Guest carolanimal Posted January 26, 2012 Share Posted January 26, 2012 I'm really having trouble finding any PA's that will allow me to shadow them. Unfortunately, the PA's at my workplace have been very aloof and unfriendly and it's been the nurse practitioners who have even offered to let me shadow. I have only about 12 hours of shadowing from about two years ago. I'm getting frustrated that I have been unable to make any sort of relationship with PA's whereas with the other medical practitioners it has been more than easy. I joined the pre-PA association for my state and I have yet to hear any response. I have called and emailed clinics and they cite HIPPA. I put a post on here a little while ago- nothing. I don't know what to do. --- I am here: http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=33.044110,-96.828198 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest carolanimal Posted January 26, 2012 Share Posted January 26, 2012 I'm really having trouble finding any PA's that will allow me to shadow them. Unfortunately, the PA's at my workplace have been very aloof and unfriendly and it's been the nurse practitioners who have even offered to let me shadow. I have only about 12 hours of shadowing from about two years ago. I'm getting frustrated that I have been unable to make any sort of relationship with PA's whereas with the other medical practitioners it has been more than easy. I joined the pre-PA association for my state and I have yet to hear any response. I have called and emailed clinics and they cite HIPPA. I put a post on here a little while ago- nothing. I don't know what to do. --- I am here: http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=33.044110,-96.828198 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cinntsp Posted January 26, 2012 Share Posted January 26, 2012 http://pashadowonline.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cinntsp Posted January 26, 2012 Share Posted January 26, 2012 http://pashadowonline.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buffchic Posted January 26, 2012 Share Posted January 26, 2012 Carolanimal- That is frustrating. Broaden your scope. I would start by joining your local PA society. There should be a state society that is part of AAPA. And perhaps a group specific to North Texas. Also, you can join AAPA as a student. But go find this local society. You can attend their meetings, go to their educational seminars and network there and via their web site--this can all be done as a pre-PA student (I have done so). Then I would network some more. Ask all of your friends who their PA is or do they know one? Then call or email them and make a request. Also, check to see if what ever college you went to has any alumni who are PAs. You could appeal to them as a fellow alum. Also, there is a national PA shadowing network site. www.pashadowonline.com Give it a try. I moved to a new city (Buffalo, NY) from Louisiana a few months ago and didn't know a soul here. No contacts. Whereas back home, I had quite a few healthcare connections to call on. And I started from scratch with the above options. It worked for me and I found several very helpful PAs to shadow. Good luck! Don't give up! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buffchic Posted January 26, 2012 Share Posted January 26, 2012 Carolanimal- That is frustrating. Broaden your scope. I would start by joining your local PA society. There should be a state society that is part of AAPA. And perhaps a group specific to North Texas. Also, you can join AAPA as a student. But go find this local society. You can attend their meetings, go to their educational seminars and network there and via their web site--this can all be done as a pre-PA student (I have done so). Then I would network some more. Ask all of your friends who their PA is or do they know one? Then call or email them and make a request. Also, check to see if what ever college you went to has any alumni who are PAs. You could appeal to them as a fellow alum. Also, there is a national PA shadowing network site. www.pashadowonline.com Give it a try. I moved to a new city (Buffalo, NY) from Louisiana a few months ago and didn't know a soul here. No contacts. Whereas back home, I had quite a few healthcare connections to call on. And I started from scratch with the above options. It worked for me and I found several very helpful PAs to shadow. Good luck! Don't give up! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
winterallsummer Posted January 27, 2012 Share Posted January 27, 2012 Google your city for PA organizations. Find all nearby ones. Each should have a "leader", send them a paragraph about yourself and that you're looking to shadow it. They send it to all PAs in their chapter. I had to send it to 4-5 lists about 3 times and finally got 1 PA to shadow, however he let me shadow him for 35 hours and gave me a LOR. Just keep pushing forward, the most important thing is not to give up. But yes it is frustrating. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
winterallsummer Posted January 27, 2012 Share Posted January 27, 2012 Google your city for PA organizations. Find all nearby ones. Each should have a "leader", send them a paragraph about yourself and that you're looking to shadow it. They send it to all PAs in their chapter. I had to send it to 4-5 lists about 3 times and finally got 1 PA to shadow, however he let me shadow him for 35 hours and gave me a LOR. Just keep pushing forward, the most important thing is not to give up. But yes it is frustrating. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deborah212 Posted January 27, 2012 Share Posted January 27, 2012 Also, you might want to join Linkedin. I recently had a pre-PA find me that way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deborah212 Posted January 27, 2012 Share Posted January 27, 2012 Also, you might want to join Linkedin. I recently had a pre-PA find me that way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest carolanimal Posted January 30, 2012 Share Posted January 30, 2012 Neither of the PAs in my area on the PA shadow website have dates that are available. So annoyed right now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest carolanimal Posted January 30, 2012 Share Posted January 30, 2012 Neither of the PAs in my area on the PA shadow website have dates that are available. So annoyed right now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest carolanimal Posted January 30, 2012 Share Posted January 30, 2012 Deborah- I've done that already- no response. Or they cite HIPPA. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest carolanimal Posted January 30, 2012 Share Posted January 30, 2012 Deborah- I've done that already- no response. Or they cite HIPPA. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator EMEDPA Posted January 30, 2012 Moderator Share Posted January 30, 2012 the best way to be around pa's is to work around them. get an entry level job at a place that utilizes pa's. that's how most of us "older pa's" learned about the profession in the first place. you need thew hce anyway so focus on getting that emt or cna cert then get a job in health care. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator EMEDPA Posted January 30, 2012 Moderator Share Posted January 30, 2012 the best way to be around pa's is to work around them. get an entry level job at a place that utilizes pa's. that's how most of us "older pa's" learned about the profession in the first place. you need thew hce anyway so focus on getting that emt or cna cert then get a job in health care. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest carolanimal Posted January 30, 2012 Share Posted January 30, 2012 I sent an email to the North Texas PA chapter of the TAPA. I haven't heard anything for about 4 weeks now. I will try again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest carolanimal Posted January 30, 2012 Share Posted January 30, 2012 I sent an email to the North Texas PA chapter of the TAPA. I haven't heard anything for about 4 weeks now. I will try again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest carolanimal Posted January 30, 2012 Share Posted January 30, 2012 I actually do work "around" three PA's at work. However, they are all very aloof and seem to not want to talk to me. I actually did approach one- she's the PA for one of the neurosurgeons. I won't go into the details but she basically presented PA's in an awful way. I try to be friendly to her in the hallways and she basically won't even look at me. It's incredibly frustrating because I have a great relationship with the pulmonologists and with other doctors in the ICU and with one on the nurse practioners of the liver team, but the PA's just seem to follow the doctors around and don't seem to build any rapport with anyone. I've noticed that it's not just me that this aloof and awkward behavior it's directed to. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest carolanimal Posted January 30, 2012 Share Posted January 30, 2012 I actually do work "around" three PA's at work. However, they are all very aloof and seem to not want to talk to me. I actually did approach one- she's the PA for one of the neurosurgeons. I won't go into the details but she basically presented PA's in an awful way. I try to be friendly to her in the hallways and she basically won't even look at me. It's incredibly frustrating because I have a great relationship with the pulmonologists and with other doctors in the ICU and with one on the nurse practioners of the liver team, but the PA's just seem to follow the doctors around and don't seem to build any rapport with anyone. I've noticed that it's not just me that this aloof and awkward behavior it's directed to. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cinntsp Posted January 30, 2012 Share Posted January 30, 2012 Neither of the PAs in my area on the PA shadow website have dates that are available. So annoyed right now. Try emailing them. I actually do work "around" three PA's at work. Shadowing isn't a must to get into PA school. Some programs do require a minimum amount but most do not. It is good enough if you work around/with PAs and understand the PA role in medicine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cinntsp Posted January 30, 2012 Share Posted January 30, 2012 Neither of the PAs in my area on the PA shadow website have dates that are available. So annoyed right now. Try emailing them. I actually do work "around" three PA's at work. Shadowing isn't a must to get into PA school. Some programs do require a minimum amount but most do not. It is good enough if you work around/with PAs and understand the PA role in medicine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taotaox1 Posted January 31, 2012 Share Posted January 31, 2012 Shadowing is fun and useful for about 4 hours. Wut is right, if you understand and work with PAs it's not critical. The more useful (in terms of getting into school) aspect of it is that it is a great way to get a PA to write you a letter of recommendation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taotaox1 Posted January 31, 2012 Share Posted January 31, 2012 Shadowing is fun and useful for about 4 hours. Wut is right, if you understand and work with PAs it's not critical. The more useful (in terms of getting into school) aspect of it is that it is a great way to get a PA to write you a letter of recommendation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KhoiFish82 Posted January 31, 2012 Share Posted January 31, 2012 PMd you carolanimal Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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