We’ve talked about why you need to shadow a physician assistant, and how to find a physician assistant to shadow. When it’s time to actually shadow a physician assistant, there is definitely a right way to go about it. First, know the four Cardinal Rules.
Cardinal Rules to Shadow A Physician Assistant:
- Be professional; first impressions are lasting.
- Stay out of the way; PAs are busy folks.
- Learn all you can; shadowing is a great opportunity.
- Be grateful; they’re taking time out of their day for you.
Before
- Before you shadow a physician assistant, get clear with the PA you will be observing about when you will join them, and for how long. Ask where it would be most convenient for them to meet you.
- Find out if there is any special hospital or clinic permission you need to obtain. Some settings will have you complete a HIPPA confidentiality agreement, since you will be exposed to people’s protected health information (PHI).
- Spend some time thinking about the big questions you have about the PA field. Write these down, bring them with you, and make sure you get them answered.
- Wear appropriate, professional clothing (no jeans of any kind!) Men: khakis with a collared, button-up shirt without a tie. Women: slacks or skirt and blouse without heels. Note: if you shadow a physician assistant in an emergency room, things are more casual (but still no jeans).
- If you have a stethoscope, leave it at home. If the opportunity arises to listen to a patient’s lungs or heart, someone will let you use theirs. You’re not there to treat patients, you’re there to learn about the work that PAs do.
- Show up early; on-time is late. Getting there early gives you time to get oriented, use the restroom, meet the staff, and get settled. It also shows your motivation.
During
- Introduce yourself and be friendly to everyone you come across.
- Use a pen and notebook to write down questions about what you observe. Don’t write while you’re with patients, and don’t write any private information about patients.
- Stay out of the way, and don’t touch patients unless specifically asked to.
- Avoid talking too much. All PAs are different, and you’ll have to play this one by ear. But when in doubt, remember the old adage: there’s a good reason we all have two eyes and two ears but only one mouth.
- When you shadow a physician assistant, questions are okay, but avoid baraging your PA with them. Save them for between patients, or until you are asked if you have any.
- Be yourself and don’t try to impress anyone. It’s natural to want to appear competent and knowledgeable, but you don’t need to. If you feel you must demonstrate that you’re not an idiot, ask a question that shows you’re thinking about what see.
- If you can be helpful, do so. Little things like going to get a gown, or finding a medical assistant when one is needed are always appreciated.
- If you have a chance, two great questions to ask are “What do you love about your work?” and “What part of your work could you do without?”
- If things get hectic, hang back and be understanding.
- There will be times when you aren’t sure what to do. You might feel like a “fifth wheel.” That’s okay. These are good times to write down questions and make observations.
- Before you leave, give a big thanks to the clinician and shake his or her hand. They’ve done you a big favor.
After
- A day or two after you shadow a physician assistant, send a brief thank you note (not an email). Consider including a $10 gift card for Starbucks or iTunes (iTunes is great if they use an iPhone while they work).
- Keep the PA you followed informed of your progress. When you get into a school, be sure to let them know about it. There could even be a preceptorship or a job for you down the line if you do.
- Keep track of the time and locations for your shadowing experiences. Some schools will accept these as patient contact hours. If not, they still count as “Health Care Shadowing” on your CASPA application.
- If you shadow a physician assistant who isn’t particularly helpful or interesting, don’t get discouraged. Seek out others to shadow – it will give you a broader experience of the field.
To shadow a physician assistant is to be open to the experience. Don’t worry if it turns out differently than you expected. That’s the whole point of shadowing – to see what working as a PA is really like.
{ 15 comments… read them below or add one }
Excellent outline!
It sounds good with the exception of a $10 gift card. I would never include a monetary gift. It could imply that you are trying to “buy them off”. At best, it is awkward.
It’s really no different than taking them out for coffee, but they can do it when it’s convenient for them. The way I see it, they’ve done something for you and this is a nice (small) way to show your appreciation.
Great website! I’m looking in applying for PA school next year. I have an opportunity to shadow an NP. What’s your take on that? Should I concentrate on shadowing a PA instead?
when should you start seeking a PA to shadow?
should you do it right when you think you have a interest for this field?
or when you are half way through your studies and have an understanding of some science?
The sooner the better. This way if it turns out to be different than you expected, you arent locked into it. Also, the more you shadow, the better idea you get about what kind of PA you want to be.
I’m having a difficult time finding a PA to shadow in my area (Boca Raton, Fl), any suggestions?
There’s a link to a PA shadowing site on our links page. They’re not huge yet, so I can’t tell you if they have anything in that area.
I think most shadowing gigs come using your personal contacts. Know someone who works in a doctors office or hospital? Use that connection to your advantage – have them ask around for you. I’ll be coming out with a podcast in the next week that will cover this topic, so keep your ears open for it!
I contacted the closest PA program and asked if their hospital had any PA’s that wouldn’t mind being shadowed and they sent me a list.
That’s a simple but elegant solution!
Hey, I am looking into being a PA, I know I want to do something in the medical field. My science GPA is 3.1 and my overall is about 3.4. Is this good enough? I am graduating in the next couple months. What should I do right now to start on the path to becoming a PA?
Hi, Jack. Definitely, with the GPA numbers you mentioned it would be a challenge to get into a PA program at this point. I don’t know what you majored in, but if you have PA school prerequisites to take, I would start there, and plan on getting A’s. If not, you may need to take some other science courses and do well to demonstrate that you can handle the challenging courseload of PA school.
Another option is to work in medicine in another capacity for a while, take some time away from school to regroup, and then restart as a pre-pa student when you have a little more perspective. Its a little easier to make the case that you’ve turned things around if you give it some time. That way you can argue, “I wasn’t a hugely motivated student coming out of school, but after some time working in health care, I have reprioritized and I’m ready to tear this thing up.” This will also get you going on the needed health care experience front in the mean time.
SUCCESS.
Paul
Great outline, thank you! Question though, is shadowing only something you do for a few days or weeks? You see I am a freshmen in college right now majoring in biology and I am considering becoming a PA. I found an office near my home that offers shadowing and wanted to know if shadowing is something you can do over an extended amount of time, like during the summer, or is that considered volunteering?
Great question, Lauren. I recommend you do as much shadowing as you can up to the point where you have a job. In most cases, I wouldn’t continue to shadow if you can do paid work instead (unless it’s to see another specialty that interests you). Make sure to reach an understanding with the PA or MD beforehand so that everyone’s on the same page. You can do a few days, or you can do a summer. I also like longer term because they have a chance to get to know you, which often leads to letters of reference, and even a job, down the line.
Thanks for all the information on the website, it is very helpful and much appreciated. I am looking into applying for the next round of PA application. I had a 3.49 GPA and 1370 GRE. Are these scores about average for most schools? I know they are all different but just trying to get an idea. I interned at a doctor’s office for a summer a few years ago and I am trying to shadow as many PA’s as possible this summer. With work, though, it is tough to schedule a lengthy time with any one PA. Would it be rude to ask for a letter after 3-4 sessions (schools I am considering are asking for at least one and prefer 2-3)?
Thanks again