It is not unusual for people to say that they know what a physician does, but many have still not heard about the Physician Assistant Profession. Do you understand what the differences are between these two? The following information is sure to give you the information you are looking for if you have been asking.

Physicians are those individuals who have invested many years in medical school where they have learned to diagnose the illnesses of patients, prescribe treatment plans and the medicines required to help them get well.

Physician Assistants on the other hand are not required to obtain that much education and training but are more than just a regular nurse. Since they are a step above a registered nurse, they are allowed to work along with doctors to perform some of their duties. However, they still are able to diagnose diseases and disorders, prescribe medication, and discuss treatment options with patients.

One of the primary differences that can be seen between the Physician Assistant Profession and that of the doctor is in the amount of education it takes to complete the requirements for becoming licensed or certified. Doctors attend medical school for 8 to 10 years and after that they are required to complete a residency with a hospital where they get to practice the skills they have learned under close supervision. After that they are then able to decide whether they wish to set up their own practice, begin to teach or become part of a larger body of healers in a hospital setting or get involved with medical research.

The time required for a Physician Assistants to begin practicing is much shorter generally from 4 to 6 years. This time is all included in the regular nursing training as well as what it takes to get a Master’s degree in nursing. Other education may be required if they desire to enter a specialized field. At this time they are able to perform much the same type of services that a licensed doctor can without all the autonomy that comes with. Physician Assistants work closely with a licensed doctor who shares the responsibility for their work.

The requirement that they work while supervised by a licensed doctor is the main thing that sets them apart from an autonomous physician. Those working in the Physician Assistant Profession are able to assist with surgical procedures, examine patients, diagnose illness, develop treatment plans with patients, suture wounds, and participate in other areas of patient care. These professionals are also allowed to assist during surgical procedures.

The majority of Physician Assistants who are working in the medical profession today are working in areas of primary care. That is they generally take up positions within family practices, pediatrics and internal medicine. By handing over some of the responsibility for patient care to PAs, doctors have more time to perform more important elements of their practice, and patients receive more individualized care. 

In order to have an intelligent conversation about the Physician Assistant Profession, and where it came from, one must have some basic knowledge about what it is that is involved in a Physician Assistant Career. To make a long story short, a Physician Assistant is capable of performing the same types of services that any regular doctor can without having the same kind of autonomy. 

The Physician Assistant Profession allows those who are involved to practice medicine in the same manner in which a physician does, but they must be doing so under the supervision of a fully licensed and trained doctor. They are capable of carrying out many of the same services as a doctor such as diagnosing illnesses, helping during surgical procedures, evaluating the status of patients and writing prescriptions. 

Entering the healthcare profession in the realm of a Physician Assistant Career has some benefits that should be considered. Number one is that you can begin practicing medicine without having to spend as much time in school as a regular doctor. The pay scale for those entering this career field often reaches very close or above six figures. 

Now that we have the basics out of the way, we can go on to discuss where this profession originated. 

During the 1960s many doctors and educators saw that the number of physicians needed for proper care of patients was not enough to meet the demand. This mid-decade discovery caused them to determine that it was time to implement some changes to the healthcare field. This led to the broadening of the scope of medical care. 

As a direct result, Dr. Eugene Stead of Duke University Medical Center established the first of its kind Physician Assistant class in North Carolina. The very first class consisted of Navy Corpsmen who were already familiar with much medical training which they had received as part of the military during the Vietnam War. At this time he used the fast paced type of training that was used while training World War II military doctors. 

Two other doctors, Dr. Hu Myers from Alderson-Broaddus College and Dr. Richard Smith from University of Washington followed the lead of Dr. Stead and implemented programs of their own. Following suit, the American Medical Association also passed a resolution which created educational guidelines and the certification process used for completing the training required for becoming a Physician Assistant. 

In conclusion, the Physician Assistant Career began out of a necessity. Due to the foresight of this pioneer, that initial class continues to expand its influence even further into the medical profession, creating an ever-expanding reach into the healthcare that we know today. 

Physician Assistants provide a vital service which is particularly helpful since doctors are unable to be everywhere they are needed all the time. 

With the rising demand for healthcare these days, many more people are opting for online physician assistant programs so that they can get through the process without having to leave home or their current employer. Every physician assistant program is designed to give the student more convenience while making sure they get the needed education to enter the healthcare field of their choice.

The professionals known as physician assistants are able to perform many of the same functions as a regular doctor. While this is true they do not have to receive the same level of education as a licensed and practicing physician. PAs have the training and certification to perform patient physican exams, review charts and medical history, diagnose disorders and illnesses, write prescriptions and recommend treatment.

They do not however, operate under the same autonomy as a doctor does in that they must be strictly supervised by an attending physician. The laws of each state dictate what a person working in this profession can do, and that can vary from one state to the next, but generally speaking they can perform the regular duties of a medical doctor, even when trained for it help in the surgical suite.

Those preparing for a position as a physician assistant must do so through a qualifying program. There are many qualifying online physician assistant programs being offered today. Enrollment in a qualifying and accredited college level course will help you to attain certification in the field. All accreditation in the field of physician assistant must meet the approval of the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant. Your period of training will culminate in you being able to take the Physician Assistant National Certification Examination.

If you intend to receive the education required to be able to take the PANCE some of the topics you will have to study through online physician assistant programs will be: mathematics, basics courses in science, and liberal arts. You will also be expected to cover such topics as basic medical courses like; pharmacology, human anatomy and physiology, internal medicine, biochemistry, physhology, emergency medicine, and prevention of diseases.

You will also have to spend some time in clinical practice surrounding the field of study you have chosen like; primary care, pediatrics, surgery, ob/gyn and other areas. Your clinical experience will likely be set up so that you will do it on a rotating basis with other students.

Once you have completed your choice of online physician assistant programs, you will be all set to go to work with your license in hand. There are several areas where physician assistants can work and that includes in a private physician's office, on surgical teams, ERs, military, prisons, and public healthcare clinics. 

A lot of people these days are thinking seriously about becoming a physician assistant. If that is something that you are thinking of for yourself, it may be time for you to take some serious actions such as learning more about how to get started on your physician assistant career path. It is important for you to get all the information you can if this is something you are truly interested in.

All you have to do is follow the steps below and you will be on your way to discovering what it takes to enter this amazing career field, and get started working in the growing field of healthcare.

First Step

You will first want to know what it takes to get admitted into a program that will train you in the art of becoming a physician assistant. You will have to fulfill the prerequisites first and that includes getting a four year degree which includes 8 hours of human anatomy and physiology. There are any number of schools that can provide this service for you, but you want to make sure that your education will be accepted by the physician assistant program you are hoping to attend. Accreditation is what you need but the school should agree that it is acceptable.

Step Two

The really serious candidate for becoming a physician assistant will learn everything they can about this career that is expected to grow even larger in the next 10 years. You will be required to spend 50 to 200 hours following around a working physician assistant who is going about his or her daily work. Programs require from 50 to 200 hours in such activities.

Step Three

You will also have to get some references from professionals who know you and are willing to tell the physician assistant program what your qualifications are for entering their program. You will need these to come from medical professionals such as a doctor or physician assistant. You could also ask one of your professors to write a reference for you.

Fourth Step

The GRE is another thing that you should learn about because you will have to be able to pass it. It is also recommended that you study vocabulary by learning a minimum of one new vocabulary word each day, and one new question that is expected to appear on the GRE every day. Likewise you will want to learn the vocabulary that is used in the profession you will become part of.

Step Five

You should get your application in early if you are intent on becoming a physician assistant. You will find that you will be rewarded for doing this with lower fees as well as getting to enter the interviewing process earlier. You should also be early when it comes to the essay for CASPA.

Step Six

You should seriously consider what you will do during the interview. Know the answers to questions such as why you decided that you wanted to become a physician assistant, and why you chose this particular school for your education. You can expect that one of those questions will be about what made you want to enter this program and why you want to be a physician assistant.

Step Seven

You must also decide that you want to look your best during the interview. You want to look like the professional you are and the one you want to be. 

Prospective students wishing to enter Physician Assistant training programs must go through an extensive interview process After reviewing the applications of numerous would be students, a short list if created and those applicants are contacted to come in for an interview. The interview questions can be really touch, so you need to be prepared ahead of time to answer them.

Here are some things that you may want to think about as you prepare for that interview.

1. You have to know that the interview process counts big time if you are going to be accepted into the program. The scores on your tests may be excellent, your education and experience impeccable, and your essays have shown your particular flare, but it is the interview which will provide the school with a better idea of who you are. It is important that you be able to demonstrate your compassion, practicality, understanding, honesty, maturity, and confidence. This is better demonstrated through an in person interview.

2. The purpose of the interview is to help determine if you can communicate effectively. Because you will soon be working with patients and doctors in a number of different settings, you must be able to focus, remain polite, be sharp and capable of communicating regardless of where you are working. 

Interview Process

Interviews typically begin with the financial aid officer as well as the director of the program speaking with you in a group setting. Afterward, applicants will be asked a series of Physician Assistant Interview Questions. Prospective students are split into 2 groups where the first group goes on to the interview process while the other is allowed to sit in on a class with some first year students. The behavior of all potential students is being closely monitored during this time so be on your best behavior.

Physician Assistant Interview Questions

Here are some of the top questions you may have to answer during your interview.

1. How have you used academics to prepare you to enter this profession? While answering this question, you may want to let them know how you were able to balance everything in your life as you went through the process of getting your education. Were you able to work part-time and do some volunteer work? Multi-tasking and time management are key to being successful in this field.

2. What do you consider some of the main problems facing the healthcare system? This is where you get to show that you are watching and listening to the concerns within your targeted industry. This question is not just about rote memorization of things you have read, but more about your studied knowledge about the healthcare system.

3. What has inspired you to want to become a Physician Assistant? The answer to this question is very important and you must answer it with real feeling. You may also be asked why you did not choose to become a Nurse Practitioner instead.

4. Have you ever been deeply moved by your experience with a specific patient. The purpose of this questions is to allow you to demonstrate your compassionate side and how well you communicate.

Using these Physician Assistant Interview Questions you will be able to better prepare for the interview that is sure to come.