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Hello everyone!

 

I have recently decided to further my career by pursuing to become a PA.  Ideally, I want to apply next year to get into classes that start autumn 2016.  I still need to take Anatomy and Physiology, which I have already signed up for this upcoming fall.  I have about 4000 hours as a lab technologist, which includes doing phlebotomy.  Since I have about one year left until the application cycle, I was wondering what I could do to strengthen my application. I know many schools don't like phlebotomy or lab technologist as a direct patient care experience, so I was wondering if anyone had some suggestions for what else I could do for some 'favored' health care experience. I am aware of EMTs and CNAs, but its kind of difficult for me to quit my job (its my main source of income) so I can get certified as an EMT/CNA, which pays considerably less than what I do now.  I have been applying to some medical assistant jobs, but with no avail. If anyone can give me any suggestions, that would be greatly appreciated. I'll post my stats just incase:

 

Graduated from SUNY Stony Brook with a Bachelor of Science in Clinical Laboratory Science

Overall GPA: 3.54

Science GPA: 3.58

GRE Scores: Verbal: 160 Quant: 158 Writing: 3.5

Healthcare Experience: about 4000 Hours as a Lab technologist. 

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Hello everyone!

 

I have recently decided to further my career by pursuing to become a PA. Ideally, I want to apply next year to get into classes that start autumn 2016. I still need to take Anatomy and Physiology, which I have already signed up for this upcoming fall. I have about 4000 hours as a lab technologist, which includes doing phlebotomy. Since I have about one year left until the application cycle, I was wondering what I could do to strengthen my application. I know many schools don't like phlebotomy or lab technologist as a direct patient care experience, so I was wondering if anyone had some suggestions for what else I could do for some 'favored' health care experience. I am aware of EMTs and CNAs, but its kind of difficult for me to quit my job (its my main source of income) so I can get certified as an EMT/CNA, which pays considerably less than what I do now. I have been applying to some medical assistant jobs, but with no avail. If anyone can give me any suggestions, that would be greatly appreciated. I'll post my stats just incase:

 

Graduated from SUNY Stony Brook with a Bachelor of Science in Clinical Laboratory Science

Overall GPA: 3.54

Science GPA: 3.58

GRE Scores: Verbal: 160 Quant: 158 Writing: 3.5

Healthcare Experience: about 4000 Hours as a Lab technologist.

 

I'm working full time as a med tech too so I know how you feel. Looking at both EMT and CNA programs , I opted for the CNA route since it fit my work schedule. I'm now working PRN on weekends as a CNA in addition to my full-time job. It's been challenging at times but doable. The good news is you're using your phlebotomy skills from your med tech background (unfortunately my last phlebotomy experience was back in school years ago), so you at least have that.  Since you're also planning on taking a class though, that seems a bit much to handle.  Good luck! 

 

Sent from my HTCONE using Tapatalk

 

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Guest MedLib42

I would strongly recommend shadowing one or several P.A.s - it's a requirement for many schools, but even for the schools that don't have it listed as a requirement, it still really helps strengthen your app. Based on what I've been told by ADCOMs, I would say try going somewhat above the school's minimum shadowing requirement, or 100 hours if there's no stated requirement (I had 500 which is probably overkill, but I got a lot of positive comments on this at interviews, and was told later that the extra hours really strengthened my application).

 

I also would also recommend that in addition to your prereqs, if you at any point have the extra time and funds, take some more advanced health-related science classes that go above and beyond the required prerequisites (pathophysiology, immunology, pharmacology if it's offered, etc). Just make sure you have the time/ability to devote to getting good grades, so they don't pull down your GPA.

 

Volunteer hours are important to many schools as well. I would recommend hospital or other healthcare volunteer positions, but if you can't manage that, volunteering in other fields still looks good. 

 

As far as HCE, I would contact the schools you are looking to apply to and ask them what they consider to be the strongest types of HCE (if this information is not expressly stated on their website). I did this everywhere I applied, and got different answers at every school. Some schools ranked EMTs as the top choice, and ranked things like phlebotomy and surgical techs at the bottom. However, others ranked phlebotomists and surgical techs really high. And, in fact, there were several phlebotomists in my P.A. class, so they do get accepted at some schools. In fact, tell them what your job title is and what your job duties are - they'll typically be happy to tell you if they think you need additional HCE for their program. While you're at it, you can also ask them what they look for in their strongest applicants and what you can do to strengthen your application - I did this also, and they were more than happy to answer those questions. I did get into my top choice schools, so I think this really helped, because there were definite differences between schools, so I was able to choose schools that I'd have a better chance of getting into with my background; it also helped me tailor my app specifically to those schools.

 

Also, if you do need additional HCE, is there a way to get certified in your area by taking cert classes on nights/weekends, then work very part time or PRN in addition to your job/academics? I know that's a lot, though. Also, could you try volunteering as an EMT, if that's an option in your area? I've been told that can be less time intensive.

 

Good luck!!

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In addition to the above, I think you should consider getting a job as a medical scribe. It's really good experience and no specific certifications are needed. Working in an ER is very stressful and fast paced, but there are less hectic scribe jobs in clinics too these days. I think scribing would complement your phlebotemy well, though EMT experience would probably impress admissions committees more. 

 

P.S. Being a nurse aide sucks. 

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Thank you all so much for the advices. I've taken advice from MedLib42 and called some schools to gauge where Med Tech stands in the 'tier' of health care experiences.  Generally, it seemed that it was towards the bottom, and I am now looking into other patient care experiences such as medical assistant and as Lemon Bars suggested, medical scribe. Again, thanks for the helpful advice guys. 

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Can't you just expand what you're doing into direct patient care?  I worked as a lab tech for a long time, and I simply asked if I could start rooming patients, taking vitals, and conducting simple questionnaires for the clinic.  Maybe you speak a language and can translate.  Even working the front desk can count.  You're so close; just broaden your experience.  You shouldn't need to buy a certificate or quit your job just to interact more with the patients who are already coming to your clinic.  

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@zoopeda, funny that you mention. i did ask my supervisor the other day if there was anything I could do for more patient interaction, and he told me I could interview some patients for survey questions.  I'm not too sure how a lab tech would go about taking vitals, since the lab department is separate from the floors (I work at a hospital), unless I could arrange something with the nurses/PA's up there? I guess it wouldn't hurt to ask. I also work on the night shift, which makes it a bit more difficult for patient interaction, since most of them are sleeping. 

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Guest MedLib42

Thank you all so much for the advices. I've taken advice from MedLib42 and called some schools to gauge where Med Tech stands in the 'tier' of health care experiences.  Generally, it seemed that it was towards the bottom, and I am now looking into other patient care experiences such as medical assistant and as Lemon Bars suggested, medical scribe. Again, thanks for the helpful advice guys. 

 

Sounds like a great plan. M.A. sounds like a good idea, and scribing is awesome. I did it, and I'm pretty sure it's the reason I had very little difficulty with several of my medicine classes in P.A. school. I also know that in general it's a great application booster, as it's probably an indicator that you'll have a significant store of knowledge to help you succeed in P.A. school (and that's important)! However, since they seemed to rank your tech work toward the bottom, if you're looking into scribing as your only other source of HCE, you'll want to contact schools again about that too. As amazing as scribing experience is, it only puts you in touch with the intellectual/cerebral side of medicine (language, terminology, procedure, communication, diagnosing, different conditions/meds, and charting). While this is really valuable, and again, boosts your app, most scribes don't touch patients, and unfortunately, many schools' definitions of direct care HCE state that you must actually touch patients for the majority of the hours you work. The way it was explained to me was that many schools are more concerned with how well you can handle the physical aspects of medicine (having to touch a variety of different patients, coming into contact with blood or body fluids, all of that fun stuff). Physical contact with patients all day can sometimes take a toll on people in a different way than something that involves primarily thinking/watching/charting, so they want to make sure you have experience with the physical stuff too.

 

Some schools have changed their minds on this, though, and are now accepting scribing as HCE, so it really depends on the school now. If your school(s) consider it great HCE, I'd highly recommend going that route! 

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  • 3 weeks later...

In addition to the above, I think you should consider getting a job as a medical scribe. It's really good experience and no specific certifications are needed. Working in an ER is very stressful and fast paced, but there are less hectic scribe jobs in clinics too these days. I think scribing would complement your phlebotemy well, though EMT experience would probably impress admissions committees more.

 

P.S. Being a nurse aide sucks.

Watch out for the scribe police!

 

Sent from my Kindle Fire HDX using Tapatalk 2

 

 

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