To even consider becoming a PA?

[Curleyhazel]

A Physicians Assistant that is. It's a fairly recent job in the UK and requires two years of postgraduate study.

Competition for study places is fierce, loss of earnings whilst studying to consider, childcare for two young DCs to organise. If that wasn't enough to deter any sane person, I am not sure about the real job prospects. Have people even ever heard of this profession?

But: the role sounds amazing. I like that it is people focused, practical, analytical and requires empathy and people skills. I can forget studying medicine at my age but am dreaming of a career change in the medical sector. I am being very unreasonable for considering this am I not?

I have seen physicians assistants in Oz. they are great cause toy cab see them with minor ailments ABS they can prescribe a limited range of meds which frees up the Gp's for more serious cases.

think they have then in the states as well.

sounds like a good career choice to me. the way of the future.

so many autocorrects, so little time! apologies am on my phone and my autocorrect likes to taunt me.

Sounds great, what's not to like (apart from all the fierce competition nonsense, come on, someone has to get a place). I had a look on the www.jobs.nhs.uk and there are a few adverts... but only a few. I'm sure there will be more in the future though.

I would research carefully- I think the number of training places has reduced rather than expanding - I work in healthcare and have not knowingly come across a PA

Uanbu, but you need to think of the downsides as well as the positives, particularly as it's a fairly new profession in the UK, so quite a lot of uncertainty.

I don't think they have prescribing rights in the UK so their role here is different to other countries and it might also be why they've not really taken off. There's some skepticism about what the PA role really can add to the NHS when we already have a lot of extended scope practitioner type jobs, some of whom are cheaper and often can prescribe. I've never worked with any PAs but have heard that some can get a hard time from other professions who might feel their jobs are being threatened.

There are very few jobs and no guarantee they will increase so you may well have to move quite far for work also, which may or may not fit in with your life.

Thanks for all the replies! The encouraging ones are sweet and noted but I fear that SOG and Choccy have very valid reservations. Choccy, what are "extended scope practitioner type of jobs"?

Nurses and therapists taking on extra roles above their traditional scope of practice such as a musculoskeletal physio doing a joint injection clinic and specialist nurses eg in Parkinson's disease managing their PD medications.

So it seems that few people have ever met a PA and the future of the role in the nhs is questionable. So I guess I am bu considering this as a career option.

I know this is not the Chat category but having started on this subject, what alternatives could I think about? If I was to try and train as a nurse what are the job prospects as a community nurse? Any other jobs in the healthcare sector that are likely to be relevant in the next 10-20 years?

Why community nursing, particularly?

What about training as a mental health nurse? The ultimate analytical, people skilled but practical job.