My First Job

On September 23rd, 2019, I woke up at around 5 am and started getting ready to drive into the city for my first day. I was feeling a whole lot of emotions when I woke up that morning. All the years of hard work and the time finally arrived, I was officially working as a licensed Physician Assistant.

To say that my first job has been very humbling is probably the closest thing to the truth. I thought I was 100% ready and prepared, but there was so much I still had to learn. Overall, I felt my PA program prepared me the best way that it could, but there was an immense amount more to patient care than what I had been exposed to on clinical rotations.

Learning about insurance coverage for certain procedures, billing when writing notes, discharge planning, and a lot of the ins and outs of care were completely new to me. The learning curve was sharp in the first few months and continues to be that way. This learning curve will change depending on rotations you have had or if you are working inpatient vs. outpatient. 

Another important aspect of my first job I would say is developing confidence. I have found this to be a struggle as I am learning how to become a safe, efficient, and trustworthy provider. Developing confidence clinically has become one of the largest challenges for me and something I continuously work on. 

Wherever you start, I would encourage you to find a job where you feel supported. Proper training and mentorship allow you to build on your confidence gradually thus allowing you to reach your ultimate goal--becoming an excellent health care provider. My professional development and training would not be where it is today without other Physician Assistants and Nurse Practitioners mentoring me along the way.