“So you wanna be a doctor’s assistant? Why don’t you just be a doctor? Why are you settling? You should go all the way!”
These are the classic questions and statements I get when I mention I want to be a PA especially with Haitian parents 🙃 lol. It’s unfortunate, because unlike the nursing or physician role, there is a lack of education behind what a physician assistant (not physician’s assistant) actually is. I don’t mind explaining what a PA is, because the job aligns with everything I want to do.
Common misconception #1: A physician assistant works as an assistant to a physician.
🙅🏾♀️ False: As a PA, you work in collaboration with a supervising physician, meaning you have your own patients, you can prescribe medications when necessary and you direct your patients care through your own diagnoses. Collaboration is the key here. Depending on the state you’re practicing, you work independently, with no one looming over your shoulder. You do meet with your supervising physician from time to time, but you run the show. These meetings don’t have to be in person.
Common misconception #2: You aren’t paid very well as a physician assistant.
🙅🏾♀️🙅🏾♀️ False: I mean if you have a problem with making 6 figures, then sure you might be upset, but surely not I! lol. Depending on what specialty you decide, I’ve seen new grad PAs starting from $85,000 – $110,000. Starting out, you won’t make millions, but you won’t go hungry babe.
Last one, common misconception #3: PAs aren’t as qualified as physicians.
🙅🏾♀️🙅🏾♀️🙅🏾♀️ ALL THE WAY FALSE: PAs and physicians are equally qualified providers. PAs are board certified. Not a lot of people know that PA programs are held within medical schools. They learn the same material and even before getting into school, most program now require applicants to have a certain amount of patient care hours to show that you have experience in the medical field. This isn’t typically required for pre-nursing or pre-med students. PA school is NOT easy. So for someone to collect the application materials such as patient care hours, healthcare hours (these are not the same), GRE scores, PA-CAT scores, a personal statement essay, supplemental app. essays, extracurriculars, Casper scores, and having a good GPA, YOU KNOW they want this. Don’t play PAs. They work just as hard 💅🏾
