Choosing a career in healthcare can be a rewarding, fulfilling profession for many individuals. While it involves hard work, diligence, and lots of patience, you can go home at the end of the day knowing that you have assisted someone in need and contributed to improving the health of others. There are a variety of careers for you to choose from when considering a healthcare profession. From becoming a doctor to managing medical coding and insurance claims, there are positions in the healthcare industry for virtually anyone with any type of skill set. If you know that you want to work directly with patients in a clinical setting, but aren’t sure that you want the responsibility of being a doctor, becoming a physician assistant may be something for you to consider.

What Is a Physician Assistant?

A physician assistant, or PA, has a great deal of responsibility. While a PA will be under the supervision of a doctor, the PA will likely see patients on his or her own, prescribe medications, and take on a number of the duties and tasks that a doctor would normally perform. A PA will conduct physical exams, order imaging scans like X-rays, MRIs, and CT scans, make diagnoses, and counsel patients about treatment options and the prevention of illnesses and injuries. PAs may work in hospitals, clinics, surgery centers, mental health facilities, or a variety of other healthcare institutions. PAs can also become specialized in certain fields of healthcare, such as dermatology, pediatrics, and emergency medicine.

Education Required

Education and training are required to become a physician assistant. A PA will generally have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year institution, and will then go on to complete a two-year master’s physician assistant program. This two-year program will include training in a clinical setting so that the student can get hands-on experience before entering the workplace. Coursework will include subjects like biochemistry, anatomy, and physiology.

Benefits of Being a PA

One of the main advantages of becoming a PA, as opposed to becoming a doctor, is that PAs are able to work closely with patients and perform a number of the duties that doctors perform, but without having to undergo eight years of school. PAs also have the freedom and flexibility to work in a variety of healthcare settings, from a large hospital to a small private practice. Another advantage is that, because PAs work under the surveillance of a supervising physician, malpractice insurance isn’t required. In general, PAs have to deal with less administrative rigmarole than both doctors and nurses.

Qualities that Make a Good Physician Assistant

There are a variety of qualities that make someone an ideal candidate to be a physician assistant. The person obviously needs to have a compassionate nature and want to help people who are ill. Since healthcare institutions can often be busy and hectic, the ideal candidate should also be patient and able to work well under stress and pressure. Having critical-thinking and problem-solving skills are pluses, as the PA will often need to make decisions regarding diagnoses and treatments on their own, without the consultation of a physician. PAs should also be committed to the concept of continuing their education throughout their careers. Whether it is getting additional certifications in different specialties or simply learning how they can improve their bedside manner when dealing with patients, the learning process of a healthcare professional is never truly over. The industry is always changing, treatment options change, and no two patients are exactly alike, so having the ability to adapt, learn, and be open minded is imperative.

John Soland is an experienced writer who has written for a number of notable publications. As a lifestyle expert, Mr. Soland is able to offer advice and insight on a multitude of topics, including those pertaining to healthcare careers.

John Soland is an experienced writer who has written for a number of notable publications. As a lifestyle expert, Mr. Soland is able to offer advice and insight on a multitude of topics, including those pertaining to healthcare careers. ttps://careers-lsi.icims.com/jobs/intro?hashed=0

Author Bio: John Soland is an experienced writer who has written for a number of notable publications. As a lifestyle expert, Mr. Soland is able to offer advice and insight on a multitude of topics, including those pertaining to healthcare careers.

Category: Career
Keywords: healthcare careers