Personal Statement: My Experience In The Medical Field

Improved Essays
Every profession within the medical field shares the common goal of treating people to extend the quality of their lives. Doctors, nurses, radiologists and dentists all share this goal of helping people live longer lives. For as long as I can remember, I have always taken an active interest in improving the health and livelihood of individuals. During my high school and early college career, I focused my studies on the sciences, hoping to explore different professions within the healthcare field. Sifting through the many career exploration seminars I have attended has allowed me to gain a better understanding of the role of a Physician’s Assistant (PA.) I know I want to have direct patient contact, allowing me to have more responsibility when …show more content…
The summation of these experiences has allowed me to gain valuable insight into the different aspects of healthcare professions working cohesively to help patients. As a result of these opportunities, I know the essential work ethic, communication, and bedside manor characteristics that constitute the respected team member that assists in the betterment and wellness planning for patients.

One PA I had the pleasure of shadowing is Erica Dierker, PA-C of Fox Valley Surgical Associates, located in Appleton, Wisconsin. I was presented with a case where I had the opportunity to remove a patient 's staples from the abdominal region. Although this may have been a small task in their daily course of events, it ignited a passion inside me making me aspire for more hands on, surgical-type patient procedures. I am grateful I had this experience as it makes me want to pursue similar, more challenging
…show more content…
It is during this time that I am often asked if I plan to become a nurse in the future. I truly believe nurses are an integral and essential part of the care of the patient; however, I see myself yearning for more responsibility and desire to have a greater impact on a patient’s ultimate care plan. My work as a CNA has allowed me to develop a strong work ethic, using my communication skills to complete tasks in a timely manner to fulfill each resident’s needs. For example, while I am providing care for a resident and notice a skin tear, dry skin, or an open wound, I have to communicate to the nurse the issue so the affected area can be treated. This is similar to the role of a PA. Physician Assistants need to communicate effectively with their attending physician in order to provide optimal care for each patient and ensure a positive experience. I am not afraid to ask questions or request help to ensure that I am performing in the correct manner and procedure. The ability to assess, modify, and streamline patient care is necessary when taking patient histories and creating a care plan from diagnosis to treatment. Being a creative problem solver makes me strive to promote the LEAN mentality when approaching certain

Related Documents

  • Superior Essays

    Prior to 1965 educators and doctors alike- namely Eugene A. Stead- recognized a shortage of professions that would act as both an assistant and primary healthcare provider. Thus, “the PA profession was created to improve and expand healthcare,” using a curriculum Stead created based on the one used for fast-tracking doctors during WWII, (The History of the PA Profession). This profession requires a bachelor’s degree and a Master’s degree in PA sciences, as well as a minimum of three years’ medical work experience. A PA works under the authority of a physician or a doctor, meaning they are less likely to have to deal with lawsuits. The profession itself is very flexible with many fields and many opportunities for both part-time and full-time employment, (Cawley, Roderick, and Pedersen 15).…

    • 1462 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Dtp2 Unit 2 Role Analysis

    • 1572 Words
    • 7 Pages

    USA: PTP 2: Unit 4 Group Assignment: Members of the Healthcare Team Group Members: Caitlin Lindquist and Brad Crouse Education Level, Role, and Function of the Following: National (U.S.) Standards of Practice Physician (MD/DO): Entry Level Education: Doctoral or Professional Degree and Certification Exam Role/Function: An MD physician has their Doctor of Medicine degree while a physician who has their DO has a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree. The main difference is DO’s are taught osteopathic manipulative medicine. Both complete residencies and are licensed in all states but have different board exams. Physician’s assistant (PA): Entry Level Education: Master’s Degree and Certification Exam Role/Function: (PAs), are hired by a team…

    • 1572 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The role of a nurse practitioner or a physician assistant can contribute greatly to any practice their skills are highly valued by physicians. If they were not of value physicians wouldn't feel the need to add them to their practice. While there are benefits to the care that they provide there are limitations that in comparison to a physician explains why nurse practitioners and physician assistants should remain under physician supervision. A survey in the American Journal of Nurse Practitioners concluded that more than half of the people analyzed stated that their NP programs both master's and certificate left them fairly equipped to practice (AAFP, n.d.).…

    • 902 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The profession has outgrown its name and causes misunderstanding. The original meaning of a physician assistant is to assist a physician, and now, it has evolved more towards as associates rather than assistant. There are logical arguments from both sides of this movement. I picked this topic because it really grabbed my attention and I wanted to formulate my opinion about this issue. The APPA House of Delegates has debated this issue in 1971, 1994, 1998, and 2010 and couldn’t make a decision.…

    • 604 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    During PA shadowing, I notice that some patients are very difficult and ungainly, seeing how PAs handle a difficult patient, give me insight into what I should do and what I want to do the same. Moreover, If it is not off-kilter, Being PAs seem a dead end job. PAs are highly involved in patient care throughout their careers. This is unique to the profession. Even, physicians and nurses can choose to stay in patient care, but often career advancement for a physician or nurse means an increased administrative role.…

    • 461 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    He is known throughout the community both on and off of the California Baptist University campus. Dr. Bedashi has had countless years of experience in this field; he is now currently the program director and the superior head of the physician assistant program at California Baptist University. The background of this inspiring man is incredible and has given him an upper hand in the physician assistant world. Some of these experiences include Orthopedics, Urgent Care, military medicine, athletic medicine, and more. Through the process of interviewing Dr. Bedashi I learned what the training, licensure, and certification process looks like, along with, what rolls physician assistants play in the medical field, job descriptions, challenges, what impact they can have on the world of health care and much more.…

    • 1779 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    As a physician assistant, one’s daily activities include reviewing patient’s medical histories, conducting physical exams to check patients’ health, order and interpret diagnostic tests such as x rays and blood tests, and making diagnoses concerning a patient’s injury/ illness. Work schedules differ as they vary according to the setting but usually physician assistants who work in a clinic work a 40-hour week. A physician assistant’s workweek may include weekends, nights, early morning hospital rounds to visit patients or being on call for emergencies. In order to do this job, one must possess the knowledge and skill to practice in a variety of clinical situations as well as successfully complete the PA clinical training program.…

    • 1078 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    The physician assistant’s interdependence on a licensed practicing physician allows both of the professionals to practice more independently from each other yet recognize that each has a responsibility to the other. Today, physician assistants function in roles unimagined in the 1960s and 1970s. However, one thing remains the same, the PA and the physician are in a partnership and part of a team, whereby the physician assistant’s role and responsibilities remain contingent upon the expectations of the practicing physician and the scope of his practice.1(8) Also, the history of the profession and the development of the program have shaped the role of the physician assistant in that it recognized that much of what physicians do on a daily basis is routine. Therefore, it conceded that with a well-educated and well-trained non-physician provider there are very little limitations to what a physician assistant can practice.…

    • 967 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Career Research Paper A career as a physician assistant allows an individual to work directly in the medical field and have a hands-on job. A PA brings efficiency and quality care to patients in all circumstances, as they are allotted a certain amount of freedom. They have the ability to work in a variety of fields and perform a multitude of tasks, causing an increase of growth for the occupation. Physician assistants hold an esteemed position in the medical field.…

    • 1668 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Due to the higher volume of covered patients, health care institutions are focused on quick turnover of patients, trying to see as many as possible. With 5+ patients in the waiting room to see the clinician, it proves difficult for the clinician to spend adequate time and to treat the patient with quality care. The aim of health care is to move away from this focus of volume and more toward focus on value. This means there will be more pressure and scrutiny put on clinicians and their rates of readmissions and avoidable error, Physician Assistants will be held to higher standards and…

    • 1942 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Personal statement- medicine Compassion lies at the heart of medicine. In the midst of the A&E ward, my time in hospital revealed the healthcare team’s professionalism as they worked together efficiently during ward rounds. It left me inspired. Following this, medicine has appealed to me becoming a route to better the health of others. The opportunity to provide care and to use medical knowledge for patient benefit compels me to become a doctor.…

    • 576 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    A career as a physician’s assistant is one of just a few careers that allow you to treat injuries or diagnose illnesses and even assist in surgeries alongside a certified doctor, all without an going through an insane amount of medical school, internships, tests and programs as a normal doctor would. Since physician’s assistants (or PA’s) work under the watchful eye of licensed intelligent physicians, they are required to have the same training but not nearly in as much length or detail. Physician assistant work may be demanding both physically and emotionally, therefore, stability is necessary. Varying in facilities, physician’s assistants are required to work full time, crazy hours or sometimes-on call. This job requires rigorous training as most all tasks on the job require you to follow a strict protocol as not to put patients…

    • 1294 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Yale PA Program Reflection

    • 1407 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Throughout college, I volunteered at Roosevelt Hospital. Seeing the work of the Physician Assistants in that environment solidified my desire to pursue a career as a PA. The Roosevelt PAs were central to patient care. They, rather than the doctors, were the ones who spoke to patients frequently and in great depth,…

    • 1407 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    As the average age of health care workers and the general population rises, the need for the trained health care providers also rises. I believe that I have chosen the perfect field to join because wherever I go there will always be a job. Medical Assisting is a career path with so much potential. One of the biggest reasons I choose the medical field is it’s a field filled with compassion and a career I’m sure to be proud of at the end of my journey. Although by law it’s not a requirement for medical assistants to be certified, a large percentage of them opt to get certified.…

    • 920 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Role Of Nursing Essay

    • 1309 Words
    • 6 Pages

    They are highly skilled and educated individuals, scientists and innovators, who work in many different divisions, all for the best interest of their patients. They require a deep commitment to their work and patients as well as a compassion and love for those who he or she is caring for, always remembering that the patient is the top priority and their well-being is the center of all things they do. Registered nurses fulfill a number of duties and responsibilities including preforming physical exams and histories of the patients, administering medications, preforming wound care, provide emotional care, maintaining a hygienic and safe environment, (SOURCE), but also included in these duties are some that the general public may not be aware of or consider. One of the jobs…

    • 1309 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Superior Essays