| They work in many different settings and do most of | | | | time. Some examples would be in inner cities or |
| the duties that medical doctors are able to perform. | | | | extremely rural areas. |
| The services they provide can help patients when | | | | Becoming a physician assistant requires a lot of |
| they are most vulnerable and in need. | | | | commitment. Most physician assistant programs last |
| Their responsibilities might include anything else that will | | | | about two years and often require having a fair |
| come up in a medical situation. Physician assistants are | | | | amount of education prior to beginning. They are also |
| able to perform tasks that go way beyond basic first | | | | required to take an exam in order to be certified. Once |
| aid. They are skilled in many things such as splinting | | | | passing this test, it will be necessary to take a |
| and casting broken bones, sutures, and dealing with | | | | re-certification exam every six years. In between |
| any other minor injury. | | | | those tests, it is required that every two years the |
| When meeting with a new patient they will start by | | | | professional takes 100 hours of continued education |
| taking a medical history and finding out what is wrong. | | | | credits. While this may seem like a lot, the field is |
| These professionals have the ability to request specific | | | | constantly changing and it is necessary to keep up |
| labs to be carried out and then read them. They also | | | | with new information and standards. Physician should |
| have the ability to determine what treatments are | | | | also be prepared to work long, unpredictable hours and |
| necessary and how they should be given to the | | | | have the ability to make decisions in emergency |
| patient. In almost all states, physician assistants are | | | | situations. |
| given the power to write some prescriptions. | | | | Physician assistant have an extremely positive outlook |
| Physician assistant work under the supervision of | | | | in the job market. The number of jobs is increasing and |
| medical doctors and surgeons in a variety of settings. | | | | expected to continue to do so over the next ten |
| This can include hospitals, doctor's offices, nursing | | | | years. Inner city and rural areas are expected to have |
| homes and other necessary house calls. Sometimes | | | | the largest need. The average salary in May of 2008 |
| medical doctors will send a physician assistance to | | | | was $81,610. |
| meet with patients that have left the hospital in order | | | | This profession can be found in many settings and |
| to follow up. They will go to the patient's home, nursing | | | | situations. Physician assistant jobs require a lot of |
| home, or rehabilitative facility to see how they are | | | | commitment in terms of education and time. However, |
| doing and then report back to the doctor that was | | | | this career gives a person the opportunity to help |
| overseeing their care. Physician are also used to | | | | patients find the medical care that they need, making it |
| provide care in places that do not have a doctor full | | | | a rewarding career. |