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Physician Assistants

  • Bright Outlook
  • Rapid Growth

Provide healthcare services typically performed by a physician, under the supervision of a physician. Conduct complete physicals, provide treatment, and counsel patients. May, in some cases, prescribe medication. Must graduate from an accredited educational program for physician assistants.

What you’d do

  • Make tentative diagnoses and decisions about management and treatment of patients.
  • Interpret diagnostic test results for deviations from normal.
  • Prescribe therapy or medication with physician approval.
  • Obtain, compile, and record patient medical data, including health history, progress notes, and results of physical examination.
  • Examine patients to obtain information about their physical condition.
  • Administer or order diagnostic tests, such as x-ray, electrocardiogram, and laboratory tests.
  • Instruct and counsel patients about prescribed therapeutic regimens, normal growth and development, family planning, emotional problems of daily living, and health maintenance.
  • Perform therapeutic procedures, such as injections, immunizations, suturing and wound care, and infection management.

Skills that matter

  • Critical Thinking
  • Reading Comprehension
  • Active Listening
  • Judgment and Decision Making
  • Service Orientation
  • Social Perceptiveness

How to get there

Extensive preparation: most need graduate school, such as a master's degree or higher

Also called

  • Certified Physician Assistant (PA-C)
  • Family Practice Physician Assistant
  • Physician Assistant (PA)
  • Physician's Assistant
  • Cardiology Physician Assistant
  • Emergency Medicine Physician Assistant (Emergency Medicine PA)

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