PA students that were former scribes

[wesr_gordon]

I am a scribe who has been accepted into a few programs... Currently it is about 8 months away from when classes start. 

 

I was wondering if you would recommend that I continue scribing or work some other non-medically related job?

 

I feel like it would be a better mental break and it would also free up the position for someone who was in my shoes last year that needs hours for their application. However, I understand the job comes with lots of pertinent information that could be useful for school... what would you recommend?

[UGoLong]

If you have been accepted, you are under no obligation to keep doing anything to get into school (unless the school wanted you to finish a class, for example).

 

You could get a good paying job and save money for school. You could take classwork to prepare you (patho is one of my favorites). You could take some time off (you won't be getting much off for the next few years). 

 

A mix of this is probably best; keeps your focus, adds to your knowledge, builds up financial resources, and gives you a brief break before the next act begins.

 

Good luck.

[winterallsummer]

I was a CNA but here is my advice.  If you like the job, keep it.  If not, quit and do something you enjoy (retail, restaurant, whatever mindless work you want) as this may be your last chance to do that kind of job.  I kept my CNA job for benefits and pay but did quit a month early, despite my financial needs, to do some last minute traveling and enjoy time with family.

[skyfall]

I quit scribing right after being accepted to a school. Being a scribe was terrible pay, they def know how to take advantage of us premeds/prehealth students. But  I continued working in a lab which provided  actual lunch breaks and much better salary. This really helped with PA school tuition.  You'll get a ton more practice while you're on rotations anyway and learn on all sorts of different EMR systems.

 

I recommend you to take a mental break/vacation because you will need it. But do try to review a little on the side, esp if anatomy/physio is rusty.

[db_pavnp]

Skyfall is talking truth right here.  One thing that the scribe business does is abuse their employees with a subliving wage.  If I were more of a conspiracy theorist, I would think PA programs had stock in these companies for how hard they push minimum wage HCE.

[skyfall]

Exploitation for sure. My scribe company never paid us for all the overtime we worked. They also subtracted from our lunch hours even though we often skipped lunch. 

[Guest]

I don't see why you would want to switch jobs. Scribing was the easiest job I ever did. Sit on your butt all day, follow physicians to rooms a few times, chart, pay attention to labs, talk with docs and other scribes the rest of the time.