sportygirl07 Posted March 29, 2013 Author Share Posted March 29, 2013 I am trying to think of jobs/experience you can get for PA school. What did you guys do for the experience? So far, I can only think of CNA, EMT-B, and Patient Care Technician. Any other jobs that are useful? Also, is it okay to be a CNA for one year, then an EMT-B for another year? I was thinking of having different jobs all throughout college. Is this a good or bad idea? I heard PA schools like "varied" experiences so is that considered varied?? What are your thoughts on this? thanks so much! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sportygirl07 Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 I am trying to think of jobs/experience you can get for PA school. What did you guys do for the experience? So far, I can only think of CNA, EMT-B, and Patient Care Technician. Any other jobs that are useful? Also, is it okay to be a CNA for one year, then an EMT-B for another year? I was thinking of having different jobs all throughout college. Is this a good or bad idea? I heard PA schools like "varied" experiences so is that considered varied?? What are your thoughts on this? thanks so much! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator EMEDPA Posted March 29, 2013 Moderator Share Posted March 29, 2013 1. er tech for 5 yrs/paramedic for 5 yrs 2. variety is good. solid experience in one field is ok too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator EMEDPA Posted March 29, 2013 Moderator Share Posted March 29, 2013 1. er tech for 5 yrs/paramedic for 5 yrs 2. variety is good. solid experience in one field is ok too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timon Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 There's EKG Tech, Pacemaker Tech (really look into this one... Pay is really good / takes 5 months to get certified), mobile health examiner, medical assistant.. Just to name a few. I'm currently an ER Tech. Got my EMT-B, 12 Lead EKG Tech, Phlebotomy plus all the AHA classes I could take. Took all those certs (3 months total) and applied every where. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timon Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 There's EKG Tech, Pacemaker Tech (really look into this one... Pay is really good / takes 5 months to get certified), mobile health examiner, medical assistant.. Just to name a few. I'm currently an ER Tech. Got my EMT-B, 12 Lead EKG Tech, Phlebotomy plus all the AHA classes I could take. Took all those certs (3 months total) and applied every where. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator EMEDPA Posted March 29, 2013 Moderator Share Posted March 29, 2013 I got my emt-1a(now called emt-basic) in 1987 then learned ekg, IVs, phlebotomy, IM injections, etc on the job as an er tech. got my emt-d (defib) in 1989. worked all through college as a tech then went to paramedic school right out of college with all pa prereqs already done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator EMEDPA Posted March 29, 2013 Moderator Share Posted March 29, 2013 I got my emt-1a(now called emt-basic) in 1987 then learned ekg, IVs, phlebotomy, IM injections, etc on the job as an er tech. got my emt-d (defib) in 1989. worked all through college as a tech then went to paramedic school right out of college with all pa prereqs already done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Just Steve Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 Navy Corpsman, surgical technologist, EMT basic then paramedic, some wilderness medicine (W-EMT)..22 years of experience prior to aaplyingv Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Just Steve Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 Navy Corpsman, surgical technologist, EMT basic then paramedic, some wilderness medicine (W-EMT)..22 years of experience prior to aaplyingv Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beattie228 Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 US Army medic for 6 years, EMT for 1 year after the Army, then surgical MA for 3 years after that. I decided to let my EMT cert expire after I picked up a gig as a MA because recertification was a bigger headache than I had time for. I've never heard or read that PA schools are looking for variety. Programs that want hours want to see that you can work as a vital member of a healthcare team, and that you have some idea of what a PA is/does. There's a lot of previous threads on types of HCE preferred throughout this forum that may be of help to you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beattie228 Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 US Army medic for 6 years, EMT for 1 year after the Army, then surgical MA for 3 years after that. I decided to let my EMT cert expire after I picked up a gig as a MA because recertification was a bigger headache than I had time for. I've never heard or read that PA schools are looking for variety. Programs that want hours want to see that you can work as a vital member of a healthcare team, and that you have some idea of what a PA is/does. There's a lot of previous threads on types of HCE preferred throughout this forum that may be of help to you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
balsam88 Posted April 2, 2013 Share Posted April 2, 2013 medical technologist (including phlebotomy) for 2.5 years Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted April 15, 2013 Share Posted April 15, 2013 ER Scribe for 1.5 years ER tech fo 6 months So far in didactic year scribing is helping the most EMT-B and CNA are both good options. Maybe try focusing on one unless you want to see ER world vs. hospital world Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will352ns Posted April 15, 2013 Share Posted April 15, 2013 Military medic for 20 years...during that time I have had an alphabet soup of position/training acronyms that I could put behind my name; I'll just leave it as medic. Do this. Join any branch of the military as a medic/corpsman. Do a 4 year stint, honorably of course, and then apply to PA school. 4 years of some of the best HCE you can get, plus educational benefits that cannot be matched anywhere. For the win...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
morgancrandall Posted April 15, 2013 Share Posted April 15, 2013 I had very little experience (~300 hrs) as an EMT-B since I'm going right from college to PA school. I even stated in my interview that I did not enjoy being an EMT (driving a huge ambulance was not my thing) and would switch to become CNA certified because I wanted more patient contact and wanted to develop relationships with patients. Of course it depends on the school. My particular PA program must put a higher weight on GPA and volunteer experience (I've volunteered in Haiti for more hours than actual patient care hours) so it really just depends on where you apply. If you explain the switch, I do not think most programs care. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djdanx Posted April 17, 2013 Share Posted April 17, 2013 I have noticed a disparity in applicants with Psych experience. I worked for 3 years on an overnight shift at a Psychiatric and Detox facility as a Mental Health Counselor/Psych Tech. I did everything but give meds! Seclusions and restraints, auditing of patient charts, facilitated patient group sessions, vital signs checks, and around the clock suicide checks. During my interviews(I had 5) many of the faculty were very intrigued and impressed that I had experience that was very different from most other candidates. Just some food for thought...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djdanx Posted April 17, 2013 Share Posted April 17, 2013 I have noticed a disparity in applicants with Psych experience. I worked for 3 years on an overnight shift at a Psychiatric and Detox facility as a Mental Health Counselor/Psych Tech. I did everything but give meds! Seclusions and restraints, auditing of patient charts, facilitated patient group sessions, vital signs checks, and around the clock suicide checks. During my interviews(I had 5) many of the faculty were very intrigued and impressed that I had experience that was very different from most other candidates. Just some food for thought...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whoRyou Posted April 17, 2013 Share Posted April 17, 2013 I have noticed a disparity in applicants with Psych experience. I worked for 3 years on an overnight shift at a Psychiatric and Detox facility as a Mental Health Counselor/Psych Tech. I did everything but give meds! Seclusions and restraints, auditing of patient charts, facilitated patient group sessions, vital signs checks, and around the clock suicide checks. During my interviews(I had 5) many of the faculty were very intrigued and impressed that I had experience that was very different from most other candidates. Just some food for thought...... I have done similar work as you, but from reading here I got the impression that was NOT considered HCE. If you find out differently let me know, djdanx. BTW I just noticed that you are a PA-S did you use this type of experience in your app for PA(s) schools? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whoRyou Posted April 17, 2013 Share Posted April 17, 2013 I have noticed a disparity in applicants with Psych experience. I worked for 3 years on an overnight shift at a Psychiatric and Detox facility as a Mental Health Counselor/Psych Tech. I did everything but give meds! Seclusions and restraints, auditing of patient charts, facilitated patient group sessions, vital signs checks, and around the clock suicide checks. During my interviews(I had 5) many of the faculty were very intrigued and impressed that I had experience that was very different from most other candidates. Just some food for thought...... I have done similar work as you, but from reading here I got the impression that was NOT considered HCE. If you find out differently let me know, djdanx. BTW I just noticed that you are a PA-S did you use this type of experience in your app for PA(s) schools? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djdanx Posted April 18, 2013 Share Posted April 18, 2013 It is most definitely HCE. In addition to what I listed above, I also did most things the C.N.A.'s did. For example, bathing patients, monitoring vitals, performing skin/contraband checks......the list goes on. I did use this as my HCE and every single school I applied to accepted this, no questions asked. It's important for any candidate to discuss fully during the interview, what their job duties were so that the adcom can verify that it was truly "hands on" patient care. Good luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djdanx Posted April 18, 2013 Share Posted April 18, 2013 It is most definitely HCE. In addition to what I listed above, I also did most things the C.N.A.'s did. For example, bathing patients, monitoring vitals, performing skin/contraband checks......the list goes on. I did use this as my HCE and every single school I applied to accepted this, no questions asked. It's important for any candidate to discuss fully during the interview, what their job duties were so that the adcom can verify that it was truly "hands on" patient care. Good luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sportygirl07 Posted April 25, 2013 Author Share Posted April 25, 2013 So do you guys recommend "varied" health care experiences? Like having different jobs throughout college? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator EMEDPA Posted April 25, 2013 Moderator Share Posted April 25, 2013 So do you guys recommend "varied" health care experiences? Like having different jobs throughout college? quality is important as well as quantity. lots of high quality hrs would be better than some high quality hrs and some mediocre hrs. your best bet is to get some kind of cert(emt, cna, ma, lpn, etc) and work with that for a few thousand hrs before you apply. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoCal_PA Posted April 25, 2013 Share Posted April 25, 2013 I accumulated my HCE by working as a PT Aide. At the time of application, I had just about 2k hours of it. I was offered 3 interviews at great programs, but ended up only going to one because it was my #1 choice and they accepted me shortly after the interview. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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