Why should you become a physician assistant?
Here are ten good reasons why you should choose to be a PA:
1. You get to help people every day and get paid to do it:
Honestly, I could stop here. Every day I wake up to go to work I look forward to the work I am privileged to do. What an amazing experience!
2. You get to do really cool procedures:
Have you ever dreamed of closing a gnarly flesh wound with 4.0 Vicryl suture? If so, then this job's for you.
3. As a PA your brain is a valuable asset:
The key to a rewarding job is having a constant challenge. Not a day goes by where I don't have an opportunity to use my creative juices to solve somebody's unique problem. It doesn't have to be a cure for malaria, just providing a therapeutic treatment plan for your patient's hemorrhoids can have a remarkable effect on a person's life.
4. You get to wear a stethoscope:
The first day I got to place that iconic, beautiful Littmann Cardiology IV stethoscope around my neck well, it was perfect! And there is even more cool gear we get to use.
5. You can write prescriptions:
This is something I take for granted after 14 years in practice. Yes, your family may hit you up for a refill of their Verapamil from time to time but, nothing beats the ability to solve a problem with a swipe of your pen. It is just plain cool, and the first time you do it, you will be in shock that it actually worked.
6. You can wear a white coat:
I choose not to but most PAs I know love their big white lab jackets, and you even get your name on it!
7. You will make your mom proud:
My mom still tells her friends that her son is a PA. It makes me proud that she is proud of me, and that all those years of breastfeeding actually paid off. Thanks, mom!
8. People ask you incredibly strange questions:
I can't tell you all the bizarre questions I have received since graduating from PA school. It is just one of the reasons I recommend "why do men have nipples" as one of my required reading books after graduation. Trust me, the first time I volunteered to assist with the Q&A at the junior high sex education session, I was glad I had that in my arsenal.
9. You get to use very big words that will impress (annoy) your friends
Esophagogastroduodenoscopy... I prove my point!
10. You will be an integral part of the solution to America's growing healthcare crisis:
It is my belief (and many others) that physician assistants are the key to providing cost-effective quality care to America's growing population of sick and underinsured. With the outrageous cost of healthcare and increasing wait times to see doctors, PAs offer the perfect solution. Your patients will agree, and this will be evident when you see your fully booked schedule growing with happy patients who are starting to make appointments with their PAs often despite an opening with the clinic's Doctors.
*Don't know what Esophagogastroduodenoscopy means? Here is a great book to get a head start on the competition.
You may also like -
How to Become a Physician Assistant (PA) in 8 Easy Steps
So, you want to become a physician assistant?
Congratulations, you have taken the first step on a lifelong journey filled with many joy's, significant struggles and a lifetime of free pastries.
Becoming a PA is relatively […]- Who Gets Into PA School? Here’s What You Need to KnowLeslie Mean is a 26-year-old single white female who presents to the PA school admissions committee on her first attempt to get into PA school.
She has a 3.58 overall GPA and a 3.47 science GPA. She is holding a bachelor of science […]
- Prerequisite Coursework: How to Design the Perfect Pre-PA School Curriculum
* To compare top ranking PA schools and download your FREE PA School Prerequisite Worksheet click here
This post is part of my 5 steps to PA school series to go from zero to PA school hero:
Complete the necessary prerequisite […]
CASPA Personal Statement Help
We offer comprehensive, start-to-finish personal statement assistance or help to perfect a draft you already have. We have services to fit every budget.
Schedule a Live Recorded PA School Video Interview
We offer 60-minute mock PA school interviews with post-interview feedback and advice. Includes a recorded video of your interview that you can watch, download, or share with family and friends. There is no better way to prepare!
Schedule an InterviewPre-PA Consulting and Advising
Our pre-PA coaching service consists of a 1-hour phone consultation focused on addressing your specific questions or concerns about becoming a PA and applying to PA school.
Hi Stephen ! I am a senior in high school, looking into becoming a PA. What made you decide to go that route?
Hi Katelyn, I realized when I read your comment that over all these years of writing on the blog (since 2012), I have never actually answered why I became a PA in a single blog post! That’s unbelievable, but this is a blog post I will definitely write this year! I think this post probably summarizes much of why I chose the PA profession: https://www.thepalife.com/why-my-wife-is-happy-i-am-a-physician-assistant-and-not-an-md/
There are other reasons, of course, that have a lot to do with my journey. I am happy to continue the conversation if you have more questions here in the comments.
Stephen
Hi Stephen,
I am in my senior year of high school and wanted to know a detailed description of how to get into PA school.
I am also contemplating on whether I should chose Biology or Nursing as my my undergraduate degree.
Please reply and help me out.
Thank you so much
Hi Ruth, I am going to direct you to two resources on the blog:
1. How to Become a Physician Assistant (PA) in 8 Easy Steps
2. Pre-PA Getting Started Guide
Let me know if you have any more questions whatsoever!
Stephen
Hi, I’m halfway through my undergraduate but I know I need to start thinking about my direct patient care hours that I need to get done. Where did you work for your hours before PA school and how did you get that job? Thanks!
Were you required to travel through extended clinical rotations? I’m struggling financially to figure out this piece (husband and I own our home and I didn’t want to have to leave him for a year)–I originally was headed into an undergraduate MS-PAS but realized the lack of federal funding/loans available for undergraduate students. Currently thinking more and more about gaining my BS closer to home prior to applying a graduate PA program to open up annual aggregate loan limits and to continue studies in Bio/Chem. How did your program go as far as Phase II?
Hi Nicole,
I am not sure I completely understand your question, but if you are asking about travel during rotations – Rutgers (where I attended PA school) had rotation options very close to home. I chose to do my elective family practice rotation in Oregon (3,000 miles away) but otherwise the farthest I went to a rotation was 45 minutes away for my OBGYN rotation.
Stephen
How old is to old to become a PA ?
Hi Rob,
I graduated PA school with a 60 year old and 55 year old. Both prior full-time professionals looking for a change of pace and the chance to fulfill their dream of practicing medicine. As far as I know, there is not a PA school program in the country who has an age limit.
– Stephen
Stephen its actually crazy I came upon this site. I just met with a lady in the admissions office for the PA program at rutgers. I am a undergrad student who had the mind set of medical school but now I am not so sure. Id love to ask you some questions if you don’t mind. My email is [email protected] if you would mind sending me an email id greatly appreciate it
Hi Ciera, If you have questions that you feel comfortable asking and that I can answer here online please ask. It can help everyone if we converse in the comments section. And I can vouch for the PA program at Rutgers, it’s the best!!!
Stephen
I cant wait for myself to finish my school, I have only a year to finish my P.A program as well. I started off as SINGLE MOTHER C.N.A ,C.V.T, and HOME ATTENDANT and now I am forty years young. my oldest is graduating from college as R.N and the other two studying to become an attorney. that’s my goal and you can do it as well, be strong and never give up because you can not allow negative people block your dreams. A. NELSON
Hi there, I too am 40 single mother and looking into MPA programs. I’m understanding once into the program I won’t be able to work at all, so not sure how to pay bills and go to school full time. Any advice in this area is greatly appreciated!
I signed up for the National Health Service Corps Scholarship and received a monthly stipend that helped cover books and living expenses along with my tuition. This was a wonderful option. If you can work and save money prior to school this can help cover living expenses along with the judicial use of loans. I know it isn’t easy but it is worth the investment!
– Stephen
Ok thank you Stephen. I will definitely investigate further!