“Every man is born as many men, and dies as a single one.” This quote by German philosopher Martin Heidegger fits well with my decision to aspire to become a physician assistant. While I always wanted to help others, especially the disadvantaged of our society, I did not initially realize what outlet this longing would have. Ultimately, however, I found that the PA profession was the best avenue where I could unite this concern for others with my intellectual strengths and abilities. I did not always think I would end up working in the medical field. In fact, I entered a seminary out of high school to become a priest. While that did not ultimately work out, I came to the realization that my desire to enter ministry was rooted in my desire …show more content…
While PAs often work independently, consulting their supervising physician only when needed, it is important that they are able to work well under another health care professional. I enjoy this aspect of my current position as restorative nursing assistant, as it allows me to alleviate the burden on our physical and occupational therapists and allow them to do their jobs more effectively. I am also excited by the opportunities available to PAs that are not readily accessible to medical doctors. I was able to talk with a retired PA who now teaches in a PA program and spoke of his time working in the emergency department, from which he transitioned into family care. This change would be difficult for an MD but is common for PAs. I am greatly drawn to practicing in pediatrics, as I believe that choices made early in life will have a direct impact on future health, especially for those who may have limited access to medical resources. However, the fast-paced setting of the ER and the technical precision working as a first surgical assistant also intrigue me. I relish every occasion to learn and challenge myself and, as a PA, I would have the freedom to utilize my skills in various disciplines and thus push myself to find the field where I feel I can do the most …show more content…
I truly love what I do because it provides me the chance to care for my residents in their most vulnerable and personal moments, whether it be their first steps after surgery or their last breaths in this world. This experience has also allowed me to grow in my knowledge and familiarity of the medical culture and environment. For instance, I have seen the importance and benefit of having several professionals, such as doctors, PAs, therapists, and others, working together on one patient to provide the best quality of care. Additionally, I have been volunteering writing resumes and giving practice interviews for disadvantaged individuals, as well as tutoring homeless and foster children. Working with these individuals is beyond doubt an amazing privilege as I am able to aid those who think that they have no place to turn. Whether it is bringing school supplies to a teenager who has been living on the streets or helping a former inmate acquire his first job after his release, I cherish helping those who feel marginalized by society find their way to a better way of
Physician assistants (PA's) practice medicine under the supervision of physicians and surgeons. PA's are trained to provide diagnostic, therapeutic, and preventive health care services, as delegated by a physician. They work with members of a healthcare team, they take medical histories, examine and treat patients, order and interpret laboratory tests and x rays, and make diagnoses. PAs may be the principal care providers in rural or inner city clinics where a physician is present for only one or two days each week. In such cases, the PA confers with the supervising physician and other medical professionals as
I am interested in pursuing the Physician Assistant (PA) degree because of my experiences both within the medical field and as a patient. These experiences have led me to believe that a team approach to patient-centered medicine provides the best and most comprehensive care possible. Further, the PA profession offers me the opportunity to continue my lifelong passion of helping others, giving back to my community, and provides me with further opportunities to teach.
I believe that people everywhere should always have access to adequate medical care. Where you live should not determine whether you live, and the PA profession was created to improve the availability of healthcare in rural and other underserved areas. As a PA, I would be eager to help people have not had access to the care they needed. I want to serve those that need medical attention but don’t have the means to obtain it—whether in rural Michigan, the inner-city of Atlanta, or the backwoods of Arkansas. Making great medical care accessible to all is crucial to improving public health, and it is a necessity across this country and the world. As a physician assistant,
My educational experiences sparked my first consideration of a career in physician assistant and encouraged me to further explore this interest. At the same time, I started giving community services to healthcare. My first opportunity to personally interact with the patient was in the emergency department as a volunteer at Dekalb Medical Center. The first day I stepped onto the floor, my
I know that by doing my job, no matter how different each patient may be, that I have made a difference in someone’s life. I am very content in my job knowing that there is an increasing need in healthcare. With the demand of healthcare today, there will always be a demand for physicians, and with the need of physicians there will always be a need for medical assistants. In this profession the rewards and opportunities will only continue to grow, and there is not a better place to than here in America, because like Ralph Waldo Emerson (journalist, poet, philosopher, and essayist) once said, “America is another name for
At the end of volunteer services I have decided on a major, I am now striving to become a physician’s assistant. In this position, not only do I get to care for patients, but I am presented with the opportunity to change their lives. I will be able to see firsthand the diversity of cultures from around the world.
William Osler once said, “The good physician treats the disease; the great physician treats the patient who has the disease.” The medical field is one of the most rewarding job fields to work in, being a physician assistant is one of those jobs, what is not to like about helping people in need?
... qualities I find common to doctors, nurses, physician assistants and other health care workers and I believe I share the traits that are common to PAs. Pursuing a career as a PA would continually challenge me as an individual. For me, it is hard not to draw parallels between the skills required of a PA and those required of an athlete. We are motivators and good listeners. We have high expectations of ourselves and of those around us. We must understand when to lead and when to delegate. We must manage our time and our resources to best serve all of those who need attention. If I am chosen for your program, I will approach my education and my career as I have my experience as a student athlete: with determination, dedication and a deep appreciation for the opportunity. I am confident that I can and will achieve my goal of becoming a physician assistant.
Being able to take care of people is something that I wanted to do as a job when I was a child. As a child my parents bought me toy doctor kit. My father has been a diabetic since he was a kid and I would always do a check up with my toys and I always said he would be okay. I 've always been interested in healthcare since I was a young boy because I would be able to take care of and help people who are ill. Throughout this past year when my father was in the nursing home and in the hospital, I would learn what was going on with my dad from a medical level and then talking to him he would not be able to understand due to his dementia and I would be able to explain things to him so he could understand. The aspect of everything going on and talking to him about so he would not be more worried or upset made him feel more better and relaxed. Having the ability to do that with the patients I come in contact with each day is very rewarding to do that each and everyday. The more I do that the more I learn for myself and the patients I help take good care of
To begin my personal statement, I grew up in the West African nation of The Gambia. I am the youngest of thirteen children and I was adopted by my uncle and his wife at age 2. My adoption was very different than the American way where all sorts of contractual documents had to be signed. Although the end results are the same, mine was done without signing any documents because my parents were just giving me up to my uncle and his wife to raise me. At age 5, my uncle enrolled me at Primary School without the consent of my biological parents for fearing that they would object because most parents in the Gambia do not think girls have the same rights to education as boys. I grew up without a television, running water or electricity. I did not know that I lacked
My passion for the PA career solidified when I encountered a two-year-old girl who had Down syndrome and Leukemia. During the six months that she was admitted in the hospital, I witnessed the perseverance and dedication that the Doctors, PAs, and Nurses had in order to cure this little girl. Their persistence, care, and tenacity are what ultimately led to her recovery. Their drive is what inspired me to visit her on every shift. During my visits, I would help with cleaning and feeding her; depending on how she felt, I also played with her. I wanted to transpire the same care that the medical team displayed for her. Even though I am keeping an open mind, I hope to be a part of a medical team that is able to treat patients like her. My exposure to such a diligent and dedicated team showed me what I must do, to treat my patients in an effective and caring
I began in a dermatology practice, working the office and observing the medical professionals any chance I had. Next, I spent a summer in the Surgery Center of Jefferson Hospital, observing nurses provide peri-operative care. I learned the flow of their system – review history, examine the patient, and then prepare for anesthesia – and witnessed how each step built upon the next to ensure the patient’s comfort before and after their procedure. I worked the following year as a patient care assistant. This was the most exciting opportunity for me. I was finally working hands-on with patients and was able to see how my care directly influenced their conditions. I realized through this job how powerful, and wonderful, it is to provide care. You have the chance to make a difference and when you see that smile on a patient’s face, you know that you helped them, and that is what fuels my passion. As my time in this position continued, I felt I had mastered the PCA role and yearned to provide more definitive care. Knowing that I wanted to expand my abilities to help others I constantly found myself coming back to the Physician Assistant
From a young age, I was drawn to the healthcare field, not because the amount of money doctors, nurses and other health professionals made, but because of the dedication and contentment I saw on their faces helping someone in need. Growing up everyone wanted to become a doctor or a nurse and as a little child being a doctor or a nurse was a profession many parents wanted their child to pursue as a career. Needless to say, I fell into that category because I had high hopes that one day I will become a nurse. However, that dream came to a halt.
Adult Nursing is a very rewarding career which provides endless opportunities. I would describe myself as a caring and compassionate person. I believe I possess these qualities naturally. I am compelled to put other people’s needs before my own. I can contribute my personal qualities to this course of being dedicated and determined into committing myself to this 3 year course and excelling academically. Personally, caring for my mother with high blood pressure made me interested in the world of medicine. This long term sickness inspired me to gain more experience outside of the home and volunteer which confirmed that this was the right course for me. I am fascinated by the practical aspect that the course involves as well as the theoretical
...ow using knowledge, empathic and reflective dimensions play such a huge role in ones job and I can associate it with my prior experiences now. I want patients to walk out my room feeling like I have made a positive change in their life, whether it is small or big. Responsibility comes with playing such an important role in other people’s lives and it is how I embrace this responsibility that will determine how I change the lives of others. Not only do I want a good relationship with my clients but also with my co-workers because I might be able to make a small difference in someone’s life, but it’s us Health Professionals working together that will make the greatest difference.