PA School Interview Questions
What was the last movie you saw? Book you read?
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What do you want to be doing five years from now?
-Finish PA program -pass boards -get job - start my family
What medical experience do you have that will help you in PA School?
- Currently, 1 year as PCA -1 year as BPC (blood donations educator) -1.75 years as Study Coordinator
What did you learn from your overseas experience?
- I have perfected my bedside manners. - Cultural values are different in Africa compare to here. People of BF see medical professionals as God sent. So grateful and are very cooperative. In the US people care a lot about privacy.
Your supervising MD tells you to do something that you know is dead wrong; what do you do?
- the first thing I will do is verify the facts. do some more research on the patient case and verify the treatment plan proposed by my supervising MD. - discuss with another PA or doctor. - bring the said person into the dialogue with my supervising MD to try to do the best thing for the patient.
Describe a situation where you've had to be empathetic, yet assertive.
-As a PCA, one of our jobs is to clean and turn our patients every 2 hours to avoid skin breakdown and bed sores. One of my patient was a women who had Necrotizing fasciitis all over her abdomen and genital areas. The day PCA who gave me report told me she was a difficult patient and refused to be turned or cleaned. I did not let this deter me however, and I went in to do my job and to do what was best for my patient. I went in and made time for my patient to hear her out and truely listen to her concerns and her feelings. Once I had gained her trust and empathized with her, I asked her if I could please clean her up and turn her. She refused, but I did not give up. I continued to educate her as to why we needed to do this. She finally ended up agreeing, and together with the RN we were able to clean her up and turn her every 2 hours.
What is evidence based medicine?
-Evidence-based health care is the conscientious use of current best evidence in making decisions about the care of individual patients or the delivery of health services. Current best evidence is up-to-date information from relevant, valid research about the effects of different forms of health care, the potential for harm from exposure to particular agents, the accuracy of diagnostic tests, and the predictive power of prognostic factors -Evidence-based clinical practice is an approach to decision-making in which the clinician uses the best evidence available, in consultation with the patient, to decide upon the option which suits that patient best -Evidence-based medicine is the conscientious, explicit and judicious use of current best evidence in making decisions about the care of individual patients. The practice of evidence-based medicine means integrating individual clinical expertise with the best available external clinical evidence from systematic research
How have you demonstrated maturity that will be essential as a PA?
-I can be empathetic, yet assertive -I can handle stress under fire -I know when to call for help -I exhibit good judgement -I can make quick decision when needed -I am a self-starter -I do not require constant supervision
How have you demonstrated passion to become a PA?
1. Became a PCA (took 7 weeks w/o pay to get trained, quit good job because I wanted patient care experience) 2. Took extra courses (invested money) to raise GPA so I could become a more competitive applicant (i.e. Biochem, pharmacology, etc.) 3. Took time to shadow PA, even when they were more than an hour drive away 4. Made effort to join extracurricular groups--> pipeline events, Ruth Webb PrePA Society, The Children's Clinic HEO volunteer, etc.
5 specific areas PA program evaluates you
1. Passion 2. Academic Ability & Test Scores 3. Medical Experience 4. Understanding of the PA Profession 5. Maturity
WHY do you want to attend OUR program?
-I did some research and selected the schools that most interested me and that went hand-in-hand with my mission and yours was at the top of my list. I researched PA programs based on accounts of current students, first-time pass/fail rates on NCCPA boards (yours being _____), longevity of the program (yours being _____), and clinical rotation sites. ADD GOLDEN NUGGETS. I feel that your program meets my criteria for what I am looking for in a strong program. I know that I would be a good fit for this program and that I have a lot to contribute.
How well do you understand the PA Profession?
-I have shadowed 2 PA's, and have worked with PA's at the hospital -I've researched PA's -I am on PA blogs/forums (physicianassistantforum.com, mypatraining.com, pastudentlife.blogset.com, etc.) -Go on AAPA and CAPA websites (follow on FB/twitter) -Go to PA Pipeline events -internet research
Describe a situation where you were a self-starter
-I work as part of the Float Unit as a PCA. That means they float us from regularly adult floors, to the ED, to the ICU. Most regular adult floors are very similar in job duties. However, in the ED and ICU it's very different in what roles we play. When they floated me to the ED for the first time, they were very short-staffed and because of the busyness was not able to be informed of how it ran. Rather than just sit there looking clueless, I took initiative and observed the other techs to see what they were doing. I looked at other supply carts and took mental notes and stocked the carts in my area. I took vitals every 2 hours without the RN's asking me. I volunteered to transport patients. At the end of the night, the RN's were super thankful for my help and initiative and gave me an APPLAUSE card.
What animal would you be and why? (This is weird and may not be super common, but they just want to see how you respond to a question like this)
-I would be a quetzal?
How do you plan to pay for your education?
-Loans, and hopefully scholarships
Will you require constant supervision?
-No. As a PCA, I work collaboratively with RN's, but I do my job responsibilities alone, without supervision. I am able to take vitals, clean, turn, transport, etc alone. I do know however, when to report back to the RN, and what my scope of practice is. For example, as PCA's we're only allowed to take BP's on top part of forearm. Many times the RN will ask us to take BP on bottom half of arm, or on the legs. Although I know the RN is really busy and is asking me to help relieve them, I know my scope of practice and my limits, so I respectfully tell them "Thank you for confidence in me. However, as a PCA I am not able to take the BP at the _______, and I do not want to risk my position doing so." If they do not agree, I call my supervisor and ask them to help us resolve the issue.
What do your academic ability & Test Scores say about your ability to handle PA School?
-Overall GPA: 3.31 -Post-Bacc Science: 3.90 -Overall Science: 3.03 GRE: Q: 155, V: 156, 311; 4.5 writing FS: 3.62, SS: 2.69, JS: 2.57, SS: 2.80, bacc S: 2.82, postBacc S: 3.90, overall S: 3.03 -My undergrad science GPA wasn't great because of lack of maturity, overcommitment, lack of motivation, but since then I have matured and learned how to study efficiently as my dire improvement in grades have communicated. -GRE Score is also above average
Education/Previous Experience
-PCA -Study coordinator -Bio major -science/math tutor -BPC (customer service/educating donors)
Education/Work Summary & Goals
-Short-range goals (1-2 yrs): get into PA school, do whatever it takes to get in, focus on PA school, travel before I get in. -Medium-range goals (2-5 yrs): Finish PA School, get a job, -Long Range goals (5+ yrs): Start a family, build my career, get involved in more community events
When/how did the PA profession get its start?
-The PA profession could be argued had its roots dating back to the 1600's with "Feldshers" in Russia. In Russia it was difficult to find a licensed medical practitioner outside of large cities, so in rural areas one usually would see a Feldsher, a well-traveled army individual who had medical knowledge through experience. Although not licensed, their medical knowledge and experience was enough for these rural villages. (-In France in 1803 "Officiers de Sante" are used to help overcome health care personnel shortage. In 1798 we see the first "loblolly boy" who helps assist in royal navy. They are then called surgeons steward, then apothecary, and then bayman. in 20th century they are finally called Hospital Corpsman. In 1898 "Practicante" is introduced in Puerto Rico who helps assist the physician. In 1925 midwivery is introduced in Kentucky.) -In the 1960's Barefoot doctors were born in a response to the cultural revolution happening in the People's Republic of China, in which Mao Zedong criticized urban bias of medical system, calling for a greater focus on well being of rural population. They were usually rural farmers who were trained to provide medical care in areas where urban doctors would not settle. They helped prevent common diseases, promote basic hygiene, gave preventative care, family planning, and treated common illnesses. -In 1940 the prototype of what will be a PA begins. Amos N. Johnson hires Henry "Buddy" Treadwell and trains him as a "doctor's assistant" to work in his rural clinic in North Carolina. Buddy frequently travels in place of Johnson to see his patients. This becomes widely accepted in North Carolina. - America realized there was a severe shortage of primary care physicans. To try to fix this, In 1957 Dr Stead and nurse clinical Thelma Ingles establish the masters in nursing program for nurse clinicians. The program results in highly trained nurses taught primarily by physicians. The program, although very successful, is denied accreditation from the National League of Nursing because of their heavy reliance on physicians during their training, and because Thelma Ingles did not have her nursing degree. It is believed that had it not been for the failing of the nursing program, the PA profession would not exist today! -This is not easily forgotten and three years later an emerging leader (Charles Hudson) of the AMA addresses the House of Delegates and calls for the need of a "mid-level provider" and proposes training former millitary corpsman as assistants to physicians. In 1965 this program is establish at Duke Univeristy with 4 ex-navy corpsman (Dr Eugene Stead leading this). He based his curriculum on the fast-track training of Buddy and of doctors during World War II. They were trained and sent out to help with severe shortages in rural and underserved areas. -Joyce Nichols was the first women to be formerly educated as a PA , and graduated from the Duke PA program. Not only was she the first woman to complete the program, she was the first black woman to do so. She ended up serving on the AAPA board and helped lead the minority affairs board. She is a role model for minorities and women in the PA profession. -1968 AAPA is established -kaiser is first HMO to employ PAs "Providing medical care to remote populations where none existed, and meeting military and public health needs, have been concerns of nations for centuries. The use of non-physicians to provide health care services has an extensive history. Among the more noteworthy experiments were efforts to deliver services to the Russian wilderness, to the communes of rural China, to the frontiers of the American West, and to native-American villages in Alaska. Military necessity, especially in times of war, led to the use of non-physicians to provide acute care at army bases, and on warships in France, England, and post-revolutionary America. The United States Public Health Service found a need to use former military corpsmen in prisons. Advanced, highly technical surgical procedures, developed in mid-20th century, led innovators to train technicians to assist in urology and cardiovascular surgery. In the 1940s a unique event took place. A highly respected general practitioner in rural North Carolina trained his own "doctor's assistant" to care for his patients, even while he was away to further his medical education. Remarkably, that partnership received great praise from organized medicine. A road had been mapped; it was soon to be paved by pioneer educators."
Federal Legislation
-Updating the Federal Workers' Compensation Program to Allow PAs to Diagnose and Treat Federal Employees Who are Injured on the Job -Payment for Medicare Covered Services Provided by Physician Assistants -Allowing Physician Assistants to Order Home Health and Hospice Care for Medicare Patients -Extending Medicaid Electronic Health Records Incentive Payments to Physician Assistants
What is a PA?
Physician assistants are healthcare professionals licensed to practice medicine with physician supervision (collaboration). As part of their comprehensive responsibilities, PAs conduct physical exams, diagnose and treat illnesses, order and interpret tests, counsel on preventive health care, assist in surgery, and in most states can write prescriptions. They work in a variety of settings from primary care to surgery.
What are your biggest weaknesses as an applicant, and what do you plan to do to correct them?
Put too much on my plate Terrible with (geographic) directions Can't say no Forget to eat/take breaks Coffee a. I am a perfectionist - I constantly remind myself that I'm human and people make mistakes. Also plan ahead to allow extra time to work on projects b. I used to also believe being an introvert was a weakness as well but I have realized it makes me better at relating to people when one-on-one or in small groups c. Keeping emotions to myself - I have made great progress in this area the past couple of years with the stress of school and applying to PA school. I have learned talking with others about my stresses is a great stress-reliever
If you could pass a law that would help PAs, what would it be?
To allow them more recognition as a medical professionals and enable them to perform more tasks and sign off on some restricted treatments and medications.
What have you done to prepare yourself for this profession?
To prepare for this profession, I have taken 1. Classes 2. Volunteered 3. Shadowed 4. Joined clubs 5. Extracurriculars I have spent lots of time doing research on the PA profession and talked with lots of PA to see if it was the most suitable career for me
Have you applied to other programs?
Yes, 4total 1. Union College 2. College of Saint Mary 3. Creighton University 4. and UNMC of course.
Do you have a car, where do you live? What is your social support and are they close?
Yes. I currently live in Omaha. My husband, our families, and our friends are my social support. Yes, his family is close an I talk with mine daily on the phone.
What kind of personal stress do you see associated with our PA program?
a. I have heard the analogy that PA school is like trying to take a drink out of a fire hydrant. b. Didactic phase is fast-paced, with copious amounts of information each day, and numerous hours of studying each day c. Clinical phase - many hours along with continuing to study the specialty of the clinical you are partaking in. d. I believe my medical experience coupled with my rigorous undergraduate career has prepared me to manage my time appropriately and work long hours to successfully learn the material
What is your understanding of what PAs do?
a. In my understanding after talking to numerous PA's... b. See their own patients just as an M.D. does but has the opportunity to consult an M.D. if confronted with a more difficult case c. Take patient histories and are able to differential diagnoses the patients d. Able to prescribe medicine e. Perform minor procedures or assist doctors in surgeries F. Educate people.
Describe the most stressful work or academic situation you have been in, and tell us how you dealt with it.
harvey at the lab
Why did you choose PA school over med school?
i. I have come across a lot of doctors who are not personable and give the patient the facts of their condition but don't make them feel any better ii. From my experience PA's are more amiable iii. Don't want to spend 5 to 8 years becoming a doctor iv. Ability to switch fields is also appealing allowing me to follow passions that I may develop d. Like that I will have a doctor available for consultation 1. PAs can specialize without going back to school, very flexible 2. Fits my personality best, a lot of physicians I have met are not personable. They simply give patients their diagnosis and move on. 3. Don't want to spend 8 years becoming a physician
Have you ever seen anyone die?
no, I have not
Tell us about the role you see the PA playing in the health care system
the PA plays a critical role allowing more pts to be seen and filling in the niche between a nurse and a doctor. with the aging population and high demand for care providers PAs present a provider with a wide variety of skills that can see pts in areas that don't have any care providers and areas of high population.
Do you manage your time well?
yes, compare undergrad vs postbacc to prove this!
PAs recertify every ___ yrs
10 years
What would be your ideal job as a PA?
I would love to work in pediatrics.
What kind of stress do you see associated with the PA profession?
I foresee it being a bit stressful to possibly encounter a supervising physician that never sees eye to eye with me or always tries to change my plan of care. With that said I am someone who is always open to hear others points of view and others ideas on matters so even though this will be stressful it will also be beneficial to have someone else's opinion on matters.
What are your strengths as an applicant?
People person Good bedside manner Patience Personality- type that can get along with several personality types Empathy a. academically driven b. strong work ethic - people often tell me my work ethic inspires them to get the job done as well c. love working with and helping people d. not a quitter, do what it takes to get the job done e. I am fascinated with the human body and the advances in medicine and the new treatment options becoming available. f. Mature, respectful, courteous
Obamacare
-after going through the book "Landmark" -Insure 32 million of the 50 million that are uninsured -insure pre-existing conditions -stay on parents insurance until 26 - fast food over 20 chains calorie counts -Bring medicaid reimbursements up to medicare levels (pa shadowing at family practice) -Medicare pay for yearly preventive visits and preventative services(not sure but they may include things like breast exams, bone density) - Free birth control and other preventative services for women, unless you work for a faith-based organization that opposes birth control.
PAs complete ___ hours of CME every___ yrs
100, 2 years
What makes you SURE you want to become a PA?
I have interacted and learned about all the healthcare professional, an PA is the one that resonated the most with me.
What do you do outside of work or academic studies?
I love cooking, so I just purchase a website domain for my cooking blog and I manage a cooking Instagram page. I love traveling but I haven't done that in a while because of the pandemic
Describe an interaction you have had with a patient that made an impact on you.
I had the opportunity to meet with multiple patients I remember how I was able to talk a distract a kid from the procedure that he was getting done. I have also shadowed a dr that had to tell a patient that he wasn't going to make it. he had acute hepatitis and a drinking problem.
Have you done anything to increase your chances of being accepted into this PA program?
-Yes, I am currently working very hard to get good grades in my prerequisite classes. -I have a good knowledge of the medical field. I have lots of Healthcare experience I worked for 3 years as a medical technologist in a genetics lab. I worked closely with doctors, techs, and nurses. - I have obtained 250 hours of patient contact hours from working as a medical assistant in a mission trip back to Burkina Faso _ I am a well-rounded individual with lots of medical and nonmedical volunteer experience -I have also shadowed lots of medical professionals - I am very driven and really compassionate
Can you make quick decisions?
-Yes. As a study coordinator, it was my job to visit the facility where the study drug was being administered and make sure everything was logged and enter appropriately. One day I was checking the vials to make sure the study drug had been dispensed, but I quickly realized that 2 vials had been dispensed (instead of 1). I had to make a quick decision, and rapidly went to the charge nurse and informed her. She quickly discontinued the patient from the bicarb he was on, and started him on a new one. I realized later that usually only 1 study RN is working, but that day both were working, and both ended up dispensing the medication to the same patient. I was able to act quickly. After this I made a report and sent it to my supervisor, to my PI, and to the company that was sponsoring the medication. We closely monitored the patient and no AE's were observed.
Transferable Skills
-communication skills -teaching skills -conflict resolution skills -organization skills -prioratizing skills/time management
Affordable Care Act effects on PAs
-increase in # of insured people -need for cost savings (PAs can do about 85% of services as physicians but cost half as much to employ) -more requirements/penalties for M.D.s -decrease hours resident doctors can work -increase in elderly population (baby boomers:46-64)
What are some of the greatest challenges/issues facing PAs today?
-legislation favors MDs and RNs more because they've been around longer. We must be proactive in advocating for ourselves. - PA's are not signed off on hospice care
Describe a stressful situation that you were able to resolve.
-math tutor review room-building locked scenario
Why don't you want to become a NP?
-medical model -longer (because you need to be RN first) - PA seems more viable option for me
Personal Traits
-passion -cooperative/team player -calmness/patience -flexible -empathy
How will healthcare reform affect PAs?
-positively, because more people will be insured (~_____ million people from the ____ million currently) -not enough MDs to provide care for these people, so PAs fill in gap.
Do you prefer to work with others or by yourself?
-with others! I am a team player. Teamwork makes the dream work! working with others is so. beneficial everyone has their own thought process and it helps to have different views an methods when working
Please discuss your answer to question #__ on the interview questionnaire. Or, What did you mean by __ on your essay?
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What accommodations, if any, do you need to successfully complete this program?
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What do you think is the most difficult situation described in the interview scenarios that you completed earlier today? Why?
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What interests you most about our school?
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What was the most difficult question they asked you at Bowman Gray?
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Why do you want to attend OUR Program? What do you know about the hx of OUR program? Did you attend our open house?
...
Your file indicates that you have had difficulty with __(e.g., time management or science course work). Would you like to explain this?
...
Do you have any questions for us?
1. Is there a free clinic in or near campus where the students can use/practice their newly learned skills? 2. What do you like most about teaching at this program? What do you like most about working with PA students?How available are professors 3. How does your curriculum stand out/how confident are you in the curriculum (tailor to specific schools) 4. What is the didactic year schedule like? (9-5 classes?)
Why do you want to be a PA?
1. The main reason why I decided to become a PA is that it has been a dream and desire to work in the field of healthcare. This dream came about when I was a teenager, and a medical professional saved my life. I made this promise to myself that if I survived I would live to help save another person's life in my future. 2. Throughout my life I have been able to meet and engage with multiple medical professionals, such as dentists, nurses, nurse practitioners, physicians, physician assistants, and many more. I have talked with multiple PAs that work at the Houston Methodist Hospital during my volunteer shifts. - I have found that PA is a great profession and becoming one will fulfill my life's purpose. I will have knowledge and skills that will help in taking care of those in need and work closely with other medical professionals in improving the quality of healthcare and its access to the general population.
Tell us something about yourself.
I have 1 year experience as a PCA, 1 year working for a Blood collections center, and ~2 years as a research study coordinator at a dialysis unit. As a PCA, I often work in collaboration with RN's and other healthcare providers (i.e. Respiratory therapists, PT, OT, etc.) to treat our patients to the best of our ability. I have also floated all over the hospital from ED, to ICU, to surgical, to OB, and have learned a great deal. At the blood collections center I was regularly tasked with many projects from educating donors, to customer service skills. As a study coordinator, I also worked on many projects at a time and learned how to effectively communicate with patients and other healthcare providers. From all three experiences, I learned how to work under stress, I learned to exhibit excellent communication and interpersonal skills, and I have learned how to be a team player.
What soft skills do you have (interpersonal skills) (vs. hard skills like test scores and grades)?
1.)cooperative/team player- I work together with RN's to care for patients. i.e. I worked with RN to help pt with necrotizing fasciitis; worked with PCA to help turn patient with hoyer lift (45 mins). 2.)calmness/patience- Sitter for a elder patient who was very confused and had onsets of alzheimers. Patient required special attention at every second, brushed hair, fed them, read to them. Regardless of how many times I told them they were in hospital, they didn't understand and kept trying to get out of bed. I could have restrained them, but I knew patient didn't want that and would get more anxious, so I kept calm and patient. I would engage in conversation with them, asking about their life and travels. Regardless they did forget at times and would yell and ask me to leave and even hit me sometimes, but I remained calm Reminded them again patiently who I was, waited for them to calm down. 3.) flexible- I am flexible with assignments. One time I was a sitter and had a good assignment. In the middle of the night, another sitter on the floor was told to leave by patient who grew irrational, they asked us to switch. Although I knew patient would be difficult, I accepted without reluctance. I was able to be flexible to accommodate staffing, because I know it can be difficult.; also flexible at BPC with more donors coming in, or change of job position. 4.) empathy/listener- Patient with necrotizing fasciities; elder women on 3E; pt whose son had passed away; pt who had bipolar disorder who was pregnant in PSCU; 5.) Conflict resolution/negotiation- On my missions trip to DR we had conflict with our team leaders. We felt as if we had no freedom and that our opinions were not valued. We identified with the students we were reaching and there was conflict because of culture clashes. We ended up going over a conflict resolution course, where we each stated what was done/said, how it made us feel, and let each person talk. We were able to resolve our issues, and it created more unity in the end and we both were able to learn from each other.
Start of PA profession in ___ by ___ at ____
1965 by Dr. Eugene Stead at Duke University Medical Center
First class was ___ ppl and made up of ___
4, U.S. Navy hospital corpsman and U.S. Army combat medics
In 1971, Congress authorized the training of ___ PAs
400 Army PAs
1. Describe a situation where you were conflicted on what action to take or how to remedy a problem. What happened? What did you do or not do? Did you rectify this situation? What did you learn?
A few years ago, I worked under an authoritarian supervisor. I noticed that 2 hours of work were missing. I tried understanding what happened, she lost her temper and called a meeting in the lab where she stated that she is making lunch break mandatory and she cut my time as an example to my coworkers because I didn't take 4 breaks that week. No prior warning. I was upset, yet feared losing my job so I didn't talk to HR or her superior. A year later she was getting evaluated and I brought this topic not disclosing that it happened to me and it turned out it was illegal to enforce mandatory breaks to employees as it was not stated in the company's policy. I learned to trust my instincts and the importance of stepping out of my comfort zone and talk about things that bother me and others.
How many hours a week do you plan on studying?
As many hours as it takes me to learn the material. The number of hours will vary depending on didactic vs clinical phases, and the courseload. I will not be working while in PA school so I plan to study as many hours as it takes me to master the material!
In 1961 ___ brought of the need for PAs to the ___
Charles Hudson, AMA
What legislation is there concerning PAs right now?
Currently medicare will not pay for PAs to work with hospice patients. -with alot of legislation and changes in healthcare it important that PA's are specifically mentioned and clarified in the legislation.
What is evidence-based learning?
Evidence-based medicine (EBM) is the process of systematically reviewing, appraising and using clinical research findings to aid the delivery of optimum clinical care to patients.
What will you do if you don't get in this year?
Get more PCE hours, volunteer more, and apply again and as many time as it takes.
If we have only one position left to fill why should we pick you?
I am a good fit for your program. - I have lots of HCE -I a passionate, compassionate, and very driven - I would be a great international ambassador for the school in my country of origin and the world for I plan to give back to the world. -I will go above and beyond, team player, and empathizer.
How are you today?
I am doing well. Excited to be here and honored.
So, tell us a little about yourself. In other words: Why are you here?
I am here to prove to you that I am a good fit for your PA program. My patient care experience as a dailysis research coordinator, at the blood collections, and as a PCA give me a wide berth of knowledge into the medical field. I have fullfilled all the requirements for your program and have the test scores as well. I have shadowed a PA from your program to confirm that the profession is for me.
You have had several jobs in the past; how do we know you will finish the program if we accept you?
I am not a quitter. I had face so many adversities in my life and I have never given up. If offered a chance to reach my dream, I will fight for it until the end. you can also see from my resume that I tend to stick around for a good while. I love learning as much as I can before leaving.
How do you feel about taking call or working 60 or more hours per week as a second-year student?
I am prepared to do whatever it takes to make my dream of becoming a PA a reality. b. I have heard stories and read blogs of PA students and understand how intense and the fast paced both the didactic and clinical phase is.
WHAT are your goals as a PA?
I believe in short-, medium-, and long-term goals. Short-term goal would be to attend a strong PA program, graduate, and be able to pass my boards. Then I would like to work on a team and gain as much generalized knowledge as possible (preferably in primary care). Long-term goals will depend on my experiences along the way. I will look for opps that will continue to be challenging and where I can make a significant contribution in the health-care profession (again, preferably in primary care and underserved communities).
How many tests and quizzes do you expect to take a week and what can you handle?
I expect there will be a few quizzes every week and an exam or two. I feel I can handle as many exams that are given to me. I have confidence that the schools curriculum will be adequate enough to give me the material I need and I have the study habits that it takes, so I feel like I can handle any number of quizzes or exams given.
Unique Selling Point (USP)
I have 4 years of hands-on medical and patient care experience, excellent communication and interpersonal skills, I am able to handle stress, and I have passion and a thorough understanding of the PA profession through research and shadowing. I know my undergrad grades can be of concern to you, but throughout my post-bacc courses there has been dramatic improvement and my GRE score demonstrate my ability to handle a rigorous didactic program. I also have the ability to be a team player (as a PCA I've learned the importance of this) and lead, depending on the circumstances. Invest in me, and you can rest assured that you have made the right decision.
1. Describe a situation where you were involved in or witness to an act where an individual or group was being treated unfairly or discriminated against. What happened? How did you respond or not respond? Do you wish you would have responded differently? What did you learn from this experience?
I remember being in a study group of 5 in college and hearing one of my classmates criticizing a black girl. She talked about how the black girl doesn't look smart and how her hair looked funny. As she started that criticism, the other people in our group started laughing, so I immediately decided to put an end to it. I gave them a quick lecture on prejudices and what stereotype does to people. I told them it is not fair to judge people based on their appearance. I am glad that I stood up for her because I have been a victim of prejudice and discrimination. I learned the importance of standing for others and what is right, and the need to teach others the importance of treating others regardless of ones' social status
How do you usually deal with stress?
I try to prevent it by prioritizing, stay organized, and using my visual calendar. its a big calendar board that I fill up manually with upcoming tasks for the whole month. When all that fails I just take things one at the time and also exercise, try cooking something new and going on walks.
Tell me what your typical day looks like.
I wake up around 7:30am. Make breakfast for my husband and I do some light workout from youtube and Prepare lunch. do homework and go to campus for labs on Monday or zoom lectures on Wednesday and Thursday. then Prepare dinner an workout I've been trying to get back to my prequarantine body shape.
So, why do you want to become a PA?
I want to be a PA because, while I love the job I have now as a PCA, I want to increase my scope of practice and I want to be more involved with my patients. Although I highly respect nurses and the work they do ( I observe this first-hand since I work with them everyday), I want to be involved in the more diagnostic aspect of medicine. I know being a PA rather than a doctor can increase that scope of practice sooner, with less debt, as well as incorporating some things that are of interest to me like the science behind medicine (medical model) and the team based approach that I'm used to now as a PCA working so closely with nurses. I'm also drawn to the values behind the profession like making healthcare more patient centered with team medicine, the importance of preventative services, educating patients on health issues and increasing accessibility where it is needed like in medically underserved areas. Becuase I want to increase my scope in medicine. As I have matured and experienced more while working in various jobs in healthcare, I know for certain that medicine is for me. I have observed and interviewed individuals in several healthcare fields--physicians, nurses, NPs, and PAs--and found that I am most drawn to the PA profession for many reasons. First, I like the collaborative aspect of being a PA and working in a health-care team. Yet, I also like the autonomy the PA profession would provide me. I am impressed by the number of specialties available to PAs. Finally, I have a good deal of respect for the profession and was very impressed by the PAs I shadowed and have spoken with.
Describe a community in which you have participated, are a member, and/or have made contributions. How long have you been involved with this group, and why this community? How did you serve and/or contribute? How has your involvement helped make this community better?
I was a part of the transfer student community at Baylor University. Going from community college to University was a difficult transition for me and so I made sure I joined the student leadership group to be able to help future transfer students in the transition process. I was involved in the group for 2 years and helped other students in their transfer process. I was a student mentor where I encouraged and supported the new students by building a sense of belonging. I shared with them about my experiences within the institution, benefits, and challenges, to help them adapt and feel welcomed within the institution. This helped in making these individuals adapt easily within the system and thus making them live better lives.
Describe a situation where you have significantly influenced others, helped resolve a dispute, or contributed to a group's goals. What was your role? What responsibilities did you assume? Did you encounter any obstacles? If so, how did you overcome them? What did you learn? What would you do differently?
I was elected as a Service Chair in my transfer leadership program at Baylor University. I had to plan community service events on campus and in the Waco area. I had to collaborate with volunteer coordinators at different non-profit organizations to ensure the program was successful. One of the major obstacles that I had was time conflicts for the members, staff, and volunteers were available at different times. We had to come up with a plan that would favor most of the members. We also did not have sufficient funds and we had to carpool and asked for favors from other individuals. Understaffing was another issue and we overcame it by ensuring we help each other as much as we could. I learned to always do my best with the available option and the importance of teamwork.
Are you familiar with any national or state regulations for PAs?
PAs are regulated on two different levels: the state level and the national level. As the state level, PAs need to be licenesed in their state, as laws vary somewhat depending on the state you are practicing in. All state laws require the PA to work under superivision of a physician, although the physicain need not be onsite at the same location as the PA. At the national level the PA must be certified to practice. In order for this to happen, PAs must first graduate from an accredited PA program. Once they complete this program, they then must pass the PANCE (Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam) which is administered by the NCCPA (National Comission on Certification of Physician Assistants). After this certification, a PA must MAINTAIN their certification by completing 100 hours of continuing medical education (CMEs) every 2 years. Also they must complete a recertification exam every 10 years. Certification- PA-s to PA-C by passing PANCE through NCCPA (national level). Registration-National level. Licensure- National Level. In order to practice you MUST: 1. Graduate from an accredited PA Program 2. Pass PANCE 3. CME renewal requirements WIth all 3, you can be licensed to practice in CA.
What is the difference between a PA and a NP?
In a clinical setting, most are not able to tell the difference between a PA and a NP because they are very similar in terms of job duties, however, there are differences in how they get there. An NP needs to be an RN first. Once they complete their RN and practice for a bit, they can go on to apply for their masters or doctorate program for Nurse Practitioner. In contrast, most PA programs require a bachelors in any subject, prior health care experience in a variety of healthcare settings (i.e. EMT, CNA, RT) and then you get your masters as a Physician Assistant. Furthermore, NPs are trained in the nursing model vs PAs which are trained in the medical model. The medical model is a disease model that is filled with pathology, clinical medicine, pharmacology, pathophys, and treatment. It focuses on the anatomical and physiological and biochemical malfxn as the cause of a disease. They are "disease-oriented." This model treats humans as complex systems of anatomical parts and physiological systems. It is more of an evidence-based approach. PAs are trained in this model and are trained to care for pts along theri entire lifespan. In contrast, the nursing model focuses on a patient's mental, emotional, and physical needs. This model accounts for the whole patient, not just the disease or the condition of the patient. It's a more systemic approach. The Nursing model consists of 5 parts: 1) activities of living, 2) dependence-independence continuum, 3) patient's life span, 4) factors influencing activities of living, 5) individuality in living. Another difference is that in some states, NPs can practice independently without the supervision of a physician, whereas PAs always practice under a supervising physician. Lastly, PAs are generalists whereas NPs can be either generalists or specialists. In certain states, if NP wants to perform NP duties within a specialty, then they must obtain a national certification within that specialty to perform. A PA however is more of a generalist, and can usually switch bw specialties with more realtive ease. However, there are residency programs available for PAs in more specialized areas such as cardiothoracic surgery, oncology, etc.
Describe someone or something that provides a strong influence in your life. How long has this influence been present in your life? How has this influence guided your actions, decisions?
My father has a strong influence in my life. He had to stop school and work at an early age. He started working right after high school as a police officer and not only did he serve his community diligently but also his family. Even though he did not have much at the time, he sacrificed his comfort to make sure that all his family members had food on their table and helped others in need. He took under his wings more than 15 kids, some of whom lived with us at our home. He paid their school fees and fed them. He always said to me that as humans we are supposed to be helpful to each other. He is the most selfless and altruistic person and I desire to emulate him in my life.
Please explain your grades from undergrad?
My grades do not accurately reflect my intellectual capabilities. I found myself trapped in the middle of different battles and didn't quite realize how much of an impact the GPA could have on my future plans. Coming from an another country with very different methods of accessing knowledge. Also the transition from the small town community college to a big university didn't really go as smoothly as I wanted. It was my first time being away from home and not being surrounded by my family was driving me towards a depression. To overcome my depression, fight my homesickness and balance my loneliness, I got involved in all the pre-med activities and club that I looked at as the closest to a family i can get. That took a toll on my GPA. I had my worst GPA on my first semester at baylor. I finally realized that I had to make a huge decision and shift my priorities. Going forward, I started prioritizing my classwork and became better at time managing.
Tell us about yourself.
My name is wassa, I am originally from Burkina Faso. I've moved to the US 8 years ago with my sister. I've obtained an undergrad degree in Biochemistry from BAYLOR U. And I'm currently a postbacc student at UNO. I'm a wife, a daughter, a sister who is passionately planning her life in a way to support my family while serving others as a medical care provider.
What makes you stand out from the person sitting next to you this morning?
My personality and life experience. I pride myself on my kindness and care for others. Not only that but many of my friends, family, teachers, and coworkers would attest that I am a fast learner and I have a really great work ethic. I have the ability to block out distractions and concentrate on the matter at hand. It is a satisfaction to see work done properly in a timely manner.
1. Describe an accomplishment that made you proud. What obstacles did you encounter in your pursuit of this achievement? How did you overcome them? What did you learn?
One accomplishment that made me proud was to graduate from college. As a first-generation college student and immigrant, it was quite challenging and required more commitment and hard work to achieve it. I had to overcome several obstacles such as learning and understanding English and financial problems. My first language is French. It took a lot of hard work and dedication to learn college-level English in less than a year. Additionally, I had to join classes as soon as possible to be able to graduate at a specified time. I also had to work at the same time to meet education expenses. Throughout this process, I have grown to learn the importance of being organized. I learned that pain is temporary and hard work always pays off.
Describe a non-academic interest where you have learned a skill or gained new knowledge. How long have you been involved in this special interest? What knowledge have you developed? How has it expanded your ability to try new things or think differently?
One of my favorite hobbies is cooking. I have been doing it for about eighteen years now. When I was growing up, I enjoyed watching my mother make my favorite dishes and I asked her to teach me. Cooking brings me happiness and satisfaction. It allows me to explore my creativity, playing with colors, textures, and presentations. I love many cuisines and this has made me explore and try different recipes from different cultures across the world. I read recipe books and tutorials on how to prepare different types of food. My food experiment has helped me build a stronger friendship with people from diverse backgrounds whom we share different experiences. Food is a great unifier of culture, and I plan to keep learning more for through this I will be able to learn and appreciate other people.
1. Describe a personal goal that you have completed. How did this goal originate? What was your timeline to complete this goal? What efforts did you set to achieve this goal? Did your goal change over time? What did you learn about yourself in completing this goal? Did this impact or change who you are?
One of my goals after graduating from college was to be able to support myself financially. I did not want to be a burden to anybody. I decided to find a job that pays enough for me to afford my expenses and save a little. I also wanted to help and support my family. In my process of financial literacy, I consulted a financial advisor on how to manage my earnings and meet my expenses especially education. I set up a bank account to enable me to budget and make sure I saved more than I spent every month. I planned my expenses leaving some wiggle room for unexpected events. During this process, I learned that I am very responsible and good at managing my money. It definitively boosted my confidence knowing I could take care of myself and others.
