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Physician associate

Hi

Could someone tell me more about the job role of a physician associate? What is the job like? Do doctors actually work alongside these PA's? ( do you?)

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Physician associates serve much needed role in the NHS but aren't widely used at present. They are significantly restricted in what they can do and there is zero career progression. It would be a really good role if you were planning on doing medicine afterwards. I've worked with a few PAs and generally they feel they have been misled by the universities into believing it's more than it actually is. However, if you're looking for a quick conversion course into a career... Albeit a fairly static one... Then it might be worthwhile
Original post by geekypepper
Physician associates serve much needed role in the NHS but aren't widely used at present. They are significantly restricted in what they can do and there is zero career progression. It would be a really good role if you were planning on doing medicine afterwards. I've worked with a few PAs and generally they feel they have been misled by the universities into believing it's more than it actually is. However, if you're looking for a quick conversion course into a career... Albeit a fairly static one... Then it might be worthwhile

Right okay. I wanted to do medicine but I don't think I'm good enough to be a doctor so I thought this would be a good option after doing an undergraduate degree. What can the PAs do?
https://www.fparcp.co.uk/about-fpa/Who-are-physician-associates

The information is all out there tbh, just need to Google it. Get some work experience and speak to some PAs and PA students - just contact the universities
I've just found this though? "As an experienced physician associate you may be able to move into management, medical teaching or research. Many physician associates work in general practice or emergency care, though it could be possible to specialise in a specific clinical area like paediatric care or mental health."
Thank you for this reply. Do PAs get to have pagers? I looked at their uniform and there doesn't seem to be a strict formal uniform, as in, for nursing they must wear a uniform but I can't find anything for PA's? Also, what clinical procedures do PA's get to do? Or is it very much like nurses where they can only give medications, take cannulas out, put/take out catheters etc? Sorry so many questions! Hope you're having a good day :biggrin:
I also watched this video and this looks amazing. Once you do the master degree to become a PA, how do you specialise?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CNBzgteWdGs (Neurosurgery :biggrin:)
Thank you so much for all this information. What are your thoughts of being a PA for having a career? Would you recommend someone to become a PA?

Another thing I've thought of briefly is that becoming a pa takes two years in terms of the degree. Would it be beneficial to actually study medicine as it takes another two years? (and of course, you're only a junior doctor after gem but would it be better..)
How come they're considering GEM? Or just personal prefrences?

When I meant going onto GEM, I meant, instead of doing PA just doing GEM as PA takes two years post-grad and GEM is 4.

Do PA's do 12 hour shifts etc? I would really appreciate this, do you think you could give a rundown of a typical day for a pa from a perspective of your friends?
Don’t think I’ve ever seen a PA outside of 9-5 though we’ve only a handful of them.
I guess you could do an undergraduate degree, then post-grad and become an AP. Say do it for ten years and then think about doing graduate entry medicine to further career progression? Or is that honestly a long old stupid route to think about?

Yes there is funding, the only issue is the undergraduate course I'm thinking of is already a masters so I would not get funding.

Even if it's competitive, it's not impossible. Right?

Thank you for the run-through of a typical day as a pa :smile:
What ways can you apply strategically for gem?
I know I haven't got the degree yet but just hypothetically:

Degree classification: 2:1

Degree: Masters in Nursing

A levels: Btec ( :redface: ) in health and social care DDD

GCSEs: are not the best.. mostly 5s and 6s

Sorry i'm probably wasting your time here.
Okay! I think too much that's my problem :laugh:
Could I be a right bother and ask you another question quickly?
You said about coming back in year two. Does that mean after finishing the course you could go straight into applying for gem? or do you need years of experience?
Would it be best to get experience in the job before doing gem or no point?
It seems a rather convoluted route studying for a masters in nursing with dual registration (I’m presuming this is what you meant in your other thread) as a stepping stone to immediately go on to GEM or PA.
Original post by moonkatt
It seems a rather convoluted route studying for a masters in nursing with dual registration (I’m presuming this is what you meant in your other thread) as a stepping stone to immediately go on to GEM or PA.

It probably wouldn't be immediate, it was just an idea. And I thought the masters would be good because if I decided GEM or PA wasn't for me I can go into nursing and work up to be a senior / specialist nurse. Do you think this route is bad?
Thank you :smile:

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