Physician assistant jobs can be found in every field of medicine, and they all require collaboration with a health care team to provide patient care. A physician assistant’s job entails performing physical exams, tests, assisting during surgery, and even prescribing medication under the supervision of an acting physician. While the majority of physician assistants work in primary care, many also specialize in a specific field of medicine.
Pediatrics, family medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, and internal medicine are some of the most common physician assistant jobs in primary care. Radiology, urology, neurosurgery, orthopedics, cardiac care, oncology, ER, general and vascular surgery, dermatology, gastroenterology, acute care, and pain management are some of the areas in which a physician assistant may specialize.
The working hours of a physician assistant can vary depending on the type of job. They can work in an on-call environment, where a high level of flexibility and sporadic scheduling is expected. Longer shifts and fewer work days can also be planned, freeing up time for other pursuits. A physician assistant who works in a clinic or private practice can work a more typical forty-hour work week.
Other opportunities for physician assistants can be found in academic settings. Physician assistants with experience in the field and a bachelor’s degree or higher are preferred universities and training programs. Physician assistants are frequently referred to as professors or assistant professors of a PA program as educators.
Serving in the military while working as a physician assistant is another option to consider. A physician assistant can enlist as an officer and join the US Army Health Care Team in the United States. This physician assistant position can lead to travel, good military benefits, retirement, and repayment of student loans. Depending on where the physician assistant is stationed, it can also be a very stressful job.
The American Academy of Physician Assistants in the United States can provide information on the requirements and job outlook for physician assistants. The National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA), which can provide more information about the specific requirements for working in a specific area of medicine, certifies this field.
Because physician assistants are in demand all over the world, training is available in a variety of countries. The National Health Service and the UK Association of Physician Assistants oversee physician assistant training and employment in the United Kingdom.
As previously mentioned, physician assistant jobs can be found in hospitals, private practices, clinics, schools and universities, and the military. This is a career that requires years of training, but the pay and benefits are excellent, and the opportunity to advance in the medical field is excellent.