I use a cane, is becoming a physician assistant right for me?

[david14433]

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Hi all I am really trying to find a career that is right for me. I think perhaps becoming an physician assistant might work for me. I use a cane and have used a wheelchair in the past it's been so bad. But luckily I have recently gotten better.

So my two main questions are.

1. Out of an 8 hour shift how many hours are spent either standing or walking as a physician assistant?

2. Do you think this is a field I can work in?

Thanks.

 

[BreathDeep]

Full disclosure: Not a PA, but work closely with them in the hospital setting.

1. It depends on where you work. Also, don't assume 8 hours. If you work in a hospital there's a very high chance you could work 12 hour shifts, possibly sometimes even longer. 8 hours would be more along the lines of a 9-5 clinic type job. Emergency Medicine could easily be a whole 12 hours on your feet on a crazy night. Acute Care/ICU could also be lots of on your feet, but then again also lots of charting so lots of opportunities to sit as well.

2. Absolutely! In my hospital I know of 2 physicians who walk with canes, one who is actually in a wheelchair. Remember, any work place has to make reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities. There will probably be some specialties that would be out of reach to you, but you'll still have more choices than you can shake a stick at, so don't worry too much.

 

[Makati2008]

Hi all I am really trying to find a career that is right for me. I think perhaps becoming an physician assistant might work for me. I use a cane and have used a wheelchair in the past it's been so bad. But luckily I have recently gotten better.

So my two main questions are.

1. Out of an 8 hour shift how many hours are spent either standing or walking as a physician assistant?

2. Do you think this is a field I can work in?

Thanks.

You'll be able to be a PA if you can meet the requirements for entry. I personally have a limp but hide it from most people until I'm very tired. My question for you is can you make it through your surgical/EM months?

 

[david14433]

You'll be able to be a PA if you can meet the requirements for entry. I personally have a limp but hide it from most people until I'm very tired. My question for you is can you make it through your surgical/EM months?

I really have no idea. But I can get through almost anything I am sure if it's temporary. I did find a physician assistant on the internet that uses a wheelchair. So I suppose anything is possible. One thing is for sure I don't want to work long hours. Anything past let's say about 48 hours a week I don't think I would want to do it, so. Yet I have a strong desire to get into the medical field and physician assistant seems like a good fit so far, that along with dietitian.

Thanks for the replies guys.

 

[d2305]

I remember doing scut work all over the hospital.

 

[TheEarDoc]

Hi all I am really trying to find a career that is right for me. I think perhaps becoming an physician assistant might work for me. I use a cane and have used a wheelchair in the past it's been so bad. But luckily I have recently gotten better.

So my two main questions are.

1. Out of an 8 hour shift how many hours are spent either standing or walking as a physician assistant?

2. Do you think this is a field I can work in?

Thanks.

Expect in any setting to be on your feet a lot. I'm an audiologist and put in about 2 miles a day just walking back and forth with patients in the small clinic I am in. In nursing clinicals I did even more walking. You won't have as much heavy lifting with patients as we did in nursing though. You'll be on your feet a lot, but you would be covered under the ADA and any facility/program would have to provide you with reasonable accommodations. You would be just fine. Don't let mobility hold you back if being a PA is what you really want to do!