Interview with a PA-C

1) Why did you choose to be a PA?
PA's are on the top 10 list of growing jobs in America.  Enough said....  but also...

I have always wanted to be in the medical field because:
1. it was interesting to me (my mother was an operating room nurse)
2. there will always be employment opportunities
3. you get to help people
4. you make a good living.

 I went into my undergrad years expecting to go to med school, but when learning of the PA profession, it seemed like a better fit because:
1. less time spent in med school/residency, therefore less money taken out in loans
2. i still get to do what i want in medicine (in other words, I am doing the same things I would be doing if I were a doctor) 
3. I didn't have to take the 2nd semester of O-chem for PA school! 
4. I will never be "stuck" in a specific job (e.g. when a cardiologist goes through residency/fellowship to be a cardiologist, that is most likely what he will be forever - whereas, I can work with cardiologists for a few years then change to pediatrics or emergency medicine, or whatever I like - this is also part of why I chose PA over NP)
5.  PAs have the reputation of spending more time with their patients and many (not all) pts seem to be happier with their PA
6.  It seemed like it would allow for a better lifestyle (i.e. family)

2) You went to school in California for undergraduate and for PA school. What was that experience like? Have you noticed anything different than your colleagues from Texas schools?

I absolutely loved California, and never expected to move back home to Texas.  But, when you get a good opportunity, you follow.  As far as what we learned, it seems as if all PAs essentially go over the same basics and have the same knowledge base.  The biggest difference is that there are MANY more opportunities for jobs in Texas, so you can pick and choose one that suits you better.  Many of my California friends had to settle for jobs they weren't initially happy in just to start having an income.  California seems to be saturated w/ PAs, but every day, I receive info in the mail about a new job opportunity in DFW.

3) How did you pick Western? What was your application process like?
I picked Western because there were 2 PA schools in Southern California - Western and USC - in the location I wanted to be.  Between the 2 choices, I was told by many doctors and PAs that I shadowed from LA County hospital that the Western PAs seemed to be slightly better than the USC PAs.  Go figure.  In addition - Western picked me...it was the only school I was accepted to (out of 5).  PA school is hard to get into, and many people don't get in the first go round.  So when a school accepts you...you go!

4) What was your day like in urgent care? What is a normal shift like for you in ICU?
Urgent care can be exciting or boring.  It really depends on the day.  Sometimes you get a pt that looks like they are having a heart attack or stroke and you are calling EMS to come pick them up and take them to the hospital.  Some days, people are getting lacerations that you get to suture all day long.  Other days, you might see the same thing over and over...UTI, URI, flu...If you work at a busy urgent care, you can get your butt kicked, seeing and performing the work up for approx 4-5 pts an hour.

Shifts in the ICU can either be quiet or CRAZY.  I am the only one working at night (my doctor is home, reachable by phone).  So, I essentially do his day job, but at night.  Some nights I run codes, intubate people, etc.  Other nights, I simply see new pts, assess them, work them up, diagnose them and treat them - just any clinician would.  I occasionally have to talk to families and comfort them in very difficult situations.

5) The PA profession is continually evolving, what are some ways you would like to see it grow?
I would love to see PAs continue to advance in many fields.  Years ago when I was job searching and doing my PA school rotations, there didn't seem to be many PAs in trauma or NICU, etc.  Hopefully, as PAs gain more recognition, we will enter into new areas of medicine.

Interview with a PA-C

Here's an interview with a PA I work with in the Critical Care Unit. She was a Respiratory Therapist in Canada for 20 years before coming to the US and going to PA school.

Please note: this interview is a transcription of our conversation, so it might read differently.


1) Why did you choose to be a PA?

I was always interested in the medical field and I knew I didn't want to be an MD. When I heard I could be part of decision making as a PA I knew I'd prefer it to being an RT.

2) Tell me about your experience as an RT.

I was an RT for 20 years. I had a wonderful experience and it definitely has made me a better PA. It helps in the ICU to have that experience in my background. In Canada, the RTs also do anaesthisia so I had a fairly wide scope of practice.

3) What was it like to go to school with a family?

It wasn't easy but definitely doable. I thought it would be really hard, but its a short term commitment you make. You just have to choose how to spend that time. My first year I had almost a 4.0 but I didn't see my family at all. I realized I could still excel academically and have a better balance between school and home. I graduated with a 3.5, so I still did well and was able to have a better balance.

4) What has surprised you about practicing as a PA-C?

There haven't been too many surprises. I felt well informed about the role plus I'm still new, so I haven't encountered very many surprises yet. You do get more respect as a PA vs RT. I guess I never thought about that.


5) You are working in Critical Care and in Primary Care. What led you to those two specialties? What is it like being in both of those worlds?

I really like working the primary care on the side. It helps me retain a lot of what I used in school, prepares me for my recertification, and its a different kind of medicine than in the ICU. You don't give someone IV medication for blood pressure; you have to think more long term.

I have worked in an ICU as an RT for so long that I knew I would fit well. My passion is working in a hospital, and the ICU is home to me. I'm very comfortable there. But I am also loving primary care.

6) How did you pick your PA program?

I had to apply 2 times. I picked them because they were a great program and I really couldn't move. It was between UTSW and UNTHSC. I picked it because of the reputation (highly ranked), rotation locations, and 100% PANCE pass rate.

7) Any advice for PrePAs besides good grades and shadowing?

You have to REALLY REALLY want it, badly. I still feel like I got lucky because there were people smarter than me who didn't get in. But I stuck with it, applied again, kept after it. Second round applicants can have a better shot because it shows how much you want it to apply again. Its so competetive that you really have to stand out somehow and be passionate about it.

Interview with a PA-C working in Critical Care

This is a quick interview I did with one of the PAs I work with in the CCU.


1) Why did you choose the PA profession?

I decided to be a PA because it allows me to have the level of patient interaction I wanted plus I can have a flexible home life as well.


2) Tell me abou the application process (how many schools, interviews, etc)

I only applied to Southwestern as I knew I was not going to be able to move further than Dallas. I interviewed 2 x and was accepted on my second application cycle.


3) What was your study strategy during the didactic phase?

I studied during didactic the same as I did in undergraduate. You are provided powerpoints for all the lectures in addition to all the books. The exams pretty much come from information provided in the powerpoints.


4) What has surprised you since you've become a PA-C?

Everything surprises me at this point. I still haven't gotten it in my mind yet that I am actually a PA.


5) How do you think the role of a PA will change in the future?

I think the PA profession will continue to grow and PAs will be more in demand and our roles will expand allowing us to enter into new areas of medicine much more freely like the ICU for example.


6) What advice would you give an aspiring PA?

The PA profession is very challenging and competitive. Don't give up if you encounter set backs.