Physician Assistant
Lindsay Schlabaugh
Education
- High school degree.
- At least a bachelor's degree in science.
- Bachelor's degree in nursing are common ( 4-year program).
- PA program (2-year program after you receive your bachelor's degree).
- Most PA programs give a master's degree.
Skills Needed
- Critical thinking.
- Active learning.
- Active listening.
- Writing.
- Speaking (knowing a second language isn't required, but it would be good so you could talk to different types of patients).
- Good judgment and decision making.
- Social perceptiveness.
- Time management.
- Math and science knowledge.
Salary
Average Starting Wage: $67,080
Average Wage: $85,912Average Experienced Wage: $95,347
Average Salary Range: $60,690-$120,060
- Very good starting wage!
- Wages go up as you work longer!
- Potential to make over $100,000!
Advancement Opportunities
- Earn higher salaries the longer you work!
- Gain more responsibility from employers which gives you the chance to do many things for doctors.
- Continuing education beyond the 2-year PA program allows you to specialize in certain areas or even become a physician!
Job Outlook
- Annual growth rate in Iowa for this job is 22%!
- National projected growth rate in 10 years is 29.5%!
- Expected to grow more than any other career in the health field!
Where do they work?
PA's work in a variety of places and specialized fields!
Places you can work:
- Hospitals.
- Doctor's Offices.
- Private Practices.
- Clinics.
- Outpatient Care Centers.
- Universities.
Additional Info
A type day for a PA would include:
- Visiting patients.
- Diagnosing patients.
- Charting.
- Prescribing medicine.
- Helping doctors doing procedures.
- Doing some procedures by yourself.
- Doing tests.
- Looking at medical data.
Possible Downfalls:
- PA's often work irregular hours, weekend shifts, and are on-call which may turn people away from this profession.
My Opinion
I think this would be a great career because I love helping people. It would give me a very rewarding feeling. The medical field also interests me. Although the schooling is hard, I think I would enjoy learning about it. I know for sure I want to get a BSN in nursing. I want a nursing degree because it's a secure job that's full of many opportunities. I am actually thinking about being a nurse practitioner instead of a PA, but the website gave more information for a PA. They are practically the same job except for some of the schooling.