Physician Assistant
The history of the physician assistant is not very old. Physician Assistants have only been around for about forty years, since the nineteen sixties. ... Even prior to the first Physician Assistant program at Duke University in nineteen-sixty-five, nurses had been given tasks that doctors thought took to much time. ... Doctors were just under to much pressure, in turn the physician assistant was born. Most doctors were happy about physician assistants, but some just saw them as competetion. "By the seventies one-third of all physician assistants were now practicing in non-urban areas." (Careers,6) Nature of Work The nature of work of a physician assistant is something I could adapt to very quickly and easily. ... You work under a Physician, so every decision you make, you are under supervision. As a physician assistant you take medical histories, perform physical exams, listen to patients problems, order tests, such as labortory tests and x-rays, make diagnoses and in fourty-six states you can write prescriptions. ... Your duties as a physician assistant are determined by state laws. Working as a physician assistant you will always work under a Physician. ... Normally though you will not have as many patients as the Physician. Most physician assistants work in internal medicine, pediatrics and family medicine. Other physician assistants work in a specialty, usually they work in emergency room medicine, orthopedics, and geriatrics. Physician assistants are also known as child health associates, MEDEX, physician associates and surgeon assistants. Physician assistants are skilled professionals who assume a high degree of responsibility. Personal and Physical Qualifications A candidate to become a physician assistant must meet many requirements and qualifications. ... Physician Assistants work with patients all day long, so you must be able to relate to all types of people. ... Physician assistants need to demonstrate a high level of self confidence and good judgement. Physician assistants also need to stay calm during an emergency. It is suggested that most people interested in this career spend some time with a physician assistant or job shadow.