lizabeth897 Posted April 7, 2011 Share Posted April 7, 2011 Sorry for the long post... I am a new mother to a 3 month old baby and was accepted into a pa program that begins in 2 months. I am so conflicted as to whether or not I should g and have very luttle time left to decide bc school is across country so my family I need to make plans to move asap if I go. My problem is this..I chose pa because of hopes of it being a flexible and family friendly career. I do not want the intensity and busyness that goes along w the life of an MD so I really don't want to go to PA school only to find there is little difference in schedule, demands, and time away from family. I want so badly to find part time work because I. Really really desire to be at home with my children while they are young. I am reading such mixed reviews about what life as a PA is really like and I am desperate to get a true understanding of this career before I. Decide to move across country and put my family into thousands of dollars of debt. Can this career provide flexibilty and time to be at home or does it really seem to be something that requires you to revolve your life around it. I am interested in this field and feel I could really do well in it, but if my husband and I would have enough money for me to do anything that I wanted, I would choose to stay home with my kids in a heartbeat. If anyone has any advice or input or suggestions for me I would be so grateful! I am dying to get a realistic understanding of the nature of this career! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cecilia Posted April 7, 2011 Share Posted April 7, 2011 I am a mom of three kids. The PA field has been good to me. School didn't seem that stressfull. My first job was with a internal medicine/rheumatologist ( my first son was 5 yrs old), and I explained to him that I wanted to work but also wanted to spend time with my kid. He understood and allowed to work until 3 pm. I got pregnant again and decided to stay home, two years later...after having two mores kids (two pregnancies one month apart), I found another job which allowed me to see pts at any hour and any day I wanted. I still have this job. I work around my kids' schedule. It works for me. I think you will find this career choice very rewarding. And hopefully you can also find a job that works for you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Hdjdjbxj Posted April 7, 2011 Share Posted April 7, 2011 My wife and I had our first son when we were 20 while I was in the military. Ever since then we've stretched ourselves thin between balancing family time, work/school and income. I am not a PA yet, but my take on the whole kids & medicine thing is that "sucking it up" a few more years will allow us to be in a position to make decisions regarding our family life without having to worry about how we're going to pay the bills. I will be starting PA school in a few months with a 7 yr old and a 1 yr old, my wife and I are not only looking short term (time when they're little) but also when they're older (college tuition, retirement). I can't speak for you and your family, but I really do believe it will be worth it. My wife stayed at home with our 1st son for the first 4 years. Our second son was in daycare from 3 months-9 months (2 days a week) and now that I am done with undergrad I work 25+ hours on the weekend and stay home with them during the week. It's definitely difficult to put your child in daycare so long, but we both do our best to adjust our schedules to minimize that time and make the most of the time that we have together (evenings). If you have family/close friends near by you will definitely need their support! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marilynpac Posted April 7, 2011 Share Posted April 7, 2011 I'll give you the same advice that I gave you a yr ago, I thought this thread sounded familiar. You put the same thread up again this March 30, the advice is going to be the same..you should look at the answers that the other posters gave you that time too..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Just Steve Posted April 7, 2011 Share Posted April 7, 2011 ^^^ heard a comment the other day which seems to apply... "The Internet is written in ink" Whatever has been put out there, is still there." To the OP...your situation sounds less than ideal but it is not a situation that has not been faced by thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of working parents every year. You are on the only one that can make this decision. Myself and the other folks out there in web land should not sway you. Almost every class I have taken during my pre reqs recommend that you study 3 hours on your own for every hour you are in the classroom. That means weekends will be tied up playing catch up. If you are not coming from a medical background, you may have to try extra hard to make the grade. Citing/admitting you only chose PA for an easy career where you could afford a lifestyle that is comfortable can be construed as a slap in the face to the folks who are pursuing PA because they have a passion to practice medicine and help their fellow person. They are not here for a lifestyle or a paycheck, but rather a passion. Your passion appears to be your family, and that's great. Be proud of that passion by all rights but it may be difficult to come to a PA focused website where people have sacrificed time, energy, money, and who knows what else to make it, and garner sympathy for your situation. Personally, I simply compare difficult situations to forward deployed troops overseas. They are eating rotting food, sleeping on ground, using makeshift bathrooms in the wild hoping not to die with their pants down, while getting shot at. Anything short of that is totally manageable. I asked my wife about your post to get a female's perspective...she said "follow your passion". If it's family, do it and sacrifice school. If it's school, do that and realize you will miss some family time now, but have much more in the future. Of all the PA's we know, which are several, none of them work a 40 hour work week, and they all live comfortable lifestyles. Getting through school will be tough, but not impossible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
just_me Posted April 7, 2011 Share Posted April 7, 2011 Im a single parent and I thought of all that BEFORE even thinking about applying. I mean why waste the money if I thought I couldnt manage my family and school? Right now I have o make the choice whether to leave my daughter for two years or take her with me. Would it be easier for me if she stayed here? Yeas and no. It would be easier because I wouldnt have the stress of raising a child while attending my program but no in the sense that shes IS my child....my only one and I have had her by my side since day one. With all that said....I would graduate, get to practice medicine and have the opportunity to provide us with a comfortable lifestyle. You have to make sacrafices for whats most important to you--whats most important to me is being able to take care of my daughter and reaching my goal of practicing medicine. Figure out whats most important to you and make the sacrafices neccessary for them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Planteater Posted April 7, 2011 Share Posted April 7, 2011 wow Marilyn. I have been reading this forum for many months now and all I can say to you is you have way too much free time on your hands. Lizabeth- I have not regretted one second of the five years I have spent at home with my kids. I also have not regretted any of the time I am spending getting ready for PA school. Is there an option for you to delay entrance to your school for one year and stay home so you can have that year with your baby? From everything I have read and everyone I have talked to it seems that once you have some experience you can find a flexible schedule, but you should not expect that right out of school. I wish you well and I hope that you make the decision that is best for you and your family! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Just Steve Posted April 7, 2011 Share Posted April 7, 2011 wow Marilyn. I have been reading this forum for many months now and all I can say to you is you have way too much free time on your hands. Perhaps Marilyn has a job like mine, where a computer is at hand for large percentages of the day. Aside from that though... It is very easy to click on a person's name and see what their other posts are. Of course after Marilyn pointed out that this is a repeat thread from the same person, my interest was piqued and I looked back in time... The OP has had a ton of advice in the past from both current PA's and students in her similar situation. In her former posts from a year ago she writes how she is seeking to fully understand the daily routine of a PA...and now again, in this most recent post, a year later, she writes how she is still trying to find out exactly the role of a PA. If you can't wrap your mind around the role in a year's time then perhaps it's time to seek another career field. This one obviously doesn't have your due attention. Formally she was without child and doing research before kids. That shows good foresight. Most of the responses encouraged her to not attempt to do both at the same time. She ignored that advice despite it's majority. Not a bad decision, but one that shows she didn't really care what others had said. She is now again posting the same stuff but with child. It's obvious her passion is her family. Good for her. Go with it, run with it, make it happen...whatever "it" may be. Just don't come around asking the same questions that was already advised on and expect different answers. At some point the OP needs to stand up on their own two feet and make a decision for themselves and roll with it. If I had a medical provider who was so indecisive during critical moments at the bedside, even after seeking and being given counsel, I would seek another medical provider. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SocialMedicine Posted April 7, 2011 Share Posted April 7, 2011 My message is easy .. PA career = stressful/demanding/but likely a flexible schedule if you sacrifice some economy. PA school = stressful/demanding/long hours and not at all flexible. When it comes to clinic, unless your PA training is subpar, you will likely spend a minumum 40-50+ hours in clinic and then another 1-2 hours each day studying and preparing for tomorrow. Several clerkships (surgery, general medicine, specialty services in hospital) required 60+ hours in clinic each week. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chatcat Posted April 7, 2011 Share Posted April 7, 2011 I am interested in this field and feel I could really do well in it, but if my husband and I would have enough money for me to do anything that I wanted, I would choose to stay home with my kids in a heartbeat. If anyone has any advice or input or suggestions for me I would be so grateful! I am dying to get a realistic understanding of the nature of this career! It's so important to have realistic expectations going into PA school in order to make the needed sacrifice for the training. In the best case scenario, a thorough investigation of this career choice really should be pursued before applying to PA schools. Only you know what is right for you and your family but if you don't feel at least 90% committed to this profession why spend the time,money and put up with the hassles and sacrifices to your family that are needed to train as a PA? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
just_me Posted April 7, 2011 Share Posted April 7, 2011 Ive been posting for quite a while.....its not hard to recognize similar posts from the same people...especially when you gave them advice already. Usually when I see similar posts from the same people I skip them because usually they are not looking for advice....they are simply looking for someone to tell them what they want to hear. wow Marilyn. I have been reading this forum for many months now and all I can say to you is you have way too much free time on your hands. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swooshie1 Posted April 7, 2011 Share Posted April 7, 2011 wow Marilyn. I have been reading this forum for many months now and all I can say to you is you have way too much free time on your hands In this case, Marilyn is clearly the most time-efficient of all the well-meaning people who have given extensive and worthy advice (both last year and this year!) to the OP . . . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
faq88 Posted April 7, 2011 Share Posted April 7, 2011 You need to plan on taking some time off from your family for PA school. During the Didactic year you will be extremely busy. There is a reason why all programs tell you not to get a part time job. You have to work very hard to get by. I had to work my but off just to get B's. This means going to classes which is all day then studying for 4-5 hours every night and all weekend. There is little spare time for a family, but it is possible. I had a lot of classmates you had families and could spare an hour here or their, but don't plan on more 1-2 hours available to them per day. During your Clinical year it will depend on the rotation. I have rotations where I had no free time and some with lots. You can always setup rotations that are less demanding, but don't sacrifice your education. When you finally get a job the amount you want to work is up to you. There are plenty of jobs that require 60+ hours a week and call and weekends. There are also plenty of jobs that are part-time or 9-5 or whatever schedule you want. Just need to be flexible where you work based on availability of jobs. Let me know if you have any other questions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator ventana Posted April 7, 2011 Moderator Share Posted April 7, 2011 those people that truly want to be a PA don't put posts up asking about it for years, but instead get into school and become one one year later to be asking the same (similiar questions) sort of answers the questions.... as the saying goes - poop or get off the pot...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Planteater Posted April 7, 2011 Share Posted April 7, 2011 oops- sorry Marilyn. I did not realize it was so easy to see what people had posted before. I thought someone had actually searched back through years of posts to find this (red face). I thought Marilyn was picking on the OP....did not realize the history here. Please excuse the newbie ;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lizabeth897 Posted April 7, 2011 Author Share Posted April 7, 2011 I truly do appreciate the input. I am sorry if I have offended anyone and I am really not lookign for sympathy, just help. I have the utmost respect for thise who have devoted themselves to this professiona dn to serving others and I can assure that when I decide what is right for me and my family I will devote 100% and work my hardest, whether it be this career, another, or staying at home. Yes, I did post the same basic question 1 year ago. Shortly after that post, my husband and I found out we were expecting a baby. Totally unplanned..when I called my school, they allowed me to defer 1 year, hence I am now in the same postion trying to make a decision. I only want to do what is best for my family and I, and it is a really difficult decision and a lot is at stake. Therefore I am trying to do as much research as I can and get as much input as possiblem I don't know where else to find that than the people who know this career best. My passion is my family but I also want to provide for them and give the best life I can to my kids. I have worked very hard to get myself to this point and have earned my place in my pa prgram and if I move forward, I will work even harder. My family is so important that I do not want a career to swallow me up and take up all of my time. This is what I want to avoid.. I have gotten different responses..some saying pa is flexible and family friendly and. Sone saying the opposite. That is why I am still struggling and confused, looking for clarification because too much is at stake for me, my family, and future patients (if I go) for me to not be sure this is right for me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Just Steve Posted April 8, 2011 Share Posted April 8, 2011 If you pause for a moment....or a year or more, and look around at the sheer scope of what the PA profession practices in, you will see it as varied as medicine itself. There are PAs in every discipline of medicine working a HUGE variety of shifts in a HUGE variety of settings. THERE IS NO ONE ANSWER! From per diem work (means you get to pick the days) 24 hour shifts to everything in between...No one can answer what you will find for just you. IT IS UP TO YOU TO FIND WHAT WILL WORK FOR YOU. No one is going to promise you a magic spot. Every one of us here has made sacrifices. I have three kids and have missed ballet/soccer practice/games, first day riding bicycles, wonderful swimming afternoons at the local lake, ski time, fishing time, helping with homework, reading, being there to answer their silly questions...but I know if we push through all of this, at the end, we can catch up and then some. I am a male and I don't think it's fair for me to pass suggestions on how a mother should bond with their child. There is wwaaayyy too much literature out there for that. Personally, since I wasn't the one feeding the kids in their first year (breast fed), they really didn't give two rips about my existence for the first couple of years. Now that they are quite active and mobile and exploring the world around them in hyperspeed, I truly wish I could put this moment on pause so I could spend more of it with them. However, my passion is to get established so we can all have a better life together. But that is just me. You need to find what works for you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Firemedic13 Posted April 8, 2011 Share Posted April 8, 2011 IMO: Go to school.... provided your husband or family are there to support you 100%. Will it suck? Yup. Will the long term benefits outweigh the short term losses? Yup. I would do it if I was in that position. Also, frankly, at this age as long as your kiddo is getting lots of good supportive attention from family, they are good to go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hemegroup Posted April 8, 2011 Share Posted April 8, 2011 As long as you have a strong support system, i.e. daycare, you should be fine. We had a classmate who had an infant when she started, and she made it through strongly. I would think of it this way ... will your child remember you being present at this age or when they're older? Heck, they don't even know where their nose is at the moment ... take advantage of that! Here's an article you might enjoy reading: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/02/health/02resident.html?_r=2&src=me&ref=homepage Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cecilia Posted April 8, 2011 Share Posted April 8, 2011 i agree with firemedic. could you ask your mom or mother in law to move in with you for a couple of years? Child care is not optimal. Your situation also depends on how well and quick you can learn, adapt to new situations, etc... If you are lazy by nature, or it takes you hours to study something that should take less time, or you can't multitask, then...it's a different story. It all depends on you. I would try to find a mom that went through the same program you are planning to go to and ask lots of questions. Also, it depends whether your husband will help with the baby....for example during night feedings, etc...and support you. You can't go to PA school and stay up with the baby all night at the same time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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