If you’ve worked in the healthcare field, you have hands on experience with the daily challenges that call for thinking quickly on your feet. The work of a physician assistant acts as a complement to supervising physicians. It’s a demanding profession but incredibly rewarding for the right individual.
In uncertain economic times, the medical profession is as close to a “sure thing” as concerned college students and graduates are likely to get. Careers in health care are expected to undergo substantial growth in demand and availability. The national shortage of primary care physicians has opened a generous path for practicing physician assistants.
What You Can Expect From A Physician Assistant Program
The duration of study for most schools is two to three years with a rigorous course load. As with most accredited programs, studies are initially classroom based (with some lab work) and eventually move onto clinical hours. Upon satisfactory completion, the final licensing exam will supply you with the credentials needed to practice medicine as a physician assistant.
Formal training will prepare a PA to take medical histories, provide exams, diagnose and treat patients (as well as order and interpret necessary diagnostic tests). PA students also learn casting, suturing, and how to assist with therapy. Once credentialed, they’ll also be qualified to write prescriptions in facilities that cater to primary care, orthopedics, pediatric care, general internal medicine, emergency care, geriatrics, and even the preoperative care and post-operative treatment integral to surgical procedures.
The physician assistant position is a distinct one. It differs from, and should not be confused with, that of the Nurse Practioner. Nurse Practioners come from a nursing background, and they can eventually go on to practice medicine without supervision. Physician Assistants, as large as their list of responsibilities may be, always practice under the supervision of a physician.
Preparing For Applications
PA programs require a lot of preparation. The majority of accredited programs will want to see at least a small degree of experience in patient care. At least three solid references from training (you should provide only one educational reference)and health-related work experience are expected to accompany your essay.
Acceptable reference letters will provide an overview of your passion and motivation to work in the healthcare field and strengths as a team player. Your demonstrated work ethic, level of maturity and professionalism, displayed strengths and areas you may need to work on will also be shared. Seek out healthcare professionals that have indicated their appreciation for your work. An enthusiastic letter from a practicing physician assistant can trump a mediocre letter from a clinical director.
A bachelors degree with studies in health-relevant courses such as chemistry and biology is also typically required. Your transcript will tell the selection committee how well you can assimilate information, but your ability to work in a group is also important to them. They want to know that you can take charge as well as you can respond to requests under a team leader. Gaining patient care hours and impressing the healthcare teams you work with enough to generate willing references is incredibly important to an application for physician assistant programs.
Composing Your Essay
The essay portion is a crucial aspect of the process. Writing about your unique experiences in the health field can set you apart from upwards of 800 applicants in the sorting pile of any given program committee. You want to show why you’re an asset to the healthcare field. Deliver a letter to them that draws them in with an engaging style of writing. Avoid dry, lifeless essays. Let the words and examples of experience you choose to include show them your infectious enthusiasm. Win them with an engaging story that shares the path you’ve tread to their program’s gate.
Show the program that you’re aware of their focus on specialty areas or primary care. Researching the program in advance helps you to prove that you’re a choice pick. Emphasize your passion to become a PA, what you have learned from your experiences while shadowing other PAs, and what motivated you to choose this a career as a physician assistant. Disclude any mention of aspiring to eventually become a physician, and keep your focus on the goal at hand. Keep the tone positive and focused, and deliver a well-edited article. Have friends read it, and go over it yourself many times before settling upon the winning draft. This essay represents your personality, aims, and qualifications. Give it your best possible effort, and be aware of deadlines. Physician assistant programs appreciate early applications.
Interviewing For Physician Assistant Programs
When you receive an interview request, the selection committee will want to know why you desire to become a PA and what makes you a choice member for a healthcare team. Prepare yourself mentally ahead of time by going over your achievements, the narrative you provided to the committee that has won you an interview, and why you initially started on this track to become a physician assistant.
You may be interviewed by more than one committee member, but you don’t have to be intimidated. Be yourself. Your application has gotten you this far for a reason. Engage your interviewers with humility and a clear passion for participation in their program. Remain calm, and know your strengths going into the interview.
Obtaining a book with practice questions can also be very helpful. It’s difficult to anticipate every question a selection committee member might pose, but practicing for standard and likely questions can increase your confidence exponentially. In many cases, confidence is the factor that tips the scales in an interview. If you’ve answered questions over 20 times at home, it will feel very natural answering them in the actual interview seat.
If you’re prepared to put in the work necessary to gain credentials from a physician assistant program, you’re already halfway to your goal. Gain the experience you need before applying, do your research on the programs you’re interested in, and let your passion speak for itself.