Physician Assistant?

After my meeting with Dr. McDade, I looked into PAs. 

*What is a PA?

A physician assistant is a healthcare professional that is nationally certified and state-licensed to practice medicine and provide care under the supervision of a physician. 

 

*What do PAs do?

Physician assistants can do a broad spectrum of tasks. 

They can conduct physical exams, obtain medical histories, 

diagnose and treat illnesses, and assist in surgery. 

They can also order tests and interpret test results, 

counsel patients on preventive health care, and prescribe medications.

*Where do PAs work?

 Physician assistants can work in a private practice or a hospital setting.

They can also work in an HMO (health management organization) and with the military.

 

*How much do PAs make?

The median salary for a physician assistant in 2010 was $90,000.  

The lowest 10 percent earned less than $57,450, 

and the top 10 percent earned more than $117,720.

  Most PAs work 32 hour work weeks. 

*How do you become a PA?

 To apply to a PA program, you must have a bachelor's degree.

Most programs are at least two years long to complete, with no residency.

The average cost of an entire PA program is about $50,000.
Upon finishing, you must take the PANCE for national certification

 before you can test for a state license, which you need to be able to practice.

 You maintain national certification by logging 100 hours of continuing 

education every two years and retaking the exam every six years.

 *What do you need to apply to PA school?

First, you must take the GRE. It has three sections 

(analytical writing, verbal reasoning, and quantitative reasoning)

and takes about three and half hours to take. It costs $175 to register for the GRE. 

Second, you must fill out the CASPA, an online application service.  

It becomes available each April. Into the CASPA, you must also enter

 three letters of reference, a fee, transcripts, and GRE scores.

Third, you must fill out the supplemental application and its corresponding fee.

Some programs request a resume. You will also need many, many, many hours of healthcare experience/exposure that involve direct patient contact or observing direct patient contact. 

PA programs can require anywhere from 200-2000 hours or experience. 

Shadowing a PA,NP, or MD, or volunteering at a hospital are great examples.

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So, I really like the way this PA thing sounds. 

I could do everything I wanted as an MD  but in a SHORTER amount of time 

for LESS money with NO RESIDENCY at the end. 

Now I'm considering not applying to med school this year and taking a year off.

Then possibly applying to PA school next year. 

The only problems? 

No one in my family likes the idea or cares about how I feel about living MY own life. 

They think they know how things work and what's best, 

when truth be told they know NOTHING. 

I'm also missing four of the required classes with no room 

to squeeze them into my senior year schedule. 

I don't have enough shadowing hours. I currently have about 30 hours. 

And I haven't taken the GRE. 

Great.