It's always nice to realize we are not alone! It's difficult in medicine because everyone else seems to have their sh*t together and you feel like you are the only one who doesn't know things! Well, I've learned that isn't true and that, if providers are honest, we all get humbled when we practice medicine. All we can do is find the niche that is right for us, do our best to learn all we can, and be honest enough to ask for help when needed. Thanks for watching and I wish you all the best!
WHAT THE!?.....How the HECK did I miss THIS video. I'm a hospitalist PA in my mid 50s. I came from a community clinic background. I REALLY enjoyed that work and, felt like I was making a positive difference in people's lives. I totally agree with you about the differences between outpatient -vs-in patient. I was terrified when I initially started in 2015!😨 It was HUGE learning curve but, thank GOD, I had a good support team and adjusted. I also read EXTENSIVELY😮💨📚📚📚. I good book, "Hospitalist and Critical Care Medicine Made Easy", helped quite a bit. Did you do procedures (line placement, running codes, etc.)? I'm glad you mentioned the caveat about lateral mobility. It doesn't always work, especially for us PAs who have been in one particular specialty, for many years. This is 25 year, as a PA. I would like to talk to you MORE about your experience.
I don't know HOW you missed this video! 😀 No, I wasn't doing any procedures or on the code team. It was just doing admits, still there was so much that was different from outpatient! I agree that reading and studying extensively is definitely required when making this much of a switch. Unfortunately, I didn't have the time to devote to this. That is part of why I realized I needed to step away. I'd be happy to chat with you. You can drop me a message on LI or email me at admin@themedicinecouch.com and we can set something up!
I agree. I know there are lots of providers out there who keep quiet about their struggles and sometimes think they’re the only ones having problems. I hope this video helps a little to normalize the fact that capable, intelligent people, struggle in medicine sometimes. I also hope to make videos in the future that encourage people to be brave enough to find opportunities in their career that bring them happiness and satisfaction. Thank you so much for watching and taking the time to leave this thoughtful comment!
Medicine is hard and very intelligent people can still struggle in it. I think it’s important to be honest about this so others know they are not the only ones having a hard time!
Thank you for your lovely comment. I'm sorry too because I think I could like the inpatient environment, but it would definitely need to be full-time, not PRN!
Feeling devalued for what you can do is a hard thing to stick around for--in a job or personal relationship. In the end you choose you, good. No one else chooses you, that's your job. Good job!
Absolutely! There are so many things I wish were different in medicine, but I think you hit the nail on the head. People need to feel valued and that they are worth investing in. Thanks for your insight!
Washington, DC -based PA here and hospitalist for here. I really want to talk to you! Your video cracked me up!😂 This was ME in ER! 😭💔 Sometimes that lateral mobility paradigm doesn't work out.😢
Thank you for sharing this experience with us and being so vulnerable. This was not a good fit, but you are closer to finding the right place to concentrate your efforts. You are so good at interviewing (the Oprah of APP) and I think book reviews are an excellent idea!
Wow! High praise! Thank you so much. I do hope this channel inspires PAs & NPs to keep searching for a good fit in their career, whatever that may be. Also, so glad to hear you like the book review idea! I'm always open to ideas from viewers too. So, if you ever have a thought on a good video topic, let me know!
Thank you for sharing moments like this, which is not talked about/shared enough by medical professionals. Unfortunately, the field of medicine have been shifting from patient center to metrics, numbers, and profit. Although we cant do much about this societal shift, at individual level, we still have the power to stand for what we all at once believed how medicine should be practiced. If you felt like the added pressure comes at the cost of taking vital time away from patients and/or your wellbeing, then making the decision to quit and not participate in such system is the best thing you can ever do for you or your patients. Keep your focus and time on other opportunities that would value your “slower pace” personally and multifaceted interests.
Yep! The main reason I posted this is because I know lots of people in medicine are struggling in their jobs and sometimes it can feel like you''re the only one having a hard time. I just want to normalize the fact that medicine is hard (the actual work and the system) and that many good, intelligent people face all kinds of difficulties in this field. So, hopefully this video can help others feel a little better about themselves! Thank you for your kind words and your support!
I felt like I could relate to everything you said when I worked in the ED as a new PA. I quit 10 months later and although it's still something I think about here and there, I am more proud that I stuck it out for that long and had the courage to explore other things!
Yes! We are often so hard on ourselves. Why make yourself miserable trying to force yourself to do something. Obviously, you need have some staying power and it's not good to give up too early, but if you know something isn't right, then change it! And I love what you said about having courage to explore other things!
This was actually kind of a refreshing video to hear. I had recently left my job of six years, working in urgent care and thought I’d be better off going to the emergency room. I grown tired of the company’s new change in leadership and management, and thought the grass was greener somewhere else. I ended up finding an emergency room job at the hospital just down the street from where I live. at the end of it all I was fired six weeks into my training. It was extremely demoralizing to have that to happen after uprooting everything that I just did before. I think the issue that I had was what was expected wasn’t something I could fully embrace . The PAs that work there were phenomenal , however, in this particular setting they were very independent, and there was a little oversight from the EM physicians. It was very fast paced, and it was a whole level of medicine that I was trying to get up to speed with. I knew my learning curve would be quite a lot but, as you said, I was confident into thinking I got a good skill set that can be translated to different specialties. I had eventually started a new job, working in immediate care, ironically, at the same hospital group. I think for me I know that this is the setting that works for me and I’m able to perform at the level that I know I can achieve. I appreciate you sharing this . I am certainly was humbled by my experience.
Thank you so much for sharing your story! Yes, it is hard to take when you can't meet their expectations. I think we all just need to remember that sometimes expectations are unrealistic, especially when they hire providers who have not worked in that same setting and at that same pace. We wouldn't expect people to do that in any other field, why is it expected in medicine? Anyway, I'm happy to hear that you landing somewhere that appears to be a better fit for you! I really appreciate you watching and commenting and I wish all the best in your career!
Thank you for sharing, you definitely needed more training. Residents train 3 years IM for a reason. I’ve been a new grad np nocturnist for 8 months now. Was a floor nurse for 5 years prior, Hospitalist work was very natural for me initially because I new all the floor orders and was familiar with the ins and out of the hospital. Right now I do up to 12 admissions a night and cover over 200 patients for floor calls. What really helped me are templates and dictating notes, I can see the patient, put orders and dictate an H&P in total of 15 minutes. Take away the floor calls and I could do 20 admissions a night. But in our practice we consult a lot, this is a huge teaching hospital and they want us to consult for everyone so that also helps. Thanks for sharing your experiences, I would love the have a position like that one day just doing 8 to 10 admissions, I’m still looking lol.
Well, at least you gave it a good go. The best experience is bought experience, meaning at least you can actually say that you have did that and done that. Example, when I was young ICU ER CCU were the areas I wanted to work because there is never a dull moment. Now, approaching 47, I am concentrating on public health clinic and outreach. Something interesting but slower and more defined. Do what works for you and where you can be the most effective. Its ok friend! This is not called failure but a "testing of the water moment." It was not your speed and that is ok.
I totally agree. You have to try stuff in life, see what works and what doesn't. You never know what great things you'll stumble upon and what lessons you'll learn along the way. Thank you so much for watching and taking the time to leave your lovely comment!
As a 10 year admitting PA at an acute care hospital 8-10 is a lot. Bear in mind some admits are easy some are acute and need more time and care. I am retiring in 3 months thank god.
Thanks for the information. It's always difficult when you don't know what the standard is and you are being made to feel like you aren't doing enough!
My friend, we both know & have watched how much inpt. Medicine has changed… bt u & I… I miss the days we cut our teeth on! I admire you and your evaluation is helpful for me. Your experiences resonate with me! 💜☮️ I miss the days of medicine not being a business…
Well, unfortunately, I never really got to practice in the days before medicine became big business. Even though I'm older, I didn't start my medical career until 2016. I think I would have had more success with my style of practice if I had started 15-20 years ago! Thank you so much for your lovely comment and I'm so glad you found the video helpful. Best wishes to you!
@@TheMedicineCouch don’t change a thing! You do you… it is what we were called to do no matter when we began… take care of people as if they are family and that is exactly what people need most!
I have 30 years NP experience, a PhD, 18 years teaching. I just started a new job in interventional pain management with a EMR I have never used and patients that have been there for years with charts that are copied and carried over from past visits and pasted into the new visit. Somehow, I think I must have simply turned into a complete idiot somewhere along the line. Trying to get the documentation correct is causing me to forget to do the most basic things. I feel like I know nothing. I hope it comes together soon. So I feel your pain - no pun intended.
Medicine is definitely humbling. I really appreciate you sharing your struggles. I think it helps to normalize the fact that medicine is hard, no matter how intelligent or accomplished we are. Thanks so much for watching and thanks for your comment!
Sorry it wasn’t a good fit. Sometimes you don’t know what will fit unless you try. I’ve been outpatient most of my career and in the same clinic seeing primarily the same patient panel for about 8 years. I rely heavily on continuity, so I can completely understand why a 6 week break between shifts might really make it difficult to maximize your efficiency. I think you saw the writing on the wall and made the best choice for you , your colleagues, and your patients. That’s all we can really do. Best wishes💗
Absolutely, you've got to try things in life and if they don't work out, that's ok. You still learned stuff and got to meet new people. Thanks for your kind words and best wishes to you too!
I’m sorry for the experience but it is still a good learning experience. My 1st job was as a hospitalist right after school, I had 3 hrs training of EMR PERIOD. Rural hospital no real training of inpatient, it took me up to 6 months to adjust. Inpatient setting is challenging but there is a lot to learn from. Then tried outpatient. I didn’t like it. You are not a failure you wanted to explore a different field and unless you do it yourself you won’t know it because what may work for others may not for you. I am sure you did a great job! Also this is the beautiful thing about being a midlevel as you can do multiple specialties at time. I also learned to never stay with only one job as my best friend advised me. Good luck with everything I am sure you will be successful 😊
Thanks! Your experience sounds terrible to me, but I know some people thrive in that type of situation. I'm not really the sink or swim type of learner. I mean, I stay afloat, but I won't like it. 😆 I agree, I did learn quite a lot and am overall happy that I tried it. I also agree that the flexibility PAs have is one of the top draws of the profession, IMO. Thanks again and good luck to you too!
This is my first time seeing one of your videos! And within the first 3 mins, you hit on my mindset. I just finished nursing school and I have been working as a CNA in a hospital since January. And I feel the exact same way when I am working at the bedside. As a tech, we are expected to take care of 10-11 patients a lot of times and that to me is way too many. Like pts love talking to me and actually really like me. 😂😂😂 On way too many occasions have I walked into rooms and pts have said, your the nicest tech I have had. While yes that makes me feel really good 😅, at the same time this is a problem. I agree the system is broken in so many areas: compensation for healthcare workers is too low, a guarantee of only a 30min break during a 12 hr shift is crazy, the fact that some ppl who work in the hospital don't actually care about pts and it shows, the list goes on and on. I personally don't want to do bedside nursing because I am seeing the issues that are present and while I would love to change the system, that ideal is very daunting. I would much rather transition to research nursing (I have 10 yrs of research coordinating experience). I could jump into a role have some kind of idea how research works while learning more about it from the nursing perspective. However, most jobs outside of the hospital want you to have 2-3 yrs of bedside nursing experience. (Which is crazy) I will definitely look forward to watching more of your videos and I wish you the best of luck in your future endeavors!
Yes! Thank you for bringing up that point. It’s not just providers and nurses who are feeling the pain in medicine! Of course, I focus on providers because that’s what I am, but I want to shout out to all of the hard-working people and medicine. None of us have easy jobs! I do understand your dilemma and it’s a tough one. I feel that RNs have tons of great options open to them, besides bedside nursing however, if you can’t get the jobs, you really want without putting in a couple of years of bedside nursing first, that could be an issue. Have you looked into other healthcare degrees like biomedical engineer or global health? These offer some interesting pathways and I would imagine could help you be involved in research. Just a thought to look into them if you haven’t. Thank you so much for watching and for leaving this excellent comment.!
No, you are right. consistent patient care is essential; if you see the same type of patients, you get better daily. This 5 or six-week break is Not a good thing. I understand that it is not for everyone. You can never improve if you continue to have this, much time off in that setting. it's like being a pilot, if you don't fly every day you will lose your skills. Thank you for sharing.
I think the 4 to 6 week gap in shifts would be very difficult for anyone. After 19 years in an outpatient Internal Medicine practice, I went to work in a surgical subspecialty and the learning curve was brutal. It took me 6 months with only weekend gaps to really start feeling comfortable in the job and a full year before I could start to relax some.
Agree. It was pretty naive of me to think this would work! I think that if I was doing it full time, I think your timeframe would be about right for feeling comfortable on the job. Thank for your comment and adding to the conversation!
The barriers of the healthcare system are very difficult to overcome. I also take a long time with admissions because 1.I don't want to seem in a rush with patients and cut them off to move through faster (they don't like it) 2.I don't want to rush at all because often times there's a lot more going on with the patient than we may initially believe. There's also the med Rec. If the patient doesn't know what they're on the admission is wayyyy longer. I agree with you, don't stick around if you're miserable. We have way too many options to do that!
This!! No one in the hospital seems to have the time to do a good med rec, and of course, so many patients have no idea of what they actually take. I really feel like the fast pace everyone has to work it makes it almost impossible sometimes to really get to the root problems, instead people often end up just getting well enough for discharge. 😒 And you're so right, there are a ton of options for PAs and NPs. I hope to inspire people to make a change if they are unhappy!
My first job (2021) was family medicine. I had a couple days of straight EMR training in a room, then 2 days of shadowing a NP. Then next week I started 14 patients a day. By when I left (22 months later), they wanted us seeing at least 20-22 patients a day. I was also slow because I like talking to my patients. I was charting late and at home. It was so stressful. I have been without a job since last November but I waited to find a job because we were planning a wedding and I thought we might be moving. And yep. In April my husband got a job in SC so we moved. Got my SC PA license last month and I’m working on finding a job. I’m shadowing to see if it’s something I want to do. I’m nervous about starting working again. I will find out Friday if I’m offered a job for a clinic only general surgery job. I wish I had 12 hour shifts (this is M-F) but it’s not a big deal. Hoping eventually I can possibly get some OR time as well. I will be their first clinic only PA (they have PAs inpatient right now in hospital medicine). I’m hoping they like it and will start adding some more PAs to their service.
I’ve heard so many stories like yours, and it is absolutely crazy. I get so infuriated thinking about it, and I really do not understand why so many organizations are shortsighted. It costs a fortune to turn over a provider, but they won’t spend a little money on on-boarding so that they produce providers who feel supported and comfortable in their position. I don’t want to put you on the spot by asking if you got the position or not, so I’ll just wish you all the best in your job search. I do think that you have enough experience under your belt in family practice right now that, if needed, you could think about working locums in your state why searching for the right position. If the city you live in is big enough, you often can find locums positions that are local. Thank you so much for leaving this comment and sharing your experiences with us!
I’m having a similar experience. One month into a NP job with Hospitalist. I’ve just been told that I’m slow and my knowledge is lacking. I spent 10 years as an ICU nurse and I’m feeling like my experience and education did not prepare me for this. Everyone says it’s awful in the beginning, but this felt worse than that. Only one month in to a 4 month orientation. It felt really unreasonable. “If you want to revel in insecurity then work in Medicine” how true.
I’m sorry to hear that you are also struggling. It really is humbling and frustrating, isn’t it? You say one month into a four month orientation. Are you guys on the traditional 7 on/7 off schedule? If so, you really only had less than three weeks! Did they give you any suggestions or help to improve? I can recommend a good online course if you are interested. Just let me know.
It's hard to be fast if you are not meant to be fast. You have to look for a niche (your own best niche) where the demand is not for too large a volume of work for you, personally, within a set number of hours. If you are not fast, you are not fast, and although you may well be totally brilliant and effective, and you may be changing your patients' lives ... still, you may not be able to get faster by using willpower or super extra effort. In which case, imo, it is best to accept it, and either stay and muddle thorough, or else find your own best niche. I think both paths are acceptable.
Yes! I think you’re right. I do know there are some things I can do to get faster, and I hope to make videos on those in the future, but I agree that I’ll never be a speed demon. Fundamentally, I just don’t think it’s my personality. Honestly, that is the main reason why I started this channel. I always felt that there was a specialty or niche out there that would suit how I practice and so I started my hunt for it. Then I decided that they were probably others who were on their own search, so why not make a channel where we can all hunt together! Thank you so much for this insightful comment! I really love what you have to say, and I think we all would do better by playing into our strengthens and working on our weaknesses!
Nowadays its all about the numbers, and the metrics. The metrics dont take into consideration bathroom breaks, lunch, or dinner. That profession isnt for getting rich. Its really a devotion because you have to spend hours and hours of your life unpaid doing work just to meet metrics while at the same time adding more and more to documentation all while making no errors. You almost have no choice but to spend extra unpaid hours to finish the work to stay up to par, to focus on the patient and make no errors. I heard one doc regret going into his specialty (I wont say which one) once he was done with residency. The metrics are causing burn out.
This!! It is a huge problem in medicine and one that I am afraid will have dire consequences in the upcoming years as more and more people decide to leave medicine due to burnout! I have to say, the flexibility to change schedules is probably the biggest reason to choose PA over MD. I can't imagine devoting all those years and money to end up in a specialty you either don't like or just need a break from, but can't get it!
Thank you for sharing and being vulnerable. Physicians have residency where they slowly ramp up their patient load, ofc that is something PAs lack. Many PAs, especially new grads, need good mentorship which most jobs lack. Nevertheless, I have also seen plenty of providers with perfectionistic tendencies who take too long with patient care. If a job is salaried, then they will need to have a certain required number of patients to be seen in order to bring in enough revenue to cover the provider's salary.
Wait.....how did you know I have perfectionist tendencies?!? 😂😂 I do think mentorship is sorely lacking in healthcare, which is sad. So many providers never reach their full potential because of it. Practicing medicine is more than having knowledge. Wisdom and insights gained after years of practice should be shared and passed on to the next generation of providers, but with the emphasis on producing money, many just don't have the time. Thanks so much for taking the time to comment!
I don't think this was a failure at all. I have worked in Hospital Medicine for many years and it is not easy. The issue you had was that you could not commit to it to really learn how to do the job. That was no where near enough time. You have to remember that the docs spend 3 years in residency with minimal days off. You had 6 weeks part time. It is easy to feel overwhelmed that you are not "getting it" when you are not immersing yourself into the job. I would say that would be key to any specialty. I couldn't move to the outpatient world part time if I wanted without spending significant time learning that job. We hear about the PAs in various specialties that pick up shifts in UC but have never worked in one full time. I would guess that most don't do all that well unless they have significant UC or ER backgrounds especially if they are only doing shifts every 2 months. I personally think new hires into a new speciality need extra training. It takes a long time to train someone if they are doing 7 on 7 off. I would argue a M-F schedule for the first 6 months and then take it from there especially for new grads or new to the speciality. I also fly planes. I tell all the people that are wanting to learn how to be a pilot to commit to doing multiple lessons a week. There are the weekend warrior learners that spend most of their weekend lesson relearning what they forgot from the weekend before. It slows their progress. They need the frequent reps to really see progress. It is the same in medicine and pretty much anything in life. If you only do something occasionally, you will never master it. Overall, you did not fail, you just didn't give yourself the time to be adequately trained. If you immersed yourself in it for at least 6 months to a year, I bet things would have been way different.
I agree. I was working full-time for the first 3 months, but yes, going to PRN after that was definitely NOT a good idea. I think i would have needed another 3 months of full-time AT LEAST before even contemplating going to PRN, and even then would have needed to pick up shifts regularly, not sporadically. It was naive to think I could do what I was attempting to do! I just didn't take into account just how different inpatient is from outpatient. I really like your idea of working a M-F shift while learning. I could see how that would reinforce the knowledge better and make it easier to get more comfortable. I don't believe that would have been an option based on how they set up their scheduling, but good advice for others looking to join a hospital that might have that flexibility. Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I do think hospital medicine is interesting and could be a great specialty, you just have to land in the right training environment and, like you said, give it time! I appreciate you watching and commenting. 🙂
Yes, I would think it would be very hard to be a Hospitalist with no background in taking care of pts in a hospital. Not just on the floor but also in the ICUs and the ER, so you know what the flow is. It’s def not for everyone, esp with not much experience.
Yep! I under-appreciated how different inpatient is from outpatient. There are so many more variables in a hospital that are so hard to navigate without experience. It's too bad, because I think if I had the time to dedicate to doing it full time and studied more, it could be a position that I would like. Thanks for watching and for sharing your insight!
Yes! I would love to do a video on this. I have approached a couple of PAs about this, but so far none of them have booked the interview. I will keep working on it!
Many places will not hire PRN people without several years of full time experience in the field. It's just too hard to get into the swing of it when you are training and then out for weeks at a time. It sounds like you would have been successful if you continued at full time employment for several more months.
Yes, I do think I could have made it if I was working full-time. That is probably a good policy that places have. I definitely learned my lesson in PRN set only be for people who have experience in that setting! Thanks for watching and thanks for your comment!
I tend to agree as I've not had the greatest experiences. I do interview people who absolutely love their jobs, but I am concerned about what is coming in the next 5-10 years. I hear of so many people leaving medicine that is truly frightening!
@@TheMedicineCouch I am just a Physical Therapist Assistant and absolutely despise the way this job works. It is definitely NOT helping people “get better.” It’s designed to make maximum profit regardless of if they functionally improve.
@@TheMedicineCouch Why do you think it’s become such a nightmare career? I don’t see how anyone can do that all day and still come home in peace of mind.
@@user-hn9qg5qm3o I think a lot of it has come down to money. The insurance companies have perfected the art of squeezing providers and practices to get as much money as they can, creating the need to see more and more patients. Then you add private equity and these large health care companies trying to satisfy their shareholders. That puts more pressure on practices and providers to see more and more patients to fill the coffers. On top of all that, add in the way the general public treats healthcare workers and the backlash against science and medicine since Covid and it's a perfect storm!
U.S. healthcare system is "problematic"....period! Hence the mass exodus of clinicians out of clinical positions. Until and unless there's a massive shift in mentality away from the RVUs, productivity, and profit-based performance metrics towards improved health outcomes, providers will continue to feel "miserable" and "stuck."
Ms couch. We hear your question. But, we'll answer you by a new question. Do you think it's safe enough for your Democrate convernance to send us rescue yet in Hong Kong. Even him to travel like Democrate convernance. Or just send Money and material general Vkladimir will taking care the cure ? Russie and the chef fall very ugly again 12 september ?👂👂🤔😯
I worked in hospitalist service for over 18 years in 2 different institutions. 2 very big institutions. I have never heard of 8 to 10 admissions in 12hrs. The most I have seen is 6 safely. Obviously it's being done by your colleagues but I personally don't think that is ideal for the patient or provider. I think there will be provider burn out.
Thank you so much for this comment! I have someone else tell me that 5 to 6 was common at their institution as well. I’m curious, just for clarification, with the six admissions, did you all also have to take floor call or round on other patients?
I appreciate your honesty. The truth of the matter is 6 weeks is standard. Lots of new folks struggle. Many young career APP make a lot of errors with patient care. Thankfully there are several layers within the system to catch it. It a shame honestly. Most onboarding process is insufficient . I am an APP but never see APP ‘s when I’m a patient in the system because I’m not sure how competent they are. Not saying MD’s are perfect but there is a good wealth of standard knowledge that MD’s posses by the time they get to their first job. I know folks will attack me for saying this but it is true. I refuse to see APP because of the lack of standardized training. It takes a solid 5 years for an intelligent motivated PA to be competent. I can’t speak about NP because I have worked with lots of seasoned RN that sometimes struggle with being an NP. Again this is my opinion and experience. There are excellent APP and poor MD’s and vice versa. Clinical medicine is fun, tough, challenging and rewarding that’s why I continue to practice. Practicing medicine is a roller coaster ride- with all the screams and emotions that come with it. Girl- u are doing great and keep up the good work. Love your content as always.
Everyone has a right to pursue the healthcare they feel is best. I personally would see a PA or NP, but totally understand what you are saying. And if I didn't feel like the person I was seeing was competent, I would ask to see someone else or the physician. Thankfully, I don't have to utilize the system too much, so I've not really been put in that situation. I do realize 6 weeks is probably standard, but I still don't think that makes it right. I mean, you're never going to be able to take away the struggle. Medicine isn't easy. I just think that it's best for everyone, providers, healthcare systems, and patients to invest the time and effort into high quality training with good resource materials. There woud be better care, less turnover, and less burnout if systems made this a priority. It's not like we're fixing automobiles. We are dealing with people's lives and the system is falling short. IMO. I had to laugh at the roller coaster analogy! Spot on! Thanks so much for your kind words and encouragement and thank you for watching my content!! It feels so good to hear people say they like it.
Please share your thoughts! Be honest, but always be respectful.
Yo!!! Longtime Cardiology PA here..with imposter syndrome! Listening to you feels like listening to myself!!
I can 100% relate to this!
Thank you!!!
It's always nice to realize we are not alone! It's difficult in medicine because everyone else seems to have their sh*t together and you feel like you are the only one who doesn't know things! Well, I've learned that isn't true and that, if providers are honest, we all get humbled when we practice medicine. All we can do is find the niche that is right for us, do our best to learn all we can, and be honest enough to ask for help when needed. Thanks for watching and I wish you all the best!
WHAT THE!?.....How the HECK did I miss THIS video. I'm a hospitalist PA in my mid 50s. I came from a community clinic background. I REALLY enjoyed that work and, felt like I was making a positive difference in people's lives. I totally agree with you about the differences between outpatient -vs-in patient. I was terrified when I initially started in 2015!😨 It was HUGE learning curve but, thank GOD, I had a good support team and adjusted. I also read EXTENSIVELY😮💨📚📚📚. I good book, "Hospitalist and Critical Care Medicine Made Easy", helped quite a bit. Did you do procedures (line placement, running codes, etc.)? I'm glad you mentioned the caveat about lateral mobility. It doesn't always work, especially for us PAs who have been in one particular specialty, for many years. This is 25 year, as a PA. I would like to talk to you MORE about your experience.
I don't know HOW you missed this video! 😀 No, I wasn't doing any procedures or on the code team. It was just doing admits, still there was so much that was different from outpatient! I agree that reading and studying extensively is definitely required when making this much of a switch. Unfortunately, I didn't have the time to devote to this. That is part of why I realized I needed to step away. I'd be happy to chat with you. You can drop me a message on LI or email me at admin@themedicinecouch.com and we can set something up!
Thank you for being honest. I believe a lot of providers feel the same way but are not brave enough to speak up let alone leave.
I agree. I know there are lots of providers out there who keep quiet about their struggles and sometimes think they’re the only ones having problems. I hope this video helps a little to normalize the fact that capable, intelligent people, struggle in medicine sometimes. I also hope to make videos in the future that encourage people to be brave enough to find opportunities in their career that bring them happiness and satisfaction. Thank you so much for watching and taking the time to leave this thoughtful comment!
Wishing you all the best!! Keep your head up - what you’re doing here on RUclips is amazing. Don’t let this slow you down.
I won’t! It was a great learning experience, but I am excited to focus on RUclips. Thank you so much for your kind words!
Appreciate the honesty
Medicine is hard and very intelligent people can still struggle in it. I think it’s important to be honest about this so others know they are not the only ones having a hard time!
Thank you for this level of honesty, I’m sorry it wasn’t a fit for you but I’m glad you saw the issue and made a sound decision
Thank you for your lovely comment. I'm sorry too because I think I could like the inpatient environment, but it would definitely need to be full-time, not PRN!
Feeling devalued for what you can do is a hard thing to stick around for--in a job or personal relationship. In the end you choose you, good. No one else chooses you, that's your job. Good job!
Absolutely! There are so many things I wish were different in medicine, but I think you hit the nail on the head. People need to feel valued and that they are worth investing in. Thanks for your insight!
Washington, DC -based PA here and hospitalist for here. I really want to talk to you! Your video cracked me up!😂 This was ME in ER! 😭💔 Sometimes that lateral mobility paradigm doesn't work out.😢
See my reply to your other comment.
Thank you for sharing this experience with us and being so vulnerable. This was not a good fit, but you are closer to finding the right place to concentrate your efforts. You are so good at interviewing (the Oprah of APP) and I think book reviews are an excellent idea!
Wow! High praise! Thank you so much. I do hope this channel inspires PAs & NPs to keep searching for a good fit in their career, whatever that may be. Also, so glad to hear you like the book review idea! I'm always open to ideas from viewers too. So, if you ever have a thought on a good video topic, let me know!
Thank you for sharing moments like this, which is not talked about/shared enough by medical professionals. Unfortunately, the field of medicine have been shifting from patient center to metrics, numbers, and profit. Although we cant do much about this societal shift, at individual level, we still have the power to stand for what we all at once believed how medicine should be practiced. If you felt like the added pressure comes at the cost of taking vital time away from patients and/or your wellbeing, then making the decision to quit and not participate in such system is the best thing you can ever do for you or your patients. Keep your focus and time on other opportunities that would value your “slower pace” personally and multifaceted interests.
Yep! The main reason I posted this is because I know lots of people in medicine are struggling in their jobs and sometimes it can feel like you''re the only one having a hard time. I just want to normalize the fact that medicine is hard (the actual work and the system) and that many good, intelligent people face all kinds of difficulties in this field. So, hopefully this video can help others feel a little better about themselves! Thank you for your kind words and your support!
I felt like I could relate to everything you said when I worked in the ED as a new PA. I quit 10 months later and although it's still something I think about here and there, I am more proud that I stuck it out for that long and had the courage to explore other things!
Yes! We are often so hard on ourselves. Why make yourself miserable trying to force yourself to do something. Obviously, you need have some staying power and it's not good to give up too early, but if you know something isn't right, then change it! And I love what you said about having courage to explore other things!
This was actually kind of a refreshing video to hear. I had recently left my job of six years, working in urgent care and thought I’d be better off going to the emergency room. I grown tired of the company’s new change in leadership and management, and thought the grass was greener somewhere else. I ended up finding an emergency room job at the hospital just down the street from where I live. at the end of it all I was fired six weeks into my training. It was extremely demoralizing to have that to happen after uprooting everything that I just did before. I think the issue that I had was what was expected wasn’t something I could fully embrace . The PAs that work there were phenomenal , however, in this particular setting they were very independent, and there was a little oversight from the EM physicians. It was very fast paced, and it was a whole level of medicine that I was trying to get up to speed with. I knew my learning curve would be quite a lot but, as you said, I was confident into thinking I got a good skill set that can be translated to different specialties. I had eventually started a new job, working in immediate care, ironically, at the same hospital group. I think for me I know that this is the setting that works for me and I’m able to perform at the level that I know I can achieve. I appreciate you sharing this . I am certainly was humbled by my experience.
Thank you so much for sharing your story! Yes, it is hard to take when you can't meet their expectations. I think we all just need to remember that sometimes expectations are unrealistic, especially when they hire providers who have not worked in that same setting and at that same pace. We wouldn't expect people to do that in any other field, why is it expected in medicine? Anyway, I'm happy to hear that you landing somewhere that appears to be a better fit for you! I really appreciate you watching and commenting and I wish all the best in your career!
Thank you for sharing, you definitely needed more training. Residents train 3 years IM for a reason. I’ve been a new grad np nocturnist for 8 months now. Was a floor nurse for 5 years prior, Hospitalist work was very natural for me initially because I new all the floor orders and was familiar with the ins and out of the hospital. Right now I do up to 12 admissions a night and cover over 200 patients for floor calls.
What really helped me are templates and dictating notes, I can see the patient, put orders and dictate an H&P in total of 15 minutes. Take away the floor calls and I could do 20 admissions a night.
But in our practice we consult a lot, this is a huge teaching hospital and they want us to consult for everyone so that also helps. Thanks for sharing your experiences, I would love the have a position like that one day just doing 8 to 10 admissions, I’m still looking lol.
Thanks for sharing your experiences. I appreciate you watching and commenting!
Well, at least you gave it a good go. The best experience is bought experience, meaning at least you can actually say that you have did that and done that. Example, when I was young ICU ER CCU were the areas I wanted to work because there is never a dull moment. Now, approaching 47, I am concentrating on public health clinic and outreach. Something interesting but slower and more defined. Do what works for you and where you can be the most effective. Its ok friend! This is not called failure but a "testing of the water moment." It was not your speed and that is ok.
I totally agree. You have to try stuff in life, see what works and what doesn't. You never know what great things you'll stumble upon and what lessons you'll learn along the way. Thank you so much for watching and taking the time to leave your lovely comment!
As a 10 year admitting PA at an acute care hospital 8-10 is a lot. Bear in mind some admits are easy
some are acute and need more time and care. I am retiring in 3 months thank god.
Thanks for the information. It's always difficult when you don't know what the standard is and you are being made to feel like you aren't doing enough!
My friend, we both know & have watched how much inpt. Medicine has changed… bt u & I… I miss the days we cut our teeth on! I admire you and your evaluation is helpful for me. Your experiences resonate with me! 💜☮️ I miss the days of medicine not being a business…
Well, unfortunately, I never really got to practice in the days before medicine became big business. Even though I'm older, I didn't start my medical career until 2016. I think I would have had more success with my style of practice if I had started 15-20 years ago! Thank you so much for your lovely comment and I'm so glad you found the video helpful. Best wishes to you!
@@TheMedicineCouch don’t change a thing! You do you… it is what we were called to do no matter when we began… take care of people as if they are family and that is exactly what people need most!
I agree! It is what people need and ultimately I wouldn’t be happy churning through numbers. Thanks!
I have 30 years NP experience, a PhD, 18 years teaching. I just started a new job in interventional pain management with a EMR I have never used and patients that have been there for years with charts that are copied and carried over from past visits and pasted into the new visit. Somehow, I think I must have simply turned into a complete idiot somewhere along the line. Trying to get the documentation correct is causing me to forget to do the most basic things. I feel like I know nothing. I hope it comes together soon. So I feel your pain - no pun intended.
Medicine is definitely humbling. I really appreciate you sharing your struggles. I think it helps to normalize the fact that medicine is hard, no matter how intelligent or accomplished we are. Thanks so much for watching and thanks for your comment!
Sorry it wasn’t a good fit. Sometimes you don’t know what will fit unless you try. I’ve been outpatient most of my career and in the same clinic seeing primarily the same patient panel for about 8 years. I rely heavily on continuity, so I can completely understand why a 6 week break between shifts might really make it difficult to maximize your efficiency. I think you saw the writing on the wall and made the best choice for you , your colleagues, and your patients. That’s all we can really do. Best wishes💗
Absolutely, you've got to try things in life and if they don't work out, that's ok. You still learned stuff and got to meet new people. Thanks for your kind words and best wishes to you too!
I’m sorry for the experience but it is still a good learning experience. My 1st job was as a hospitalist right after school, I had 3 hrs training of EMR PERIOD. Rural hospital no real training of inpatient, it took me up to 6 months to adjust. Inpatient setting is challenging but there is a lot to learn from. Then tried outpatient. I didn’t like it. You are not a failure you wanted to explore a different field and unless you do it yourself you won’t know it because what may work for others may not for you. I am sure you did a great job! Also this is the beautiful thing about being a midlevel as you can do multiple specialties at time. I also learned to never stay with only one job as my best friend advised me. Good luck with everything I am sure you will be successful 😊
Thanks! Your experience sounds terrible to me, but I know some people thrive in that type of situation. I'm not really the sink or swim type of learner. I mean, I stay afloat, but I won't like it. 😆 I agree, I did learn quite a lot and am overall happy that I tried it. I also agree that the flexibility PAs have is one of the top draws of the profession, IMO. Thanks again and good luck to you too!
This is my first time seeing one of your videos! And within the first 3 mins, you hit on my mindset.
I just finished nursing school and I have been working as a CNA in a hospital since January. And I feel the exact same way when I am working at the bedside.
As a tech, we are expected to take care of 10-11 patients a lot of times and that to me is way too many.
Like pts love talking to me and actually really like me. 😂😂😂 On way too many occasions have I walked into rooms and pts have said, your the nicest tech I have had. While yes that makes me feel really good 😅, at the same time this is a problem. I agree the system is broken in so many areas: compensation for healthcare workers is too low, a guarantee of only a 30min break during a 12 hr shift is crazy, the fact that some ppl who work in the hospital don't actually care about pts and it shows, the list goes on and on.
I personally don't want to do bedside nursing because I am seeing the issues that are present and while I would love to change the system, that ideal is very daunting. I would much rather transition to research nursing (I have 10 yrs of research coordinating experience). I could jump into a role have some kind of idea how research works while learning more about it from the nursing perspective. However, most jobs outside of the hospital want you to have 2-3 yrs of bedside nursing experience. (Which is crazy)
I will definitely look forward to watching more of your videos and I wish you the best of luck in your future endeavors!
Yes! Thank you for bringing up that point. It’s not just providers and nurses who are feeling the pain in medicine! Of course, I focus on providers because that’s what I am, but I want to shout out to all of the hard-working people and medicine. None of us have easy jobs!
I do understand your dilemma and it’s a tough one. I feel that RNs have tons of great options open to them, besides bedside nursing however, if you can’t get the jobs, you really want without putting in a couple of years of bedside nursing first, that could be an issue. Have you looked into other healthcare degrees like biomedical engineer or global health? These offer some interesting pathways and I would imagine could help you be involved in research. Just a thought to look into them if you haven’t.
Thank you so much for watching and for leaving this excellent comment.!
No, you are right. consistent patient care is essential; if you see the same type of patients, you get better daily. This 5 or six-week break is Not a good thing. I understand that it is not for everyone. You can never improve if you continue to have this, much time off in that setting. it's like being a pilot, if you don't fly every day you will lose your skills. Thank you for sharing.
You are definitely right. I should have realized this. Hopefully others can learn from my mistake!! Thanks for watching and commenting.
I think the 4 to 6 week gap in shifts would be very difficult for anyone. After 19 years in an outpatient Internal Medicine practice, I went to work in a surgical subspecialty and the learning curve was brutal. It took me 6 months with only weekend gaps to really start feeling comfortable in the job and a full year before I could start to relax some.
Agree. It was pretty naive of me to think this would work! I think that if I was doing it full time, I think your timeframe would be about right for feeling comfortable on the job. Thank for your comment and adding to the conversation!
The barriers of the healthcare system are very difficult to overcome. I also take a long time with admissions because 1.I don't want to seem in a rush with patients and cut them off to move through faster (they don't like it) 2.I don't want to rush at all because often times there's a lot more going on with the patient than we may initially believe. There's also the med Rec. If the patient doesn't know what they're on the admission is wayyyy longer. I agree with you, don't stick around if you're miserable. We have way too many options to do that!
This!! No one in the hospital seems to have the time to do a good med rec, and of course, so many patients have no idea of what they actually take. I really feel like the fast pace everyone has to work it makes it almost impossible sometimes to really get to the root problems, instead people often end up just getting well enough for discharge. 😒 And you're so right, there are a ton of options for PAs and NPs. I hope to inspire people to make a change if they are unhappy!
My first job (2021) was family medicine. I had a couple days of straight EMR training in a room, then 2 days of shadowing a NP. Then next week I started 14 patients a day. By when I left (22 months later), they wanted us seeing at least 20-22 patients a day. I was also slow because I like talking to my patients. I was charting late and at home. It was so stressful. I have been without a job since last November but I waited to find a job because we were planning a wedding and I thought we might be moving. And yep. In April my husband got a job in SC so we moved. Got my SC PA license last month and I’m working on finding a job. I’m shadowing to see if it’s something I want to do. I’m nervous about starting working again. I will find out Friday if I’m offered a job for a clinic only general surgery job. I wish I had 12 hour shifts (this is M-F) but it’s not a big deal. Hoping eventually I can possibly get some OR time as well. I will be their first clinic only PA (they have PAs inpatient right now in hospital medicine). I’m hoping they like it and will start adding some more PAs to their service.
I’ve heard so many stories like yours, and it is absolutely crazy. I get so infuriated thinking about it, and I really do not understand why so many organizations are shortsighted. It costs a fortune to turn over a provider, but they won’t spend a little money on on-boarding so that they produce providers who feel supported and comfortable in their position. I don’t want to put you on the spot by asking if you got the position or not, so I’ll just wish you all the best in your job search. I do think that you have enough experience under your belt in family practice right now that, if needed, you could think about working locums in your state why searching for the right position. If the city you live in is big enough, you often can find locums positions that are local. Thank you so much for leaving this comment and sharing your experiences with us!
Making the choice that is right for you is not failing. But I know how you feel. 😞
Thanks Suzanna. I appreciate the support and wise words!
Agree with you❤
Thanks. ❤️
I’m having a similar experience. One month into a NP job with Hospitalist. I’ve just been told that I’m slow and my knowledge is lacking. I spent 10 years as an ICU nurse and I’m feeling like my experience and education did not prepare me for this. Everyone says it’s awful in the beginning, but this felt worse than that. Only one month in to a 4 month orientation. It felt really unreasonable. “If you want to revel in insecurity then work in Medicine” how true.
I’m sorry to hear that you are also struggling. It really is humbling and frustrating, isn’t it? You say one month into a four month orientation. Are you guys on the traditional 7 on/7 off schedule? If so, you really only had less than three weeks! Did they give you any suggestions or help to improve? I can recommend a good online course if you are interested. Just let me know.
It's hard to be fast if you are not meant to be fast. You have to look for a niche (your own best niche) where the demand is not for too large a volume of work for you, personally, within a set number of hours. If you are not fast, you are not fast, and although you may well be totally brilliant and effective, and you may be changing your patients' lives ... still, you may not be able to get faster by using willpower or super extra effort. In which case, imo, it is best to accept it, and either stay and muddle thorough, or else find your own best niche. I think both paths are acceptable.
Yes! I think you’re right. I do know there are some things I can do to get faster, and I hope to make videos on those in the future, but I agree that I’ll never be a speed demon. Fundamentally, I just don’t think it’s my personality. Honestly, that is the main reason why I started this channel. I always felt that there was a specialty or niche out there that would suit how I practice and so I started my hunt for it. Then I decided that they were probably others who were on their own search, so why not make a channel where we can all hunt together! Thank you so much for this insightful comment! I really love what you have to say, and I think we all would do better by playing into our strengthens and working on our weaknesses!
Nowadays its all about the numbers, and the metrics. The metrics dont take into consideration bathroom breaks, lunch, or dinner. That profession isnt for getting rich. Its really a devotion because you have to spend hours and hours of your life unpaid doing work just to meet metrics while at the same time adding more and more to documentation all while making no errors. You almost have no choice but to spend extra unpaid hours to finish the work to stay up to par, to focus on the patient and make no errors.
I heard one doc regret going into his specialty (I wont say which one) once he was done with residency. The metrics are causing burn out.
This!! It is a huge problem in medicine and one that I am afraid will have dire consequences in the upcoming years as more and more people decide to leave medicine due to burnout! I have to say, the flexibility to change schedules is probably the biggest reason to choose PA over MD. I can't imagine devoting all those years and money to end up in a specialty you either don't like or just need a break from, but can't get it!
Thank you for sharing and being vulnerable. Physicians have residency where they slowly ramp up their patient load, ofc that is something PAs lack. Many PAs, especially new grads, need good mentorship which most jobs lack. Nevertheless, I have also seen plenty of providers with perfectionistic tendencies who take too long with patient care. If a job is salaried, then they will need to have a certain required number of patients to be seen in order to bring in enough revenue to cover the provider's salary.
Wait.....how did you know I have perfectionist tendencies?!? 😂😂 I do think mentorship is sorely lacking in healthcare, which is sad. So many providers never reach their full potential because of it. Practicing medicine is more than having knowledge. Wisdom and insights gained after years of practice should be shared and passed on to the next generation of providers, but with the emphasis on producing money, many just don't have the time. Thanks so much for taking the time to comment!
I don't think this was a failure at all. I have worked in Hospital Medicine for many years and it is not easy. The issue you had was that you could not commit to it to really learn how to do the job. That was no where near enough time. You have to remember that the docs spend 3 years in residency with minimal days off. You had 6 weeks part time. It is easy to feel overwhelmed that you are not "getting it" when you are not immersing yourself into the job. I would say that would be key to any specialty. I couldn't move to the outpatient world part time if I wanted without spending significant time learning that job. We hear about the PAs in various specialties that pick up shifts in UC but have never worked in one full time. I would guess that most don't do all that well unless they have significant UC or ER backgrounds especially if they are only doing shifts every 2 months.
I personally think new hires into a new speciality need extra training. It takes a long time to train someone if they are doing 7 on 7 off. I would argue a M-F schedule for the first 6 months and then take it from there especially for new grads or new to the speciality. I also fly planes. I tell all the people that are wanting to learn how to be a pilot to commit to doing multiple lessons a week. There are the weekend warrior learners that spend most of their weekend lesson relearning what they forgot from the weekend before. It slows their progress. They need the frequent reps to really see progress. It is the same in medicine and pretty much anything in life. If you only do something occasionally, you will never master it.
Overall, you did not fail, you just didn't give yourself the time to be adequately trained. If you immersed yourself in it for at least 6 months to a year, I bet things would have been way different.
I agree. I was working full-time for the first 3 months, but yes, going to PRN after that was definitely NOT a good idea. I think i would have needed another 3 months of full-time AT LEAST before even contemplating going to PRN, and even then would have needed to pick up shifts regularly, not sporadically. It was naive to think I could do what I was attempting to do! I just didn't take into account just how different inpatient is from outpatient.
I really like your idea of working a M-F shift while learning. I could see how that would reinforce the knowledge better and make it easier to get more comfortable. I don't believe that would have been an option based on how they set up their scheduling, but good advice for others looking to join a hospital that might have that flexibility.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I do think hospital medicine is interesting and could be a great specialty, you just have to land in the right training environment and, like you said, give it time! I appreciate you watching and commenting. 🙂
Yes, I would think it would be very hard to be a Hospitalist with no background in taking care of pts in a hospital. Not just on the floor but also in the ICUs and the ER, so you know what the flow is. It’s def not for everyone, esp with not much experience.
Yep! I under-appreciated how different inpatient is from outpatient. There are so many more variables in a hospital that are so hard to navigate without experience. It's too bad, because I think if I had the time to dedicate to doing it full time and studied more, it could be a position that I would like. Thanks for watching and for sharing your insight!
Can you do a video on PA’s working at the medical examiners office?
Yes! I would love to do a video on this. I have approached a couple of PAs about this, but so far none of them have booked the interview. I will keep working on it!
Many places will not hire PRN people without several years of full time experience in the field. It's just too hard to get into the swing of it when you are training and then out for weeks at a time. It sounds like you would have been successful if you continued at full time employment for several more months.
Yes, I do think I could have made it if I was working full-time. That is probably a good policy that places have. I definitely learned my lesson in PRN set only be for people who have experience in that setting! Thanks for watching and thanks for your comment!
Let's just face it, healthcare jobs no matter the pay are not worth it. It's a joke inside and out. So glad I left that circus.
I tend to agree as I've not had the greatest experiences. I do interview people who absolutely love their jobs, but I am concerned about what is coming in the next 5-10 years. I hear of so many people leaving medicine that is truly frightening!
@@TheMedicineCouch I am just a Physical Therapist Assistant and absolutely despise the way this job works. It is definitely NOT helping people “get better.” It’s designed to make maximum profit regardless of if they functionally improve.
@@user-hn9qg5qm3o Yes, it is often the same way in medicine. We are given no time to spend with patients to actually help them. It is quite sad.
@@TheMedicineCouch Why do you think it’s become such a nightmare career? I don’t see how anyone can do that all day and still come home in peace of mind.
@@user-hn9qg5qm3o I think a lot of it has come down to money. The insurance companies have perfected the art of squeezing providers and practices to get as much money as they can, creating the need to see more and more patients. Then you add private equity and these large health care companies trying to satisfy their shareholders. That puts more pressure on practices and providers to see more and more patients to fill the coffers. On top of all that, add in the way the general public treats healthcare workers and the backlash against science and medicine since Covid and it's a perfect storm!
U.S. healthcare system is "problematic"....period! Hence the mass exodus of clinicians out of clinical positions. Until and unless there's a massive shift in mentality away from the RVUs, productivity, and profit-based performance metrics towards improved health outcomes, providers will continue to feel "miserable" and "stuck."
Totally agree!
Ms couch. We hear your question. But, we'll answer you by a new question. Do you think it's safe enough for your Democrate convernance to send us rescue yet in Hong Kong. Even him to travel like Democrate convernance. Or just send Money and material general Vkladimir will taking care the cure ? Russie and the chef fall very ugly again 12 september ?👂👂🤔😯
Sorry, this channel isn't about politics.
I worked in hospitalist service for over 18 years in 2 different institutions. 2 very big institutions. I have never heard of 8 to 10 admissions in 12hrs. The most I have seen is 6 safely. Obviously it's being done by your colleagues but I personally don't think that is ideal for the patient or provider. I think there will be provider burn out.
Thank you so much for this comment! I have someone else tell me that 5 to 6 was common at their institution as well. I’m curious, just for clarification, with the six admissions, did you all also have to take floor call or round on other patients?
I appreciate your honesty. The truth of the matter is 6 weeks is standard. Lots of new folks struggle. Many young career APP make a lot of errors with patient care. Thankfully there are several layers within the system to catch it.
It a shame honestly. Most onboarding process is insufficient . I am an APP but never see APP ‘s when I’m a patient in the system because I’m not sure how competent they are. Not saying MD’s are perfect but there is a good wealth of standard knowledge that MD’s posses by the time they get to their first job.
I know folks will attack me for saying this but it is true. I refuse to see APP because of the lack of standardized training. It takes a solid 5 years for an intelligent motivated PA to be competent.
I can’t speak about NP because I have worked with lots of seasoned RN that sometimes struggle with being an NP.
Again this is my opinion and experience. There are excellent APP and poor MD’s and vice versa.
Clinical medicine is fun, tough, challenging and rewarding that’s why I continue to practice. Practicing medicine is a roller coaster ride- with all the screams and emotions that come with it.
Girl- u are doing great and keep up the good work. Love your content as always.
Everyone has a right to pursue the healthcare they feel is best. I personally would see a PA or NP, but totally understand what you are saying. And if I didn't feel like the person I was seeing was competent, I would ask to see someone else or the physician. Thankfully, I don't have to utilize the system too much, so I've not really been put in that situation.
I do realize 6 weeks is probably standard, but I still don't think that makes it right. I mean, you're never going to be able to take away the struggle. Medicine isn't easy. I just think that it's best for everyone, providers, healthcare systems, and patients to invest the time and effort into high quality training with good resource materials. There woud be better care, less turnover, and less burnout if systems made this a priority. It's not like we're fixing automobiles. We are dealing with people's lives and the system is falling short. IMO.
I had to laugh at the roller coaster analogy! Spot on!
Thanks so much for your kind words and encouragement and thank you for watching my content!! It feels so good to hear people say they like it.