If you are a new student and are thinking about pursuing a career in the medical field, like me, you have a lot of options. You could become a Registered Nurse, a Physician, a Physician Assistant, a Dentist, an Audiologist, an Anesthesiologist or many other professions. In this article I am going to narrow it down for you between a Physician and a Physician Assistant and I am going to tell you why I would prefer being a Physician Assistant over the highly prestigious Physician career. Physician Assistant is a relatively new career and there are many misconceptions about what individuals with this title do in the medical field.
I am interested in pursuing the Physician Assistant (PA) degree because of my experiences both within the medical field and as a patient. These experiences have led me to believe that a team approach to patient-centered medicine provides the best and most comprehensive care possible. Further, the PA profession offers me the opportunity to continue my lifelong passion of helping others, giving back to my community, and provides me with further opportunities to teach.
Physician Assistant is a career choice that entails various specialties and flexibilities that attracts many. Those who desires a path to practice medicine as soon as possible, PA 's lateral mobility allows that to happen. Compared to medical school, PA school requires less time and amount less debt. As the population grows and chronic diseases spreads, The future projection of PA is growing faster than the average careers.
An article by Ponte and O’Neill (2013), states that applicants entering a nurse practitioner program must have a bachelor’s degree in nursing along with clinical nursing experience. In comparison, the article states that physician assistant programs encourage an undergraduate education focused on the sciences followed by a two year graduate program. All physician assistants must pass the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination to become certified while nurse practitioners obtain certification in their specialty under state certifying organizations (Ponte & O’Neill, 2013). Salaries for physician assistants and nurse practitioners are comparable. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2014), the mean annual wage for a physician assistant in the U.S. is $97,280 compared to nurse practitioners average of $97,990 annually. The scope of practice between physician assistants and nurse practitioners is also similar. The article by Ponte and O’Neill (2013), explains that while both physician assistants and nurse practitioners can diagnose and treat patients, their independence varies from state to state. Most physician assistants must be overseen by a physician in their specialty; meanwhile in some states, nurse
Physician Assistant’s are medical providers who, depending on the state, practice on their own, and work under the supervision of a licensed physician or doctor. They complete a master's degree from an accredited physician assistant program. Like physicians, PAs can specialize in a variety of medical specialties. PA’s are specialized in different fields and it just depends on what they studied in college. All physician assistants are alike in their profession, but could be different in many different ways. Some work directly under a doctor/physician at a hospital and see him daily and are told what to do. Others work at their own clinic and see the doctor or physician they work under every once in awhile.
Becoming a Medical Assistant believe it or not is an awesome career. Being able to be on the inside and handling emergency hands on is what I will be experiencing. Medical Assistants overall have many job duties and I might add if you are a busy person and you have the urge to help others, then this job is for you. Overall, the objective is to point out the duties, various opportunities and what you will be able to accomplish in the role as a Medical Assistant.
I have chosen to become a medical assistant as a platform to enter into the medical field. In my opinion I can fulfill the job description, I know there is a high demand for the position, and there is always room to grow on the pay scale.
These programs are usually available at the master's level and often require applicants to have bachelor's degrees and some amount of experience in the healthcare profession to gain admission. Many physician assistants serve as emergency medical technicians, nurses or paramedics before pursuing admission to physician assistant programs. Physician assistant programs generally take 26 months of full-time study to complete. During the first year, students focus on classroom instruction in medical science and clinical preparation. Courses may include pathology, pediatrics, diagnosis, surgical technique, emergency medicine, pharmacology and research methods. Afterward, the curriculum shifts to focus mostly on clinical rotations in various disciplines, such as general surgery, gynecology and behavioral medicine. During these rotations, students gain first-hand experience in patient care under the supervision of licensed physicians. Physician assistants are required to be licensed by the state in which they practice. Along with completion of an accredited training program, the licensing process entails passage of the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination. The National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants, evaluates fundamental medical and surgical comprehension (www.nccpa.net). PA’s who pass the PANCE may use the Physician Assistant-Certified (PA-C) designation. Physician assistants must earn 100 continuing education credits every two years. They are also required to pass the Physician Assistant National Recertifying Exam every six
Physician assistants can do more than a nurse, but not quite as much as a doctor. Their work is welcome in many places. Generally, a physician assistant is paid quite well for their labors. The medical field is very interesting.
Standing at the starting line of the full marathon I felt anxious and nervous. Not only was I excited to accomplish this goal, but also I was nervous about the difficulty of this task. However, when I crossed the finish line and accomplished this goal, I realized that a new and possibly more difficult goal was about to start. This goal was not only to complete Physician Assistant School but it was to strive to excel in a career as a Physician Assistant in a rural primary care setting. Driven by my intrinsic personal traits of leadership, compassion, and commitment, I am motivated to achieve this goal of excelling in my career as a Physician Assistant.
For my sports medicine profession, I choose nurse practitioner. I was drawn to this occupation simply because of the ability to make a difference in people's lives. Some other contributing factors are the amount of schooling, salary, and leadership responsibilities associated with the job. Many of my family members have gone into nursing and have had a positive experience. Becoming a nurse practitioner requires many years of formal eduction beyond high school. Typically, it usually takes six to eight years of eduction and training to become a nurse practitioner. Nurse practitioners must complete a four-year Bachelor's of science in Nursing (BSN). After earning the BSN, one will need to complete a master's degree program that trains nurse practitioners. Nurse practitioners must also be certified in CPR, AED, and First Aid (Health careers).
Medical assistants typically graduate from postsecondary education programs, and employers may prefer to hire assistants who have completed these programs. Programs for medical assisting are available from community colleges, vocational schools, technical schools, and universities and take about 1 year to c...
IV. One of the most important things a physician assistant can have is a good education.
I believe that people everywhere should always have access to adequate medical care. Where you live should not determine whether you live, and the PA profession was created to improve the availability of healthcare in rural and other underserved areas. As a PA, I would be eager to help people have not had access to the care they needed. I want to serve those that need medical attention but don’t have the means to obtain it—whether in rural Michigan, the inner-city of Atlanta, or the backwoods of Arkansas. Making great medical care accessible to all is crucial to improving public health, and it is a necessity across this country and the world. As a physician assistant,
I chose a career as a medical assistant because of the rewards I knew I would experience on a daily basis. Seeing a patient smile because I have helped them understand, or just making them feel comfortable with their visit, is just one of the many perks of my job. Upon graduating from an accredited college such as The College of Health Care Professions (CHCP), I now work for one of the most reputable hospitals in my area. Within two short years of committed studies, I obtained my associate of applied science degree, and then went on to obtain my certification as a medical assistant. There is nothing I have found more fulfilling, strong, secure, or rewarding then choosing to become a medical assistant,