roundabout Posted March 25, 2019 Share Posted March 25, 2019 (edited) I am just curious as to if the majority of those working as PA's find their job enjoyable. Obviously it is different for everyone, just trying to get a general consensus. Edited March 25, 2019 by johncfl Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mgriffiths Posted March 25, 2019 Share Posted March 25, 2019 Simple answer: yes (most days, there is always the exception, but overall yes) Complex answer: this is far and beyond the best career path I have had, and I've had 3. Previously was a high school teacher and I loved that job, but the amount of crud that is associated with teaching and the awful pay made me miserable. Unfortunately being a PA has a lot of the same crud just in a slightly different way, but my salary is much better and generally I am well respected. Those last two points make a huge difference. There is a saying that "money can't buy happiness," but I firmly believe that statement is only true to a point - and there is some research that agrees. Making $35,000 as a teacher with relatively mediocre benefits working 60-80 hours per week - stressing about how I would provide for my family once kids came along...makes me slightly nauseated just thinking about it. Making $100k+ working ~40 hours per week - stressing how to save for my kids' college...still makes me slightly nauseated to think about future college costs. But I would rather be nauseated thinking about how to save for college than how to provide the simple necessities. PS: be kind to your kid's teachers - they're overworked, underpaid, and deal with WAY MORE BS than we do 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator EMEDPA Posted March 25, 2019 Moderator Share Posted March 25, 2019 I was fairly unhappy and burned out for the first 15 years(actually years 3-15, first 2 were pretty good) of my career as a PA. The last 7 years have been great. If I had life to do over again I would go to med school and miss those 15 years of misery. my current schedule is awesome. I work solo coverage interchangeably with emergency physicians no more than 10 days/month. also doing some teaching. life is pretty good right now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sas5814 Posted March 25, 2019 Share Posted March 25, 2019 I really enjoy the people I work with. Patients... meh. Some days I feel like I'm helping and some days I feel like I'm swimming to the ocean of stupid and I'm working too hard to keep the wrong people alive. I think that is the definition of work for the most part. The folks who love what they do every day are in a very sweet spot indeed. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoCal_PA Posted March 25, 2019 Share Posted March 25, 2019 Yes. Add a poll if you want to see more responses and for a clear answer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eighthnote24 Posted March 30, 2019 Share Posted March 30, 2019 I hated practicing. I love teaching and that's what I do full time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ohiovolffemtp Posted March 30, 2019 Share Posted March 30, 2019 I don't always enjoy what I do. I do EM and the mix of patients includes the ungrateful, the entitled, the unbathed, and those that lack any sense of personal responsibility. However, I do find what I do very satisfying. Like Emed, my life got much better when I moved to rural EM. However, being an EM PA beats corporate IT and even being a firefighter/paramedic. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TWR Posted March 31, 2019 Share Posted March 31, 2019 I think the answer to your question is more complicated than a "yes" or "no" answer. Many, Many variables. I would say that the "no" votes have more to do with their work environment and not what the job actually is. What comes to mind are greedy corporate medicine companies which are growing like a malignancy and greedy private practice's that see us as just a # to make them money. IMO 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrator rev ronin Posted April 1, 2019 Administrator Share Posted April 1, 2019 I like it a lot more when I'm in a couple of small shops, and just work when I agree to. The benefits of full-time employment are simply not worth the hassle of "mother may I" time off. I have no paid leave other than that which is mandated by the state, so I just need to give advance notice when I am going to go off and do something else. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cideous Posted April 2, 2019 Share Posted April 2, 2019 Meh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roundabout Posted April 3, 2019 Author Share Posted April 3, 2019 Thank you all for your responses. I really appreciate the feedback. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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