Why I Want To Be A Physician Assistant Essay

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Nursing versus Physician’s Assistant
College is quickly approaching, so it is time I finalize what I want to do with my future. I have always wanted to be a nurse, but being a physician’s assistant has recently caught my eye. For the past year or so, I have been torn between the two because although they are both in the medical field, they come with many differences. Nurses and physician assistants take time out of their day to put other people’s lives above theirs and have fairly similar hours, but the process it takes to get there, the pay, the daily duties, and the average day are all significantly different. Even though both are different in the more technical aspects of things, they both have equally important roles in the medical field. …show more content…

Usually, physician’s assistants start out with a bachelor’s degree or another job related experience. Gene Hall, a physician’s assistant at Mayo Hospital, said, “I started as a registered nurse and it made the process of becoming a physician’s assistant a lot easier.” Four years of undergraduate coursework are required and it takes about two more years of full-time study on top of that. Like nurses, they also have to complete a residency after obtaining their license. To get a physician’s assistant license, they must pass the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination and continue to take and pass it every 10 years. Gene added, “The exam was by far the hardest test I have ever taken. You have to effectively study for many weeks because it is an important exam to pass.” Physician assistants also have to have one hundred hours of continuing education every two years. Gene commented, “It is a little intimidating to hear you have to continue your education throughout your life, but it is really beneficial to you and your …show more content…

The daily tasks of a nurse are different every day, and sometimes they are very chaotic. Darcy said, “Every day is different, sometimes you feel like a chicken running around with its head cut off and other days you are bored with nothing to do.” A nurse’s most important job is to provide care for their patient and observe them throughout their stay at the hospital. They record the patients’ medical history and current symptoms and set up medical plans with consultation with a doctor. They are not able to prescribe medicine, but they can administer it. Nursing can take a huge physical toll on someone’s body, Darcy recalled, “I was nearing the last hour and a half of my shift. It had been one of my busiest shifts and I was struggling to keep up with the pace. I just wanted to go to bed. It seemed like every time I finished one job, I was getting three more thrown at me.” There is a lot of standing, walking, and lifting patients every day, along with close contact with patients and infectious

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