The physician assistant can perform nearly the same clinical tasks as the doctor

How much money can you make?

What type of training will it take?

And what does the job actually entail?

Read on to find out whether this is the job for you

What will I be doing all day?

A physician assistant (PA) diagnoses and treats illness, performs physical exams, counsels patients, prescribes medications, orders and interprets lab work, performs minor procedures, assists in surgery, and more. While a physician assistant works under the supervision of a medical doctor, in a typical primary care setting, the physician assistant can perform nearly the same clinical tasks as the doctor.

What will my work environment be like?

Physician assistants can work in a large variety of settings, including medical clinics, hospitals, nursing homes, and other places where medical services are needed. In some states, a PA can practice independently. They work with patients of all ages in nearly all medical specialties, such as pediatrics, surgery, emergency medicine, and psychiatry.

Do I have the personality for it?

A good PA needs to employ critical thinking and creative problem-solving. A PA also needs to be committed, caring and empathetic, have strong interpersonal skills, and have the ability to communicate in a pleasant and clear manner to a wide range of patients.

What kind of schooling do I need?

In order to be licensed, one must graduate from an accredited PA program (typically two to three years), pass the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE), and receive a license in the state in which you work.

What can I expect to make?

Average national salary: $115,000.

In the New York/New Jersey area, salaries generally start at $100,000 and can go up to $250,000, depending on one’s specialty.

TALES FROM THE TRENCHES

DANIEL FRIED: Teaneck, N.j.

Physician Assistant at Mount Sinai Morningside Hospital, Harlem, N.Y.

Graduated from: Touro College Bayshore Physician Assistant Program

Years in Field: 5

My Typical Day at Work

I work as a PA in neurosurgery at Mount Sinai Morningside, specializing in brain and spine trauma. Since my particular hospital has no residents for the neurosurgical service, the PAs work directly with the attending physicians. On a typical day, I perform exams on new patients arriving with neurological complaints, either through the emergency room (typically because of trauma) or referred to us for consultation from within the hospital. I also help manage patients in the ICU, perform bedside procedures, and assist in surgery (both elective and traumatic).

Some of the typical procedures I assist in include craniotomies (removal of the skull to release pressure exerted on the brain as a result of traumatic bleeding or an expanding tumor), spine surgery (such as resecting herniated discs that are pressing on the spinal cord), and fusing with titanium screws and rods. Lastly, I see patients in our weekly clinic, addressing their back pain or other neurological deficits and determining if surgery is an appropriate intervention to manage their problem. Overall, I’m able to be very hands-on in treating patients, and I enjoy a lot of autonomy of practice.