A Conversation Every Physician Assistant Has Had

If you are a practicing Physician Assistant this will surely make you laugh! How many times have you had this conversation?

The Conversation Highlights:

What are you doing these days?
I have a great girlfriend, Kim and she's a nurse
I met her here at the hospital where I sometimes work as a physician assistant
that's nice
I heard from Wendy that you were working in a doctor's office
so how long have you been a medical assistant?
I'm not a medical assistant I'm a physician assistant
do you know what a physician assistant is?
I think so
you give a doctor needles and bandages when he gives shots and stuff
well, not really
I actually practice medicine but under the supervision of a physician
I do a lot of the same things that the doctor does
well there's a medical assistant in our building and she gets to do a lot
she doesn't even need any supervision because when she gives me my shot the doctor isn't watching
Mary what I mean by supervision is that the doctor just has to be available to me if I have a question or need him
he doesn't have to watch me
he doesn't have to be in the same room as me
most the time we are not even in the same building or the same town
but is a simple agreement that he is there if I need him
that's the kind of supervision I'm talking about
honestly, I can't remember the last time I have to ask either doctor Adams or
doctor Spencer a question
sometimes they even have to ask me questions
it is a mutual respect
I know that my doctor Baker
respects her medical assistant to but I don't think they would never let her
work in another office is that even legal?
Mary, I'm not a medical assistant I'm a physician assistant that is totally different
so I think the assistant in my doctor's office is a doctor's assistant to
they depend on her a lot
I'm a physician assistant, not a medical assistant and not a doctor's assistant
Are you familiar with nurse practitioners
Sure, my little sister, Beth is a nurse practitioner well
but a Physician Assistant is a lot like a nurse practitioner
I don't think so, Beth had to go to college to be a nurse
then she had to get a masters degree to be a nurse practitioner
did you have to have any formal training or did you learn what you do on the job
of course, i had formal training
I got a college degree too, mine was in biochemistry
then I worked for three years as a paramedic
then I got a masters degree to be a PA
Mary do you understand that I see my own patients, I examine them, I order the tests, diagnose them and order treatment
I basically do almost everything the doctor does except for surgery by myself
Richard, i think you should be careful what you say
I mean you don't need to impress me
remember on your old high school friend
I'm proud of you even if you are just a physician's helper
but if you go around telling people that you actually practice medicine or see patients
I'm afraid that the doctor's office might find out and fire you
I give up
before I go can I ask you a medical question? sure..
I was playing tennis about seven months ago and twisted my knee really hard
now it has a passionate and when it happens it hurts like the dickens
maybe you could ask your girlfriend what she thinks since she is a nurse.
Kim is a wonderful nurse but she works OB
I'm an orthopedic physician assistant in knees are my specialty
I actually run my own clinic in our office
I see my own patience
I make their diagnoses and set up their treatment
Great, since you work with the doctors then maybe at work you could ask one of the doctors or maybe a nurse about my knee
Mary, this is what I do for a living
don't you understand?
I'm an orthopedic PA
I take care of knee problems
no disrespect Richard but I just thought that they might know a lot more than you
because you're just their assistant
do you get to wrap ankles as a doctor's assistant?
I had a trainer do that for me in the gym
it's physician assistant and of course, I wrap ankles unless I ask our tech to do it
but I do a lot more than that
Richard, so you help a doctor
big deal
just forget it
I will ask that the next time I talk to her
when did you get to be so freaking arrogant
I guess it was when I got my freaking doctor's helpers badge at the freaking first-aid store
I think I'm starting to feel ill.

Comments

Rcp.pa2b says

September 17, 2012 at 9:53 am

Lol! I posted too soon! Then i read the physician assistant vs. physician associate
Article. 🙂

- Stephen says
  
  September 17, 2012 at 10:44 am
  
  I think you are right. For a long time I wanted to avoid a name change in fear of even more confusion. But the name itself is the source of the confusion.
  
  I am sure there will be a change coming in the next couple years. It will be interesting to see what is finally decided on. But both the term “Physician” and “Assistant” may be equally at fault!
  
  Stephen
  
Rcp.pa2b says

September 17, 2012 at 9:47 am

Why dont they just change the name of the profession? The “assistant” in physician assistant seems to throw people off.

Brian Wallace says

July 24, 2012 at 6:53 am

This was hysterical! I actually don’t ever get the medical assistant problem, but the rest of it is dead on. Very funny.