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.