Am I right for PA?

[QuirkyMedKid]

I'm sure a lot of you have seen my posts on here. I tend to be the frantic, tittering posts about "if this happens, am I done for?" I want to take a deep breath and ask a few questions about the profession/ share a bit about myself to see if I have the right disposition for it and if my intentions for this job are correct. I've already left little tidbits here and there in other posts but I want to sum myself up and see where I need to work on myself or if I'm just trying to force myself into a job that's not for me. I really hope this doesn't come off as a cry for attention or some nonsense like that. I really want to know what kind of person a PA should be.

 

First off, I am in the process of regulating a few mental issues. I've had problems with panic attacks in the past and as of late. I have very up or down years where there'll be a solid three-to-five months where I'm doing great and riding strong but then I hit a slump and everything goes south for awhile. I lose passion for things and fall into a cycle of anger/anxiety/depression. Sometimes, I'm afraid that if I make it into PA school, one of these lows will either cause me to fail out or affect my work. I'm not a particularly emotional person when I'm more chemically regulated, but when these lows hit, I have a hard time containing frustration or anger. This also brings me to the fact that I have ADHD, which I am still also in the process of learning how to cope with. I'm medicated but sometimes it feels like the meds aren't working, and I still have the issue of processing things, which frustrates me. Not to mention, I'm too strongly imaginative and often find myself drawing and writing poems when I should be taking notes.

 

My other problem is that I'm not entirely sure I want to be a PA. I did a clinical shadowing and hated it. I volunteer at a hospital and I've observed healthcare providers in action; I rather liked it and I feel happy in hospitals. However, I don't know if I'm sold on PA or not. I honestly don't think there's any job that I'll be able to love for 50 years +. At the very most, I just want something I can tolerate after the honeymoon phase. I don't need to be rich or wealthy or some lordly status. I just want something that gives me something new everyday, challenges me (but doesn't seem impossible), and pays the bills. The reason I'm invested in PA is because I enjoy science but science grad school seems too tedious for me. I've done multiple classes for social sciences, humanities, etc and I've pretty much hated everything but science, biology being my favorite. I like medicine but I don't think I'm enough of a big-shot disposition for med school, I don't have enough patience to be a nurse, and I like the idea that PA has specialty flexibility. Finally, I just want something where I won't end up starving on the streets. I really enjoy writing fiction, and I've had numerous people tell me to pursue it as a profession but I would way rather have job security and have writing as a hobby. Job security is very important to me; I want to love what I'm doing but not if I can't take care of myself or my future family.

 

Pros: I really enjoy people, and if I'm working with passionate/ kind/ hardworking people, I really enjoy team work. I am flexible in the fact that I will follow someone as long as they know what they're doing, and I'll lead if no steps up to the bat. I'm also ambivert and good at reading if people are introverted/ extroverted so that I can talk to them appropriately. I can be extremely compassionate and I have a very warm demeanor because I want everyone I meet to feel good when they're around me. And when it comes to work, I can be very selfless towards other coworkers and patients in my CNA job. I like solving puzzles and applying logic, and diagnostics seem to come somewhat naturally to me.

 

Cons: I can be patient to a point but when that point is reached, I absolutely cannot hide my irritability especially if I'm tired. I have an anti-auhority complex that makes me challenge my superiors if I think that they are being unfair or dishonest. I have vastly improved my emotional control but I still sometimes loose myself to anger in particular. I fear that the latter makes me unfit for the job at this point in my life. I want a job where other people are on the line however because, even though that can fuel my anxiety, it also fuels my determination help someone.

 

Well, there you all go. Whether it's advice, suggestions, or anything, I'd love to hear what you all have to say, especially experienced PAs. If you even have any suggestions for a job I'd suit better, I really would not be offended.

 

 

 

 

 

[RealWayPA]

It sounds like you have admirable and troublesome qualities, like all of us. For what it's worth, I found that actually working in a direct patient care setting forced me to confront and overcome a lot of my less desirable qualities. You'll definitely learn how to deal with real pressure the first time you're working as an EMT and have to bring in a cardiac arrest under BLS protocol because a paramedic isn't available or is too far way to intercept.

 

You said you work as a CNA. How does this job make you feel? Although I'm not a PA yet, I've found that working at the "ground level" like you has given me a real sense of what health care is all about: taking care of people. The diagnostics are fun and mentally stimulating, the pay isn't half bad, and laterality within specialty is a huge bonus. But, if you can't self-regulate your fluctuating personality enough to perform good patient care in a health care setting on an extremely consistent basis, maybe being a PA isn't the right choice for you? After all, health care is all about swimming in the sea of the human element.

 

Also, I think its worth considering the fact that (as you yourself state) PA school and PA practice will be extremely stressful. From everything I've read on this forum and have experienced in my own long, convoluted journey to PA school...this is a profession that requires 100 percent commitment. Especially as PA school entry becomes even more competitive than medical school in some regards, wavering about your commitment to the profession most likely signifies that you definitely aren't ready to take the leap yet.

 

I decided to become a PA about 5 years ago. I thought after taking a few prereqs and wiping poop for a few months as a CNA, I was 100 percent ready to be the number one student at the number one PA school in the country. Then...

 

...reality hit my square in the face. 5 years later, I'm 27 years old and just now getting to the point where I feel as ready as I possibly can be to accept the academic, emotional and professional/medical challenges of physician assistant school.

 

Can you get into a PA school? Eventually, probably...yes.

Should you go to PA school? None of us can answer that.

Do you want to go to PA school? Only you can answer that.

[LESH]

Thank you for being so honest in sharing your concerns. I think you are approaching this the right way. You are considering a journey and a profession that is going to impact every aspect of your life positively and negatively. You need to make an informed decision about what is best for you.  Please allow me to be candid. I don’t know you from Adam/Eve and I mean you no disrespect. I’ve worked with pre-PAs, PA students and graduate PAs a long time and base my responses on previous observations/experiences FWIW. So here are a few things you wrote that stood out to me.
 
“I lose passion for things and fall into a cycle of anger/anxiety/depression. Sometimes, I'm afraid that if I make it into PA school, one of these lows will either cause me to fail out or affect my work.:”
 
This could be problematic especially during the didactic year when covering a topic that may not peek your interest…
 
“…but when these lows hit, I have a hard time containing frustration or anger…”
 
Hopefully you would never encounter the frustration of getting a low grade on a test where you felt you had studied more than you have ever studied in your entire life. Which is pretty common in PA school. Or lecturers that will tell you “ read the book:” or “don’t worry you don’t need to know this..” Or someone in your class that can annoy the heck out of everyone and does it on a daily basis.
 
“This also brings me to the fact that I have ADHD, which I am still also in the process of learning how to cope with. I'm medicated but sometimes it feels like the meds aren't working, and I still have the issue of processing things, which frustrates me. Not to mention, I'm too strongly imaginative and often find myself drawing and writing poems when I should be taking notes.”
 
Get a better handle on this because of the fast pace of the didactic phase of a PA program is relentless and focus, motivation and self learning are necessary for success.
 
“My other problem is that I'm not entirely sure I want to be a PA. I did a clinical shadowing and hated it. I volunteer at a hospital and I've observed healthcare providers in action; I rather liked it and I feel happy in hospitals. However, I don't know if I'm sold on PA or not”
 
The other issues can be dealt with but this one is a deal breaker, especially if it is picked up during the interview. You have to want this especially considering all the sacrifice you will go through to get it.
 
“I have an anti-authority complex that makes me challenge my superiors if I think that they are being unfair or dishonest.”
 
Medical education sometimes will seem to foster a sense of being “unfair”. Who gets to do what procedure, go on what rotation, be selected for what team, down to the length of the lab coat worn… etc etc. Just be careful in the approach used to “challenge” an attending/supervising physician or didactic/clinical faculty. Just saying. BTDT
 
I wish you the best. I only commented because, while I love the PA profession, it can be frustrating and cause some angst at times. BTDT trust me. ;) Good luck in your future PA endeavors what ever you decide.

[Lemon Bars]

I recommend more job shadowing, and in a variety of settings. A hospital is very different from a neighborhood clinic, which is different from a specialist medical office, which is different from a skilled nursing facility. If you are shadowing and can't imagine yourself doing the job of a PA in any of these settings, you may want to pursue another career, I think. 

[Topsy]

I applaud your honesty and thought put into this quandary. And while I am not an experienced PA (simply a hopeful 1st time applicant), so you can take my advice as you will. I will clarify that I am 100% dedicated to the PA profession, although what I am advising may be counter-intuitive to that position. Based on what you have expressed, it seems like the PA profession is not the right choice for you...for now.

 

Although it was 10 years ago, I remember being close to graduation and not knowing what I wanted to do with my life. The pressure and the fear of the unknown were a frightening and overwhelming combination. But half of the battle in picking a careers is realizing what you don't want to do! Some of us are lucky to sort that out by 15, some at 25, and some never get it figured out, despite the grey hair and wise wrinkles. And, I cannot stress this enough, that is okay!! It is okay to not know what you want to do at the ripe old age of 20. (Hell, I’m 30 and I feel lucky that I’ve finally figured it out) So, you've ruled out DO/MD and nursing...but that doesn't necessarily mean you should assume that PA is the only career option left. The PA profession is not an afterthought - merely the rejects of medical school or nursing school. It has to be a deliberate choice.

 

The beautiful thing about life nowadays is that it is increasingly uncommon to pick and stick to a career for 40 years. People are starting with one career because it suits their needs at the time, and then they move onto something else because their needs at 40 may be different than the ones at 20. That’s what so great about the PA training and profession; it’s built for those who are ready to make a career jump, and who can bring their current strengths, skills, and life experiences to the field. So don't stress so much trying to find your ultimate career that you will hold onto till the day you retire. Life is stressful enough without that added pressure.

 

Anyway, here’s why I say that being a PA may not be right for you for the moment:

• you have to be sure that this is the right choice for you. no doubt an unwavering dedication to the end goal of becoming a PA will help push you through the rigorous program. are you that dedicated now? clearly not, based on what you’ve mentioned here. But 5 or 10 years down the road, you could be, and that is the time to apply.
   

• these programs are super rigorous - more difficult than anything experienced in undergrad. can you handle the pressure when every week for an entire year feels like finals week? (and we’re not talking like undergrad, where you sprinkle easy classes in to balance the biochems and microbiology) there is not a lot of wiggle room for when you hit your slump and everything goes south; depending on the program, you could be put on academic probation or even get kicked out.
   

• I hate to mention being fair (cuz we all know that “life’s not fair”), but if you do apply, and get into a program, but you drop out because you weren’t ready for the challenge. then you have wasted a perfectly good spot in the program that someone else who is dedicated and ready. in our country, there’s already not enough health-care providers to go around, and wasting a spot on someone who is not fully committed is a disservice to the profession, community, and future patients. so if you’re not 137% into it, do others a favor (the application process is brutal enough!) and just not pursue it.
   

• it’s a long application process. and expensive. many don’t get in on the first try. if you didn’t get in, would you apply again? if the answer is no, then don’t even bother. when the answer is, I will apply no matter how many times it takes, then you know you have made the right choice and are ready.

 

Becoming a PA for some is a straight path; they know from 15 years old that this is the route for them. But for a lot of us, it’s a winding road with lots of bumps and hiccups. And the exciting things is that those bumps and hiccups will make you a more mature person, a more open-minded provider, and really solidify your dedication to the field. Because if I were on the admissions committee, would I pick the applicant with good grades who says they want to be a PA because they have a good diagnostic sense and have had some patient care experience as a CNA? Or would I pick the applicant who is dedicated to becoming a PA because the profession speaks personally to them -- not only do they want to be a PA, but they also want to be a life-long advocate for the profession, to welcome future students for shadowing and to become a clinical preceptor (Who would you pick?)
 

So what are your other options? I would consider getting experience as an EMT and maybe becoming a paramedic. Or maybe a respiratory therapist. Those options would pay the bills and provide great hands on experience that’s more than just wiping poopy butts. There are a wide range of careers in allied health, if that is the route you want to go. But you don’t necessarily have to go that route!!!! Make and sell cheese on the side of the road. Teach english abroad. Write poetry for a literary journal. It doesn’t matter! Do some other jobs, have some fun, and enjoy taking risks. The experiences will give you a chance to rule out other things you don’t want to do, and if your lucky maybe you will find your passion. And once a profession (PA, writer, cheese-maker) personally speaks to you, you will realize that you're suddenly taking deliberate steps to make that dream a reality (and not even thinking twice about it).

I wish you luck in your endeavors, and hope you do find whatever it is that you are passionate about; just be patient, it can take months, years, or decades. But when you know, you just know. And even while you don’t know, that’s okay too. That is half the fun.

[RealWayPA]

I'm 27 years old. Ditto to everything Topsy just said.

[Topsy]

I'd also like to add, although you ask "Am I right for PA?" did you ever think to ask the question "is PA right for me?"

[dchampigny]

I would tend to agree with what is said above. You seem to be lacking a passion. Medicine is a very difficult profession and if you are not 100% committed to it, it will be difficult to motivate yourself.

 

I would say take off the scientific cap for a bit and think about the entire situation. What makes you happy? What will sustain you for years? Where do you get enjoyment out of every day activities? Can you see yourself helping people? 

 

It is important to think about careers that are financially stable, but don't make a decision because "it pays the bills". I would agree with the above about getting to do some more shadowing.

 

Good luck. 

[cm7sus4]

 

My other problem is that I'm not entirely sure I want to be a PA.

 

Frankly, this needs to be resolved.  Working as a practitioner, mid-level or not, is a demanding profession - PCP shortage projection is staggering and not being met fast enough thanks to so few resident physician slots, which means the workload for practicing providers often far exceeds already packed patient panels.  The student loans are very costly, as is the interest-laden payback; the classes move fast and require disciplined study skills.  The workload can be intense, especially for those who have never held a job which requires significant overtime.  I don't mean to be rude or to insinuate that you are not capable, but rather to suggest that the first step in this process is to determine that you want it.  All other decisions flow from making this decision, including whether or not you think you are capable - again I do not intend to insinuate anything here.  The last thing you want is $40k in student loans for half of a PA program and no means to pay it back.  This cost of opportunity can wreck your social and financial life.

 

Find a way to work with primary care providers in a hospital - this experience will tell you if you want it or not (chances are you would go into primary care).  Primary care is a lot of signing off on meds, calling prescriptions in to Wal Mart, ordering test and reviewing the results which are just boring data sets, attending department meetings wherein the pharmacist complains for way too long about an issue that no one cares about, and plenty of numbers games with upper level administration in order to manipulate patient panels and get more people seen within the same amount of work time.  Occasionally it is something sexy like is seen on the dramatized reality television shows, and occasionally it is difficult like breaking the news of sarcoma or doing a final pre-hospice primary care visit.

 

If you have doubts of becoming a practitioner, there are other significant health care areas which you may find more interesting...PA is not the only way to health care.  I wish you the absolute best!