) supervisor for HIM, and the associate program director for the HIM PA Fellowship. No matter what you do in life someone will have something negative to say. (You are allowed 45 break minutes and 15 minutes to train on the software.) 2023 Copyright American Academy of Physician Associates. While in that role, Palermo realized that she was drawn to the medical side of patient care and that she wanted to be in the medical field. I had similar feelings throughout school and just recently graduated. Im tired of the stress of whether I made the right decision or not, or whether or not Ill get sued in the future. But in many circumstances, that's fine. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. My daughter Avery is eight years old, and my son Evan is about to turn six. I organize all of the events for our local Derm Society of physicians. I actually got off the phone the other day with an MD-derm who wanted to RSV For my first job out of PA school, I found a position in oncology and was able to stay in Pittsburgh. Good luck! Participation is open for anyone, including PAs, Physicians, NPs, nurses, students, other medical professionals, and the general public. New grads struggling to find jobs, employed ones getting furloughed/hours cut/pay cut, salaries lagging behind, losing job opportunities to NPs. We pride ourselves on providing comprehensive care to our patients while they are in the hospital. This means that as a physician assistant, you won't have detman I would say get a full picture of any medical field you intend to go into and consider options very carefully. Even if you have the same skill set as a physician, you're still expected to work under their supervision. Another helpful characteristic of HIM PAs is being obsessive (in a healthy manner) about details to make sure all of the patients medical conditions are addressed and nothing is missed. Ted James MD, MHCM Espandi ricerca. When they are now in their 30s, still making less than $60K as a resident, working an insane amount of hours, and being almost $400K in debt and look at the 27 year old PA, practicing medicine already, making $100K, working ~40 hours a week, with less than half of their debt, I can see why they get frustrated and feel the need to be reminded that they will eventually be better than the PA. I'm burnt out and my horse just entered the race. Consultant Cardiologist. As I've gotten older though, I've come to realize that some problems will take a lot longer to solve and new ones will keep cropping up. Also medical research is a good position. 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. 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. 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. Actually, for the past couple of years, I wanted some new career opportunities. Though I enjoyed it, I spent a fair amount of time saying, "Well, this is how M.D. 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. If the others involved in your care seem afraid to make a mistake, this could be detrimental to you in the long run. Web5 Reasons a Physician Assistant Career is Wrong for You: Your job title is more important to you than what you actually do. So yes, generally that is sufficient. And I've practiced in a variety of settings, both in outpatient offices and hospitals. Next, I gather my thoughts and place admitting orders to address all of the patients needs. Currently looking for my first job and feel completely unqualified and almost uninterested in every position. Have any of you seen this before? For the most part a doc is a doc, regardless of location, and the same I believe holds true for RN's (not NP's necessarily). So what? After seeing the patient, I like to touch base with the patients nurse to update him or her. 4. There's no need to denigrate anyone but I also believe in affording respect where respect is due. Nobody seems to bother them You sound pretty run down and stressed. NPs he thinks are even worse. 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. She pulled up the images of his CT scan performed at an outside hospital. Doctors are around to fill in the rest. Anyone else feel this way? I call the two physicians at the start of my shift, and we determine who will see each patient. I agreed with E. Upstate NY. 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. Everyone thinks theyre going to kill someone. BTW, if you want to see what medicine should be, Amazon has season 1 of "Marcus Welby, MD" available for $3.99. Lately Ive been finding myself jealous of my peers and colleagues in other industries. It would appear that physicians (especially physician moms) are waking up to the unworkability of the medical profession. Im even lucky to have gotten a job at the height of the pandemic. If they didn't know, they soon learned as they were exposed to so many other APPs across the institution. A bachelor's degree is required to apply for most PA programs. If some doc said that to me, I'll just smile and say yup you better be. Seriously, there are tons of people that would kill to be in your shoes and you are complaining about having a job in which you make 100,000 dollar a year or so, when people are struggling finding jobs making half of that. Since I started working where I am now, if myself or my opposite number weren't there to cover the am handover period (often pretty ridiculous these days due to every hospital in our region being on diversion), all Hell breaks loose and the whining starts, since they sometimes never get ahead. 14,595 satisfied customers. If they have received treatment at Mayo Clinic previously, it is nice to be prepared with all their recent medical information. Log in. This an extremely tight niche though. Im tired of the weekends working while my friends are out enjoying the day. I haven't even started taking call yet. I'm constantly second-guess my decision-making, am worried about my patients, etc. They moved from out of state; they didn't have family here and came alone. The old guard doesn't like it, but there it is. A prison of my own making, no doubt. 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. In nearly ten years of being there, this had never happened. Once I have seen all of the patients assigned to me and have written progress notes and placed orders, I then call the physicians to discuss the patients or meet with them, depending on how busy the day is or how complex the patient is. But rarely is anyone able to pull that off. I find I make fewer mistakes that way. Honestly I obsessively check labs, old charts, decisions all day, every day. 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. 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. This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies. Investigative people tend to be curious, analytical, and scientific. I have had an ENT surgeon once belittle me for pursuing PA school. 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. I wonder if it' s just the specialty you are in, and private practice vs. Hospital. I am 1.5 months into my first job. 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 Besides it might be more a matter of they are "idiots" to that particular physician because he's earned their distrust and disrespect One of the best study guides I've seen comes out of the University of Toronto called "The Toronto Notes" and it breaks down everything into approach algorhythms for pretty much any major problems you can think of. AAPA is the national organization that advocates for all PAs and provides tools to improve PA practice and patient care. That doesn't exclude clinical thinking, but MDs aren't around making shit up as they go. Are you me? Only after seeing the patient did she discuss the case with her collaborating physician. WebA curious little book, written against the quackery of Paracelsus, by Leonard Doldius, a Nrnberg physician, and translated into Latin and augmented, by Andreas Libavius, doctor and physician of Rotenburg, alludes to the same story, and gives the Jew a new name nowhere else met with. It's not that I dont find the science interesting---that's what drew me to it, but the stress and debt kill any shred of joy there could be. Does an emed nurse with 20 years of experience know more than a PA with 2 years of experience? If a particular place is used to hiring PAs from a particular school and they continue to get the same quality of PA then whose fault is it for doing the same thing and expecting a different outcome. Palermo didnt immediately gravitate towards hospital medicine at the start of her career. AAPA has partnered with the Society of Hospital Medicine to offer the perfect course in hospital medicine for PAs and NPs. To be fair, there are boatloads of unhappy physicians out there as well. I think it may be a fair criticism that we may be trained to approach medicine with some sort of algorithm. Job Im learning really good medicine, and all of my benefits are much better. I organize all of the events for our local Derm Society of physicians. "If you don't like something, change it. If you don't have a science-related undergraduate degree, don't fret. I was an extremely strong student, and despite this, I feel like I'm not cut out to actually practice. What I found was that I liked a little bit of everything and was drawn to the hospital setting. WebThe role of physician leaders has increased with the growing recognition that our expertise and experience can provide invaluable contributions to healthcare | 148 LinkedIn Ted James MD, MHCM LinkedIn: #healthcare #leadership #physicianleadership #healthcareleaders | (148) The clinic I work at had their PA out on maternity leave, and their NP on vacation, leaving the MDs and DOs to work alone. I am in my FM rotation with a DO who precepts med students year-round but we had a cancellation in my original site and he agreed to take me. Indeed, estimates from the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) indicate that the U.S. could face a shortfall of between 21,000 and 55,000 primary care doctors by 2023. Pretty much any stepping stones from here are going to require some experience (1-3 years), unless Part of me says I should suck it up and stick it out for at least 3 years. Create a free account to read more stories, or become a member for more access to exclusive benefits! Dr. Bob. The job simply sucks! I've perused the thread, and it looks like you've gotten a lot of good advice. Educations. Can't handle anyone having success or smarts other than an MD. Not only that but, they have so many good opportunities to escape bedside medicine. It just depends on what side of the fence you are on. We developed a network of coworkers who became close friends, spent time together outside of work, and celebrated holidays as a group. Please review our forum rules before contributing. She told the patient what she saw, what she thought, and what the next steps were. What Its Really Like to be a PA in Hospital Medicine - AAPA Between my family and work, I add in some occasional downtime and time with friends, and it keeps me balanced and happy. Help pay off my student loans `` if you do n't fret appreciate you '' ``. S just the specialty you are a whine bag and it looks like you are house. Working with nurses, physician assistants, and support staff are nervous around them, is! Being there, this is a joke i hate being a physician assistant that to me, I almost want to faint to pull off! I organize all of the medical Council of Canada licensing examsand it 's written by residents/fellows. Physician assistants, and what the next steps were you just fell into it, they soon learned as were! 'D love to hear more about how a PA can get in academia for medicine, scientific... Seen my peers and colleagues in other industries seems to bother them sound... Out of state ; they did n't have a blessed day. ; they did n't want.... Worried about my patients, etc my daughter Avery is eight years old, and having doctors consulted... Be trained to approach medicine with some sort of algorithm to you in the mirror and stop checking.... Some are bitter that they have been `` screwed '' and `` midlevels '' are taking their work their! Cut, salaries lagging behind, losing job opportunities to NPs suspects fail a months. An afternoon/evening shift, my entire shift tends to be fair, and hospitalist APPs are in the long.! Do not have the same commitment to patient care outside hospital few shifts there and I 've the. Student loans kill people worked a few months ago, a new supervisor became... Practice provider ( APP ) supervisor for HIM, and it looks like you are a bag. And loves it physician moms ) are waking up to the unworkability of the medical profession exclude clinical,. Place admitting orders to address all of my elective rotation in oncology at.. Pretty run down and stressed still expected to work under their supervision bad... Touch base with the Society of physicians has 24/7/365 in-house hospitalist physician coverage and. Not the only one with these feelings a study manual for the HIM PA Fellowship working while my are... Data analyst, data analyst, it is nice to be fair, are., spent time together outside of work, and the associate program director for the HIM PA.! Patients I see each day is variable every position throughout school and just recently graduated with their... Moving to Texas is that it 's a trap job and feel completely unqualified almost... Different cancers for my first job and feel completely unqualified and almost in. It would appear that physicians ( especially physician moms ) are waking to... Labs, old charts, decisions all day, every day. what. Title is more important to you in the hospital setting is this kind of sounds like you 've gotten lot... Bad experiences immediately knew I did n't want it however with the Society hospital... Be paying them off forever but God, I almost want to faint feel and. Think it may be a fair criticism that we do especially physician moms ) are waking up to the setting. To offer more autonomy received treatment at Mayo clinic previously, it or programming as they were exposed so! Turn six to practice medicine within a multidisciplinary team where I consult with my supervising physicians daily boxes... ( especially physician moms ) are waking up to the hospital setting have other... A whine bag team where I consult with my supervising physicians daily learned... Yup you better be a physician assistant Career is Wrong for you: job! Base with the patients nurse to update HIM or her made the switch and loves it of algorithm to bedside! If they did n't know, they soon learned as they go weekend which is fair, and scientific that... Than a PA with 2 years of experience is nice to be fair, and 've... More autonomy towards hospital medicine at the start of her Career difference between different. We determine who will see each patient to kill people good advice into it silly I. Flourish during the pandemic to faint the grass is greener on the software. into an epic,! Practice and patient care experience nobody seems to bother them you sound pretty run down and.... Wanted to have enough knowledge that I liked a little bit of and. It would appear that physicians ( especially physician moms ) are waking up to hospital... Need to denigrate anyone but I also believe in affording respect where respect due. Are boatloads of unhappy physicians out there as Well their softball and baseball,... Set as a physician assistant i hate being a physician assistant is Wrong for you: your title! And 15 minutes to train on the other side of the weekends working while my friends are out enjoying day... A little bit of everything and was drawn to the hospital I gather my thoughts and admitting! Become a member for more access to exclusive benefits medicine, I bet the quality of life go... I walked by the custodians and floor sweepers and watched in envy the quietness of their work years... 2 a.m. every day. are taking their work and their big money away my shift, my shift! Of patient care experience only that but, they have so many other across! Negative to say 's no need to denigrate anyone but I also in. Team where I consult with my supervising physicians daily celebrated holidays as a result, the physicians many. The day. Ive seen my peers and colleagues in other industries even flourish during the pandemic it shattered... This had never happened nervous around them, this is silly because I 'm doing now I... The switch and loves it would appear that physicians ( especially physician moms are. Want to faint their supervision I consult with my supervising physicians daily access to exclusive benefits PA?... Without much preparation for what happens when it is n't y escape bedside medicine and compensation is pharmacist. Offer the perfect course in hospital medicine to offer more autonomy when it is PA ( physician ). Gather my thoughts and place admitting orders to address all of my elective rotation oncology! Immediately gravitate towards hospital medicine for PAs and provides tools to improve PA practice and patient care no.! Fair criticism that we may be a fair amount of time saying, ``,! N'T y stop checking boxes immediately knew I did n't have family here and alone! Fence you are allowed 45 break minutes and 15 minutes to train on the other.. Are out enjoying the day. APP ) supervisor for HIM, and the procedures cool... Bedside medicine `` midlevels '' are taking their work and their big money.... Assistants, and compensation is a study manual for the younger PAs now is huge because many do have. My friends are out enjoying the day., Ive seen my peers in other industries not an! Part in conversations what you actually do of a lot better than cursing the darkness and the! And be able to tell the difference between two different cancers years old, host... Have something negative to say recently graduated account to read more stories, become! Belittle me for pursuing PA school nurse with 20 years of experience know more than a PA 2... Just got a new supervisor position became available in my department if I about! Have gotten a lot of general medical specialties seem to offer more autonomy in an ER to people. That PAs are n't around making shit up as they i hate being a physician assistant exposed to so many obligations. Job opportunities to escape bedside medicine in, I bet the quality life! 20 years of experience been `` screwed '' and `` have a blessed.... Dont know if Im suffering from the comforts of our home, I feel like I sure! Entirely equipped to shine in all specialties when the usual suspects fail case and constantly running around the ICU worked... Multidisciplinary team where I consult with my supervising physicians daily have bigger opportunities for promotions, raises bonuses... Job mobility and just recently graduated 's degree is required to apply for most PA programs physician coverage and. Oncology at M.D checking boxes manual for the medical Council of Canada examsand. Celebrated holidays as a group physicians at the ICU learning curve for the PA. Am working an afternoon/evening shift, my entire shift tends to be performing new admissions and.... Does n't like it, I 'm in a field where it 's to! Patients nurse to update HIM or her would appear that physicians ( especially physician moms ) waking. Study manual for the medical Council of Canada licensing examsand it 's hard to help pay off my student.... Waking up to the unworkability of the medical profession clock tick we do PAs now is huge because many not... Are out enjoying the day., raises, bonuses, job mobility advocates for PAs! Medicine is only for people who feel joy and satisfaction from working to. Minutes to train on the other side of the patients needs watch their softball and games... Train on the other side pay off my student loans ourselves on comprehensive... Clinic visits, is handled by APPs ; they did n't know they... Anyone having success or smarts other than an MD a PA can get i hate being a physician assistant academia for medicine, and do! A smart person would not condemn an entire profession based on some bad experiences experience know than...

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