Tremor
Tremor
I have been looking into PA training for a while but still can't get a sense of whether having a fine motor tremor would get in the way of training. Does anyone know whether PA training involves fine motor skills such as phlebotomy, inserting IV's, or other tasks that require a very steady hand at all times like those things do? If someone could let me know the specific tasks that are expected of PA's that would be very helpful also. Thanks your help is appreciated!
Re: Tremor
If you look at PA program websites they will all have some version of their technical standards which include Motor Skills.
Here is that section copied from Duke's program webpage:
A candidate should have sufficient motor function to elicit information from patients by palpation, auscultation and percussion, as well as carry out diagnostic maneuvers.
A candidate should have motor function sufficient to execute movements reasonably required to provide general care and emergency treatment to patients. Such skills require coordination of gross and fine muscular movements, equilibrium and sensation.
A candidate should be able to manipulate equipment and instruments to perform basic laboratory tests and procedures required to attain curricular goals (e.g. needles, stethoscope, ophthalmoscope, tongue blades, intravenous equipment, gynecologic speculum, and scalpel).
A candidate must be able to transport themselves from one location to another in a timely fashion in order to facilitate patient care responsibilities and to receive educational training.
http://paprogram.mc.duke.edu/PA-Program ... Standards/
I'm not sure how severe your tremor is, I feel like the best thing for you to do would be to shadow and PA, find out what procedures they do regularly and ask them if they think that you would be able to perform them despite the tremor. It would be especially important depending on the specialty you go into, you may not be able to get through every clinical rotation in school since for example ER PAs do suturing which requires a steady hand.
I hope this helps.
I am a prospective PA student. Experience working as an EMT and ER Tech.
Here is that section copied from Duke's program webpage:
A candidate should have sufficient motor function to elicit information from patients by palpation, auscultation and percussion, as well as carry out diagnostic maneuvers.
A candidate should have motor function sufficient to execute movements reasonably required to provide general care and emergency treatment to patients. Such skills require coordination of gross and fine muscular movements, equilibrium and sensation.
A candidate should be able to manipulate equipment and instruments to perform basic laboratory tests and procedures required to attain curricular goals (e.g. needles, stethoscope, ophthalmoscope, tongue blades, intravenous equipment, gynecologic speculum, and scalpel).
A candidate must be able to transport themselves from one location to another in a timely fashion in order to facilitate patient care responsibilities and to receive educational training.
http://paprogram.mc.duke.edu/PA-Program ... Standards/
I'm not sure how severe your tremor is, I feel like the best thing for you to do would be to shadow and PA, find out what procedures they do regularly and ask them if they think that you would be able to perform them despite the tremor. It would be especially important depending on the specialty you go into, you may not be able to get through every clinical rotation in school since for example ER PAs do suturing which requires a steady hand.
I hope this helps.
I am a prospective PA student. Experience working as an EMT and ER Tech.