My Father, PTSD and the Future

[astone]

Heath_fea10 and Cleveland05

Any advice would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!

It is my father who inspires me to seek out a career that I will enjoy going to every day. My father is a physician. This past year was more challenging than I thought it was going to be for both of us. After 25 years of working for the same company, my dad’s job was on the line, simply through a “business decision”. While anxiously beginning preparations for acceptance to PA school, it has been very difficult to watch a man who is so passionate and loves his job struggle with the next step for his career. I admire his dedication to his chosen career, despite this year’s obstacles, and hope to emulate his continuing passion for helping others.
Through shadowing, volunteering, working and conversing with many physicians, I have found that they do not all share in my father’s passion for their careers. When I was first debating on going to medical school many physicians would respond by saying, “Oh no, you do not want to do that!” I have found many physicians to be burned out and even regretful of going to medical school. It was also through shadowing that I first met and learned what a Physician Assistant (PA) did. In contrast, every single PA I met absolutely loved their job. I stood next to PA students in operating rooms who told me how amazing their experiences have already been and how happy they were with their career choice. I understand not all Physicians and PAs feel the same way about their jobs, as my father, but that so many PA’s expressed such enthusiasm was an observation that really stood out and influenced me. Job satisfaction was one of the first reasons why I decided that I wanted to become a PA.
I cannot pinpoint one exact experience or moment that made me decide I want to become a PA. It is a combination of many factors and experiences that has led me to this realization. One of these experiences happened while I was shadowing a PA at the Charles George Veterans Affairs Hospital. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is commonly found among combat veterans. I witnessed how true this was firsthand. After being present for many pre-operative history and physical exams, I learned when the question was coming. “Do you suffer from PTSD?” the PA would ask. For many the answer was “yes.” “And what about depression?” Again a “yes” was not an uncommon answer. It was the next question that was the hardest for me to hear. “Do you ever have thoughts or plans to harm yourself or others?” I tried my best to not make the patient feel uncomfortable by my presence, as this question was not always an easy one for the veterans to answer. Most veterans gave a reassuring, “No, of course not!” A few, however, admitted they had such thoughts before. This sort of information cannot be ignored and it was then the responsibility of the PA to address the issue further. Some veterans were shy and reluctant to address the subject, while others explained their whole story. At times I felt uncomfortable, feeling like I was intruding on personal information. The PA though, showed sympathy, compassion, and persistence. This clarified one reason why I want to be a PA. The PA is there to help the patient in any way possible without judgement. I wish to learn and develop the tools to feel comfortable in similar situations, so I may help the patient however I can. I believe that because PA school has such a broad curriculum, reaching across many specialty options, PAs gain the ability to help patients in numerous ways and varying situations.
While shadowing at the VA hospital I was introduced to countless nurses, physicians, and physician assistants. When the PA I was following introduced me to colleagues I would at times hear, “She is going make a great PA”. While I appreciated the compliment, I was always somewhat confused when they would say this. They did not know what classes I had taken, my grades, or my test scores; how could they know that I would be a good PA? What they did know about was my interaction with the patients, how interested and intrigued I was, and how I kept coming back for more. While in the process of applying to PA school it is easy to focus only on grades and test scores, but at the VA I discovered that being a PA is so much more. I learned that being a PA is a hands-on job, that you cannot just read a book and memorize what to do. Knowing how to interact with a variety of patients, adapting to different and new situations, and having the passion and drive to become a PA is something that cannot be taught. I think it is something that grows from within, fed by experiences. I noticed the PA I followed would ask me for feedback on how she handled a difficult patient or challenging situation. This showed me that this is an occupation in which you have to learn, change and grow every day. I value all these aspects that encompass being a PA, and I trust when others say I am going to be a good PA.
I am very eager and excited to begin this phase of my life. In this past year I have worked hard taking more classes, working as an EMT, and volunteering at the VA hospital and for a medical mission trip to Honduras. All of these things have reinforced my desire and passion for learning and becoming a PA. I am very excited for the future; to learn more, to do more and be a part of more people’s lives as a PA.

[luigi]

I would eliminate the sentence "I cannot pinpoint one exact experience or moment that made me decide I want to become a PA" as it does not add anything to your essay, and it almost detracts from the importance of the experiences you share with the reader.