I am a Physician Assistant

Physician assistants experience one of life’s most rewarding careers.1 PA’s enjoy unmatched flexibility around schedules, assignments and specialty — and they end each day aware of having made a real difference in the lives of others. Persistent physician shortages mean that PAs fill an important gap in access to healthcare, with a 31% expected growth in employment.2 Read how the PA experience differs across four practice areas, and the various benefits of each.*

*Note, these profiles are not based on real people but they are based on real PA experiences and are for illustrative purposes only.

Emergency Department Physician Assistant

As an ER physician assistant, I join a team of supervising physicians and nurses as a patient’s first line of healthcare. A typical shift might ask me to calm a scared child, set a broken bone, perform a thorough medical history across language barriers, perform detailed physical examinations, and assist in providing life-saving care.

Qualities:

  • Caring
  • Focused
  • Team-Player
  • Quick-on-my-feet Problem Solver

Rural Health Facility Physician Assistant

As one of three medical professionals staffing a rural primary care office, I’ve learned to juggle and adapt, hour-by-hour and patient-by-patient. I watch my patients grow from infants into middle childhood and adolescence. I also observe my own growth. I see how nutrition, addiction and prenatal care can support someone’s future. We give our patients tools to live with a greater sense of possibility.

Qualities:

  • Dedicated
  • Agile
  • Good Listener
  • Emotional Intelligence

Geriatrics Physician Assistant

As a geriatrics physician assistant in a nursing home, I work alongside doctors, nurses, and physical and occupational therapists all devoted to a higher standard of care and making someone’s later years meaningful. Small medical decisions and interventions can make a big difference — one study reports that after introducing PAs to nursing homes, hospital admissions fell by 38%.3 I coordinate treatments, help manage chronic conditions, help avoid prescription errors and build long-term relationships.

Qualities:

  • Patient
  • Compassionate
  • Outgoing
  • Optimistic

Orthopedic Physician Assistant

As an orthopedic specialist’s physician assistant, I see the cycle of injury, aging, and healing up close across a wide range of patients. I know what it means for a young athlete to resume activity, and for a single mom to get back on her feet to support a family. I play a role in keeping people on track with therapy and nutrition routines, and help answer questions related to difficult surgery options.

Qualities:

  • Positive
  • Clear Communicator
  • Active
  • Knowledgeable

Carlow University’s Physician Assistant master’s degree is a cohort-based, 25-month program that gives you the ability to explore all kinds of work environments and specializations. We offer clinical experiences in family medicine, internal medicine, emergency medicine, surgery, behavioral medicine, women’s health, pediatrics, and more. You will graduate ready to take on the Physician Assistant National Certification Examination (PANCE) and pursue a career in any of the versatile, in-demand places that a physician assistant might find themselves.

Source:

  1. AAPA - 9 Reasons to Become a PA
    Follow Link → | Back ↩
  2. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
    Follow Link → | Back ↩
  3. American Geriatrics - Training for Physician Assistants
    Follow Link → | Back ↩