What are the disadvantages of being a physician assistant?

Asked by: Isidro Bernier  |  Last update: October 13, 2023
Score: 4.4/5 (22 votes)

TOP CONS OF BEING A PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT
  • You may find the work hours a bit inconvenient for your life. ...
  • You will never make as much money as a physician but do a lot of the same work. ...
  • You will always need to have a supervising physician. ...
  • Your pay will not increase that much with the years of experience you will gain.

What is the biggest challenge facing physician assistants?

Top Challenges PAs are Facing
  • PAs Asked to Do More. ...
  • Move Past Traditions and Fear. ...
  • PAs Are 'Everybody' Now. ...
  • The State of PAs at Work. ...
  • PAs Want Work Time with Patients.

Is it worth being a PA over a doctor?

There is flexibility in where and when you work.

A significant benefit of becoming a PA instead of a doctor is that you can work in many specialties throughout the course of your career. Physicians train in a specialty and focus career on that one area of medicine.

Is being a PA too stressful?

As with other medical professionals, you can expect an intense and stressful work environment as a physician assistant. This role essentially holds you responsible for your patients' lives.

What are the benefits of being a physician assistant?

9 Reasons to Become a PA
  • Versatility. PAs practice in every state and in every medical setting and specialty, improving healthcare access and quality. ...
  • Work/life balance. ...
  • Competitive Salary. ...
  • Length of school. ...
  • Ability to give back to the community. ...
  • Develop relationships with patients. ...
  • Team-based care. ...
  • Continuing education.

3 Things I Don't like about being a Physician Assistant

45 related questions found

How difficult is PA school?

PA school is very hard. Like most medical schools, a Physicians Assistant school can be very difficult. The average acceptance rate into a PA school is close to only 20%.

Why do you want to be a PA and not a doctor?

PAs spend more time on patient care.

Some individuals find that the work environment of a physician assistant is more suited to their personality. While doctors and physician assistants perform many of the same duties, PAs have a greater focus on patient care.

What is the burnout rate for PA?

Burnout in PAs:

Approximately 33% of PAs meet the criteria for burnout. 46% of PAs meet the criteria for work exhaustion and 30% for interpersonal disengagement.

What is the happiness rate of physician assistants?

In the 2021 Statistical Profile of Certified PAs by Specialty: Annual Report, 70.5% of PAs indicated they're completely or mostly satisfied with their job.

Is becoming a PA easier than med school?

In summary, while both PA school and medical school have their own unique difficulties, the requirements of the MCAT, the time required to complete med school, and the intensity of most med school programs, indicates that PA is not harder than medical school.

What is a day in the life of a physician assistant?

Diagnosing each patient's injuries or illness. Reviewing and updating patient medical histories. Prescribing medication for patients. Ordering X-rays, blood tests and other diagnostic procedures.

Can a PA turn into a doctor?

Some providers, however, are interested in advancing from their current role as a physician assistant (PA) to a Doctor of Medicine (MD). To transition from PA to MD, you'll need to apply to medical schools, attend an MD program, and complete residency training.

Can I trust a PA over doctor?

With that in mind, it's important to know you can choose a PA as your healthcare provider and still receive the same quality of care you would from an MD/DO. Just like physicians, PA's care about all aspects of a patient's health and strive to provide them with the utmost care.

What is the hardest thing about PA school?

Many people report the first year of PA school (also known as the didactic year) is the most difficult. The sheer volume and diversity of information you study during your first year makes PA school hard from the beginning. You will jump right into learning the body's systems and various diseases.

Do physician assistants get burnout?

For most physician assistants, their work environment is the root cause of burnout. Unsatisfying work environments can trigger a poor work-life balance, sometimes leading to devastating results. As you take stock of your own life patterns, determine if these factors may be found in your work environment.

Where is the highest demand for physician assistants?

Top Places for PAs to Work
  • Physician's offices: 51%
  • Hospitals: state, local, and private: 23%
  • Outpatient care clinics: 10%
  • Educational services; state, local, and private: 4%
  • Government: 2%

What personality types do physician assistants have?

Personality Traits of the Average Physician Assistant
  • Risk-tolerant. Willing or open to taking risks. ...
  • Trusting. Belief in a person's honesty or sincerity; not suspicious. ...
  • Optimistic. Hopeful and confident about the future. ...
  • Deliberate. Fully considered; not impulsive. ...
  • Matter-of-fact. ...
  • Autonomous. ...
  • Supporting.

What personality traits do physician assistants have?

They seek candidates who have strong communication skills, compassion and empathy, a focus on patient care, and the ability to solve problems and work well under pressure. PAs enter the field with a master's degree from an accredited PA program.

Which PA specialty has the best work life balance?

Dermatology Caring for the Integumentary System has its benefits. This specialty has a stellar reputation for providing its Practitioners with a great work-life balance and top-level pay. That may be why it's a top PA practice specialty.

Which PA specialty has the lowest burnout?

Certified PAs working in dermatology reported the lowest rate of burnout (20.3%).

Are PA salaries decreasing?

Here's some good news: The median base compensation for physician assistants has risen 4.5% from 2020 to 2021. This is after a slight decrease in PA compensation in 2020 during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, PAs in leadership roles were paid more in 2021.

What jobs are most at risk of burnout?

7 Demanding Career Paths With High Burnout Rates
  1. Social work. Social workers typically operate in emotionally stressful environments and often experience secondary traumatic stress. ...
  2. Emergency response. ...
  3. Design. ...
  4. Business development and sales. ...
  5. Retail. ...
  6. Medicine. ...
  7. Law and other careers with large workloads.

Why be a physician over a nurse or PA?

Specialization: Becoming a doctor instead of a nurse also allows for more opportunities in terms of specialization. For example, individuals who want to focus on one area of the body can do so, and they may choose to focus on internal medicine instead of surgery.

Why should a PA get a doctorate degree?

Development of research, education, and leadership skills:

These skills, one could argue, are critical for PA educators and can be developed during the educational process of obtaining a doctoral degree, which in turn help can shape your career path and provide further opportunities in PA education and academia.