The beauty of being a PA, is that you can keep renewing that license and you’re never truly out of the game. I have a certified surgical technician license and I renew it every 2 years - I work in construction tho. I’ll keep that license for ever JUST IN CASE. Great vid!
I’m not in healthcare but I think the same thing: “am I going to be doing this long term?” As an 8-5er with a Bachelors degree and a “good job” I’m like umm I have way less flexibility in my schedule than others. I hate “living for the weekend”
Thank you for the transparency! That's exactly how I feel, and I know so many others do. I think more people than we know are questioning this entire work system as it is. The 8-5 or 9-5, working most of our lives away and living for just 2 days of our own throughout the week. That's why I believe more and more people are starting businesses of their own. So, that's why I find so much relief when I tell myself, "I don't have to do this forever"!
@@AlignwithAdrienne I hear you! I did like the idea of the travel healthcare jobs, and would see people take 3-6 weeks off after a 13 week assignment. That may be something you can do too
Yup travel healthcare assignments are my go too. I love working only 6 months out the year and have the other 6 months of freedom for my family and travel. I still make $70,000 a year. Imagine me working an entire year with no break as a traveler!!!! That’s over $100,000 per year but I rather have that freedom with my family but it’s good to know if I ever need the extra money I have the skills in the healthcare field that’ll make me money!
"Regret is a choice." Oooo never heard that in my life so that hit me deep. Makes so much sense! Such a great point. Thanks for sharing! You're amazing 👏🏼😁❤
You hit all of my feelings spot on. The freedom is what holds me back from absolutely loving being a PA. Looking at what everyone else has is difficult when you’re still stuck in the 8-5 loop without escape
I don’t regret it but definitely question it in comparison to others at times…. I wish I had more freedom. I have friends who make just as much and more than me as a PA with no student debt and more freedom. But I worked hard to become a PA and It comes with so much respect, I get to change lives daily.. etc
Thank you so much for your honesty! You are NOT alone. I feel this way exactly. To see other people living with more freedom, less stress, better income, it's very easy to question if you made the right choice and compare. I feel this completely. So, I let myself question it and that's where the piece in this video about not putting myself in the box of saying "I have to be a PA forever" comes into play. I know I don't need to stay in this career forever if I choose to change it at some point, and that provides so much relief!
I absolutely loved everything about this video!!! I am officially your biggest fan!! I can’t tell you how many times I’ve tried to get friends/family to understand why I go about life not living in regret. Everything is an experience to be lesson learned! Sometimes we need reassurance, thank you for this content! ❤
Great video Adrienne! As a PA myself I have gone through all of the motions you talked about. I also don’t regret becoming a PA but thinking about the future as a PA it’s all about finding a right fit. Love your channel!
Suggest pre PA students shadow PAs from different fields to see what lifestyle best fits and even that can change with time and experience. I’m also interest in PAs experiencing work in a different country with a different healthcare system and culture. I heard PAs are recognized in 22 different countries from the UK, to Dubai. I’m sure this has a major impact on the mental health, satisfaction and work life balance.
There are days I feel like F this, I’m done. And days I think, yay, my last patient didn’t show up, I can have more time to get my redundant tasks finished or make my Orange theory class. No regrets, sure beats being a former respiratory therapist.
Adrienne💜 Your candor is SO appreciated. I'm graduating from NP school in exactly 3 weeks (eep!). And I'm already feeling the burn-out in my clinical rotations. I've had the same thoughts & feelings....and it's so important that we talk about it! I've made the decision to say NO to a job opportunity in family medicine and pursue a specialty I'm passionate about (and will give me better work-life balance). As someone who intended to go into primary care, I initially felt like a sell-out. But...I've given myself the grace to change my mind. Now, I'm going to help people in a capacity I never imagined--how cool is that? And I'm staying open to new opportunities. I never want to be complacent or accept a miserable existence--you can always pivot!
Yes Emily!! Thank you so much for sharing. I truly live by the thought that with billions of people in the world, if I am feeling a certain way or thinking about certain things, then I cannot be alone. So instead of feel isolated in those thoughts, I should share them for others in hopes they help, AND it shows me that I'm not alone either - which is exactly what I did in this video! GOOD FOR YOU saying no to a job you knew wasn't right for you. Something I've learned over the last few years too, is just because there might be something "you always said you'd do" doesn't mean you aren't allowed to change your mind. So many times we make these decisions before we even know the truth of the situation. Thank you for your candor as well in your comment!
Thank you so much for this advice. I am going to college this fall to pursue going to PA school. I had been debating whether this is the choice for me and you are 100% right I feel that I need to give all of my effort in order to know if this would be the right choice for me.
I’m a 30 YO traveling consultant for a software company and I work full time. I work About 20-25 hours a week and I love the flexibility BUT I don’t find fulfillment in it… I’m considering a career switch into Medicine. Have you considered being a part-time PA? Or maybe going into telehealth so you can work remotely.
Personally, in terms of the other outlets you mentioned such as influencer, coaching, selling estate/products, there comes a level of “feeling guilty about how I am making money, and am I being the best possible version of myself” As a PA you can really make a difference, and I would NEVER chose a social media influencer career, even if it paid 10x more, because I would feel terrible about myself everyday
It's okay to have that opinion. I think there are endless ways to help others and make a difference - not just in the medical field. I know some influencers do not use their platforms to do this, but I think A TON of other influencers do. No matter how a person chooses to help others, they are helping to make this world a better place (in small or big way), and that's really all that matters. I respect anyone who is trying to make a difference in the world, and I do not at all stand by the idea that someone's career makes them a better or worse person than someone else.
@@AlignwithAdrienne that completely makes sense, being in healthcare is not the only way to make a difference. But I will disagree with the vast majority of social media influencers who bring no benefit to society, profit off of selling stuff and promoting things and making ads, etc. I could never live with myself if that was how I was making money
I'm so glad you're excited! I grew SO much through PA school and learned so much. I'm very grateful for both the education and life skills it provided me.
Figure out your interests. Start slow, by possibly looking at community colleges near you. Pray before making decisions and about the decisions you make.
1. I've heard that students wanting to attend PA school and transitioning from FT job to not working (still having bills) have used financial aid to pay for things month to month. Is this what you ran into? 2. Noticed that Pre-req are different at every school. Currently have a bachelors in business, and need my sciences. How do I even begin to pick classes/pre req if they are all requiring different courses?
My undergrad is also business. Just take all or most of them. The most common are biochemistry, general chem I/II, organic chem I/II, biology, microbiology, statistics and psychology
There was absolutely no way I could work in PA school, no way! But I graduated in 2008, maybe it’s easier now considering over 100 new programs have sprung up since 2008?
Ahh I don’t know anymore, I just turned 17, currently in my senior year of high school and I’ve been eyeing this career since I was maybe 15? I have grown up going in and out of hospitals because of medical reasons and I’ve always been so interested since then. I always leave with the feeling of being inspired by the staff. The environment is just something really cool to see and I want to make people feel the same way I feel when I go but now you kind of have me thinking, will I really like having this job down the road? For the rest of my life? Will it be everything I imagine it to be? if I start college immediately after high school I can be a PA by 24 maybe even 23 but will that be worth my time if I don’t like it then?
Wow same situation and age. It just sucks because one of my life goals is to immigrate to Australia or New Zealand and there are no PAs there. I'm also thinking if I even wanna do healthcare in general. We'll figure it out with time (hopefully). 🙂
Good video, the best decision I made as a physician assistant was to create a side hustle for extra income streams. It has really helped me and my family financially stable.
@Maria Bryant I made a couple of investments but my investment in forex and crypto has been yielding good profits and I don't think of stopping anytime soon. Investment is key.
@Maria Bryant I had similar experience until I met Timothy Scott Taylor my FA, investment or trading is not what you do without proper guidance. He handles all my investment and trading activities and makes sure my portfolio is diversified into various sectors of the market.
100%. A cliche answer - but I think anything is possible. If you are passionate about something, you can make it happen. It would take good time management, but definitely possible. It's something I am working towards myself, and I'm not afraid to admit that!
Thanks you for transparency opinion about you point of view working like PA in this year. I understanding how your feeling about the broke health system and lack of balance for many people that work in healthcare system. I’m nurse ICU Cardiovascular 🫀for 4 and the system is broken , they don’t care about health professional. I’m trying to change career this year to technology! So I wish the best for you and everyone that want to get out of the nursing career or health system 🙏🏾
