How to get worthwhile experience?

Started by Lacey203
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Lacey203

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While I'm interested in physical therapy and may work with a PT for the next few years (which seems to be adequate experience for some of the programs I'm looking at), I am also interested in PA or NP programs.

The problem is a lot of programs want "direct patient experience". The programs accept people from jobs (preferably paid apparently?) such as nursing assistants, medical assistants, EMTs, etc. However, obviously these jobs require degrees that take 1-2 years to obtain in a decent program, and I'm in a 4-year university away from home and cannot dedicate this kind of time to another degree.

So my question is, what sort of job can I undertake that is "direct patient care" (without a degree) that will still look good on my application? I don't want to just volunteer at a hospital and fill water jugs as I have for the past 4 years. Do people recommend I obtain a degree as a CMA online?
 
Emt basic is 110 hrs and can be done fairly quickly.
Cna is 80 hrs and can be done quickly as well.
Cma(medical asst.) is good experience but most programs are > 6 mo.
 
These programs seem to be expensive, even online. CNA is about 1,000 dollars at my local community college for 23 sessions...
 
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Lacey203 said:
While I'm interested in physical therapy and may work with a PT for the next few years (which seems to be adequate experience for some of the programs I'm looking at), I am also interested in PA or NP programs.

The problem is a lot of programs want "direct patient experience". The programs accept people from jobs (preferably paid apparently?) such as nursing assistants, medical assistants, EMTs, etc. However, obviously these jobs require degrees that take 1-2 years to obtain in a decent program, and I'm in a 4-year university away from home and cannot dedicate this kind of time to another degree.

So my question is, what sort of job can I undertake that is "direct patient care" (without a degree) that will still look good on my application? I don't want to just volunteer at a hospital and fill water jugs as I have for the past 4 years. Do people recommend I obtain a degree as a CMA online?
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Since you are intersted in physical therapy I suggest getting a job as a rehab tech in a SNF. You can learn PT and OT modalities, get paid well (for a technical position), and still earn your clinical hours. A lot of the rehab departments are ran by rehab companies which contract their services.

Good luck.
 
PSYCHNP said:
Since you are intersted in physical therapy I suggest getting a job as a rehab tech in a SNF. You can learn PT and OT modalities, get paid well (for a technical position), and still earn your clinical hours. A lot of the rehab departments are ran by rehab companies which contract their services.
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Is it extremely important that the clinical hours be paid? Also, would they really consider working in a rehab lab part of clinical hours? It seems as if a lot of programs are looking for hours in hospitals and private practices, no?

My aunt recommended I work in her friend's dermatology clinic but it would most likely not be for pay.
 
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Lacey203 said:
Is it extremely important that the clinical hours be paid? Also, would they really consider working in a rehab lab part of clinical hours? It seems as if a lot of programs are looking for hours in hospitals and private practices, no?

My aunt recommended I work in her friend's dermatology clinic but it would most likely not be for pay.
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In regards to whether the clinical hours are paid or not is up to you. I liked getting paid clinical hours because it was much more rewarding to me. It also helps one gain actual work experience which could be placed on a resume and allows you to network. When you finally graduate you have a place to work since they are already familiar with your work ethic.

Does the rehab lab work involve direct patient care? Even if it doesn't I am sure there is a lot to learn there. Yet you may need to still get some other experience.

In regards to PT programs hospitals and private practices are not the only work environments they consider. I believe PTs, OTs, and aids earn higher wages in a SNF than a hospital oftentimes. Working with the gerontologic community (baby boomers) can be very rewarding and is a career choice of many.

The dermatology job sounds cool go for it, but for PT you would still need PT specific observation hours.
 
Thank you very much PsychNP! I appreciate your advice.

I plan on doing some PT work and the dermatology work. Hopefully this, along with a lot of other experience, will be favorable for admissions. I'm really looking to go right from undergrad to PA graduate school because I will not be able to get a decent job with just a BS in biology.

One more question, does "shadowing" count as work experience? Because I'm under the impression that shadowing a PA would not be direct patient care, and thus not count towards experience hours.
 
there is a separate section on the caspa application for pa school to list shadowing.it is considered "health related" but not health care experience.
 
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