Career as Physician Associate/Assistant - is it a good idea ?
I am an A level student doing the subjects Biology, Chemistry and Psychology. I have known for a long time I defintley want to work in healthcare and have a hands on job interacting with and treating patients. I had a week of work experience at a hospital shadowing doctors, nurses and consultants in the dental surgery department and it cemented the idea that this is the environment I want to work in.
A few months ago I learnt about the job Physicians Associate and looked at all the different routes to it. The main one is to start a nursing or science degree then a postgraduate degree for Physicians Associate. There is one university in the UK that does a 4 years integrated masters to directly become a PA after A-levels and the requirements are three A-levels including Biology and Chemistry. There are also PA apprenticeships for after a masters degree and there are also nursing apprenticeships.
I’ve heard the PA role is controversial and is going through some changes so I would greatly appreciate advice because I’m feeling a bit confused about this career. I’ve almost finished my personal statement which I’ve written about wanting to do nursing and made a shortlist of different unis with nursing courses. Many people are telling me that I should get a nursing degree first because it would secure a job that I can’t guarantee from the integrated masters degree to be a qualified PA.
Thank you for reading (: