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Hi Brian,
I am a 2nd PA student in Minnesota and currently doing my clinical rotation. I have completed my family practice and General Surgery rotations. I will be graduating August 2018. I have noticed that as soon as I come across someone, be that my preceptor, her nurse, patients, other PAs or random strangers, I get asked the same question ” what PA specialty are you interested in?” I find this question tricky and find myself walking a fine line. Here’s why: If I tell a surgeon ( especially if he/she is my preceptor), I want to work in GI, he will lose interest to train me right away. If I say I don’t know yet, I feel it is kind of okay at this point but still, I feel that I look like an idiot without any goals. I kind of know what my interests are, but I am still in the exploring phase.
I am wondering if you asked this to a PA student, what would you consider to be a decent answer?
I have my surgery EOR coming up in 2 days. I am using the Final Step for this test too. Thank you for your great contributions to the PA world 🙂
Thank you,
Saira
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You should be noticing that there are many common questions. People are programmed and programming to make sure there are more humans. As soon as you are married, everyone wants to know…
“When are you guys having a baby?”
The day of the birth of your first child the next question comes, “When are you having a second one?”
These questions are coming. You should not be stunned by them. You should not stammer with some gibberish. You should think a little about them ahead of time.
Lots of times there are no ulterior motives, just the need for small talk.
“What is your favorite surgery?”
“What has been your favorite rotation?“
And of course, “What specialty do you think you might be going into?”
Mostly people need to come up with something to say to you. This question is one step above conversations about the weather. It’s not an end in itself. It’s a jumping off point.
You don’t have to love what you’re currently doing. You should use this question as a conversation starter, not an ender.
Surgeon – What specialty are you thinking of going into?
PA student – uh um. Dermatology.
Surgeon – Oh good.
Conversation over.
Or you could do this.
Surgeon – What specialty are you thinking of going into?
PA student – I had a really cool dermatology rotation where we got to do lots of procedures and help people. Right now, I’m leaning that way. Family Med was fun, and I think I’d enjoy developing relationships over time, but I’m not sure I’d be able to handle not doing any procedures. I like doing some procedures, but I don’t think I want to be in the OR all the time. How did you decide on surgery?
I had a great student. I knew she didn’t like surgery. I mean she liked it, but it wasn’t where she was headed. You could tell by the way she would answer that question. She was good at evading it, politely. It didn’t make me any less interested in training her.
Here’s why.
She did everything she could to learn and work during the rotation. People will train you as much as you want to be trained. If you say I’m definitely not going into surgery, fold your arms, and stand in the corner, then you’re right, no one will teach you anything.
If you say, “ I don’t think surgery is for me, but I want to get as much experience as possible while I’m here,” and jump in with both feet and good attitude, people will be happy to teach you.
Remember, in the end, they don’t care about you. Everyone wants to get through their day. They want it to be fun, and they want to help people, and then they want to go home.
If you’re nice, put effort in, ask GOOD questions, show up (mentally not just physically), most people will be happy to help train you.
I’m just trying to picture a worst-case scenario.
You go up to L&D and begin by telling the nurse you’re shadowing that you hate babies and want nothing to do with pregnancy after this rotation. But, you roll up your sleeves and work right alongside her. You keep a really good attitude and jump on anything you can do to help; she’ll rave about you to her co-workers.
Be honest. Work hard. Be pleasant.
Look to create & nurture conversation like you starting a little fire. Turn it around and ask people about their jobs and why they chose them, if they like it, if it’s the same as when they started, if they would do it again, etc. There is a lot to learn out there besides the medicine. Take advantage.
Great question, Saira. Be smart like Saira. Think these things through. Have a plan, don’t just fumble through the conversations that you know are coming.
This message brought to you by…
Physician Assistant Exam Scholars
Brian Wallace