LIFE AS AN ORTHO PA!

What's up y'all!?! Do you every wonder what PAs in ortho REALLY do? Tune in to see what my day generally consists of, the type of clinic I'm in, and the kinds of patients I see.
Please don't forget to LIKE and SUBSCRIBE to my channel 👍
Find me on IG! @daywithapa

[@AK_Jesus]

I’m knocking out my undergrad right now. Ortho is where I wanna be as a PA. Thanks for sharing man! Keep it up!

[@DaywithaPA]

That’s great! Ortho is the bomb!

[@misstinanicole2188]

Same!! Im so glad @daywithapa shares more about ortho pa because I haven’t found anyone who does it!

[@samanthasafaya6872]

I’m in pa school and ortho is the specialty I’m interested in! This was great. Thank you

[@DaywithaPA]

I love ortho! Great choice!

[@user-yr9kf2me7p]

my older brother (who’s currently a senior in hs) wants to be an orthopedic PA, so this is helpful! thanks!

[@finleyhartley8163]

I just started shadowing a new pediatric ortho PA! I'm really enjoying it and will hopefully get to shadow an ACL surgery soon.

[@DaywithaPA]

That’s great! Seeing how an acl graft is prepared is pretty cool!

[@navymed3]

That sounds like a great job, man. Thanks for sharing, it's really good motivation right now during finals week as a PA-S1!

[@DaywithaPA]

You’re welcome! Good luck on finals!

[@arimalagon9016]

omg this is exactly what i’m going for, huge inspiration

[@DaywithaPA]

You can do it 💪 ortho is so much fun!

[@wilwash1137]

Thanks for the videos! I was thinking about going into PA school and wasn’t sure which area to specialize in. Ortho sounds fun since I’m currently working in a physical rehabilitation hospital as an aide. Keep up the good work man!

[@claudialamberts398]

Really amazing video! I wasn’t sure if all PAs would be on call and stuff like that but it’s nice to know that their are jobs out their for PAs that allow you to have weekends and holidays off!

[@IkGg_g]

Ur videos always motivate me to be honest i really appreciate watching ur videos can’t wait to be AP ortho Insha allah, tho am in HS yet but one day am hoping to work with ya !!🥰

[@DaywithaPA]

That’s great! Thanks for watching. Work hard and you can have whatever you put your mind to 💪

[@andreaomalley3901]

Thank you for sharing!! You basically have my dream job coming out of PA school, so I love hearing about the ortho life from the perspective of a new working PA-C. If you could it would be great if you could bring your camera into the office and almost do a PA shadowing vlog!

[@DaywithaPA]

That'd be awesome, but I feel like it'd be too difficult with HIPAA. It's a very busy clinic!

[@e40shauty]

What's going on bro, you absolutely Rock! I just got accepted into my PA program and I start June 2022 and my biggest interest is to go into Ortho surgery or rehab medicine but I am petrified to start the

[@locumjobsonline]

Great content! Thanks for sharing about your life!

[@Maury2423]

This is really cool, congratulations on graduating and getting into the specialty that you wanted. I’m currently a physical therapist assistant, working primarily in the outpatient ortho setting, but I’m working towards getting into PA school and becoming an ortho PA. Do you think my experience, will be about 5 years experience, that I’ll have working as a physical therapist assistant help me in school and in the field?

[@DaywithaPA]

Yes, absolutely. Esp since you worked in ortho, you have a great understanding of the therapy side of orthopedics and what it means when a patient "goes to therapy". You'll be able to really educate them on what they can expect from PT. Be prepared to answer the question of why you didn't go to PT school when it comes to PA school interviews!

[@tayloranderson8089]

Killing it! 🤞I’ll be a PA-C in a week and joining the IL PA game! You guys will have to come to chi at some point and we can all meet up!

[@DaywithaPA]

For sure!! I have a lot of fam up there!

[@cholkymilkmirage4984]

I just finished my associates in undergrad and got to ASU. Got a rude awakening for physical therapy. Its not worth it to me personally with how much the salary is, with the cost of school, plus the lack of ascension in salary. Pretty sure PA’s make more than a PT. And I’m looking at the specialties and seeing that there is something to do with the joints, tendons, and ligaments in ortho. Think this might be the route or rad tech.

[@leslieio1753]

Hello! I know this comment is old but I am getting an associates in undergrad as well going to ASU and was also deciding physical therapy but decided not to. If your still in school is it with it??

[@cholkymilkmirage4984]

@@leslieio1753 hey yea im still in school doing my undergrad and still got a ways to go to finish. I am gonna start learning how to program and code. But also gonna be pursuing PA school if I can. Its just a bitch to get into tho considering what they want for you in terms of transcripts. Also the pre requisites for PA school is practically the same lol.

[@yahatz]

Thank you for sharing!

[@aloyceayubu2887]

going to be second year pa student soon. I like ortho as well. Are you still in ortho?

[@drumplaya83]

I have a question. I am strongly interested in orthopaedics but I feel that PA would be much more conducive to my lifestyle in terms of allowing me time with family, hobbies, writing, and music. Do you think PA would be a good option if I really enjoy working with patients, biomechanics? Do you ever have any worries about working under a physician or run into any feelings about wanting to be the ultimate decider? I think PA is such a good profession but I have friends/family that are a little less educated about it and think I should do DO, DPm or MD.

[@iceyjf127]

Currently a radiology tech (mainly work in ER and OR) and going back to school for orthopedic PA. Thanks for the day in life and u think my background will help me excel?

[@DaywithaPA]

100%

[@Yupthereitism]

I work as a ortho pa and I hate it. Literally hate it. Been on call 21 out of the last 28 days. It’s literally hell

[@dianasalgado3226]

I love your videos! They are super helpful! I was wondering though, since you didn’t major in biology, did you still have to take an Organic Chemistry course? And if so, how did O Chem go? Thank you for making these videos!

[@DaywithaPA]

Thanks!! Yes. O chem was a prereq for PA school. Honestly, I enjoyed o chem more than gen chem. Gen chem was math heavy, and I preferred the “puzzles” you had to solve in o chem! I got a B in o chem I and an A in o chem II. Absolutely could not solve a single mechanism now if you asked me 😂😭

[@dianasalgado3226]

Oh ok. I’ve been hearing from many that O Chem is quite the struggle and it’s making me nervous as that class is coming up next year for me. Was there a class that you struggled with in particular during undergrad?

[@johnreagan6733]

Hey I’ve been following your channel for a while now and have really appreciated all the content you share. I live in St. Louis and am a paramedic, working towards PA school. Would you be willing to meet to talk about the PA path and maybe allow me to shadow you?

[@DaywithaPA]

Hey! I’m about 90 mins away from St. Louis, and I’m so new in our clinic that I’d like to get more experience under my belt before I start taking any students! You can always DM me on IG and I’d be glad to answer any questions!

[@mayalane8050]

I’m a high school student and am deciding between MD/PA (I just watched your video on how you decided and it helped a lot!) and am super interested in orthopedics! How hard was it to transition from shadowing to taking on your own patients?

[@DaywithaPA]

It wasn’t too bad! It really helped that I did two rotations at this clinic and I was able to “see my own patients” which basically meant I’d go and evaluate someone, then the PA would talk to them after me, and ask me what I thought, etc.

[@Arminsaf2]

You should also consider DO. They are much more knowledgeable and open minded woth musculoskeletal system

[@alimithanipa-c6059]

Great vid!

[@BlairPrince]

I always thought ortho was a specialty more concentrated in city centers- but it sounds like there’s a demand for ortho providers in rural areas too?

[@dannydimes10]

what undergrad degree do you recommend for an orthopedic pa? i was thinking Kinesiology or biology.

[@Naturellebooks]

Do you have any resources you like using specific to ortho

[@teenrandomgamer1785]

So, I want to be an ortho tech just to wrap casts, but for some reason a lot of ortho clinics don’t even have that position. So who is wrapping them then? I’m getting my bachelors in nursing but I’m not sure where to go from there.

[@oxoxpinkieoxox]

Hi there! I love your videos but my question is did you know anyone that was squeamish to blood/needles that became successful PAs? i love the health care field and super interested in PA but i’m nervous I can’t do it because I sometimes faint when I get needles. Do you have any tips on that?

[@manny._.balleryrg952]

I'm thinking about becoming an Ortho PA. Im kinda scared of the whole surgery idea. If I'm an Ortho PA, must I assist in surgeries?

[@nursechriswright528]

Does the PA's and NP in your facility have the same job requirements?

[@arielmikhailov4534]

Are there any NP or RNFAs that work in your operating room?

[@sluggocleaves]

How much do you assist in surgery? Do you get to do anything hands on other than suture?

[@DaywithaPA]

Depends on the case. Yes, as a first assist, you’re literally your surgeons right hand man. Retracting tissues, suctioning blood/fluids, etc. You get your hands dirty 👍

[@ACL7211]

What would the hours be like if you worked as an ortho PA at a hospital?

[@DaywithaPA]

Not entirely sure tbh. Could be 4 10s but you’re likely to be on call. I’ve seen 7 on, 7 off. It’s a pretty common schedule for in patient providers.

[@nicoleschultz4338]

Would you recommend doing both elective rotations in ortho (at the same clinic even?) if you could and wanted to be working in ortho after grad? I’m in didactic year and we can choose two electives and I was thinking of doing this to better secure a potential job offer in ortho...

[@DaywithaPA]

The two rotations I did at my clinic in the spring helped immensely when it started again in October. If you think you have a chance at getting hired, I’d try for 2 rotations at said clinic. If not, I’d still recommend 2 rotations in ortho. There’s just a ton to learn in ortho that’s never taught in PA school. The thing that sucks about ortho is that how your practice is dependent upon the clinic you’re in. You’re going to treat your patients how your surgeons do. Everyone has a slightly different take on how long a patient should be managed conservatively before requiring surgery (think knee arthritis, for example). This may be drastically different from clinic to clinic and you’re not going to know until you just start, but the bigger the foundation you have is, the better.

[@nicoleschultz4338]

Thank you for the response and advice! You have mentioned some of the same “obstacles” that have been talked about regarding specializing in ortho in school thus far so I appreciate hearing your take on things! Best of luck with the new job and congrats on the baby!

[@adriano1309]

This may seem like a broad question, but how could a PA like you for example run their own business? I really aspire to become a PA in the future but at the same time, I would like to run a business on the side to be in control. If you can run a business, how stressful would you think it would? Thank you

[@DaywithaPA]

As in run their own business in healthcare? Like own their own clinic? It’d be extremely difficult. Fewer and fewer MDs own their own practices due to so many regulations and insurance making it difficult to.

[@harold9891]

Do you find yourself using EVERYTHING you’ve learned in pa school or do you utilize mostly certain things you’ve learned

[@DaywithaPA]

No, absolutely not. Tbh, it kind of sucks when you go into a specialty like ortho because 1) you forget so much because you never use it and 2) you have to learn so much you were never taught to begin with

[@harold9891]

Day with a PA wow, that’s what I figured you learn each day as you go. I wanted to work in the emergency room just so I see a little bit of everything before going into something really specific, maybe dermatology. Not sure yet.

[@DaywithaPA]

That’s the beauty of being a PA!

[@ed_styles4218]

so basically studying to be a PA has great job security? will i most likely get a job right away?

[@DaywithaPA]

Yes, PAs are in high demand!

[@rektscope8860]

what is the earning potential of PAs in the east coast do you think?

[@DaywithaPA]

Depends on the specialty. CT surgery or other surgical subspecialties, ortho, derm... >150k

[@rektscope8860]

@@DaywithaPA but aren't they like on call. Im wondering about fields that are not allways on call. O am myself trying to decide between MD and PA and shadowing them makes me just admire them both so I can't decide tbh

[@DaywithaPA]

Depends on the position! I know of PAs in ortho making >150 taking no call, no weekends, M-F. The jobs are out there

[@Mac-tz4wn]

How involved in surgery are you ? How much can you do ?

[@DaywithaPA]

It depends on the surgery and the surgeon, honestly. When I’m assisting on shoulder scopes, I’m using a mallet to secure suture anchors, helping pass suture through the joint, drilling, etc. and of course, closing and applying the dressing. Some surgeries are more so just retracting with instruments and using suction within a joint cavity to keep the area free of blood or other tissue fluids. Hope this helps!

[@sarahkatherine6075]

Do you have to get a job in the same state you went to PA school in? or can you go to any state?

[@DaywithaPA]

Nope. Once you pass your boards, you’re nationally certified. You do have to become licensed in the individual state you wish to work in, but that’s just a matter of paperwork and paying a few hundred $$

[@sarahkatherine6075]

@@DaywithaPA Thank you so much for responding! I am graduating in May with a degree in Microbiology but I don't have any medical hours so I think I'm going to take a gap year and be a medical assistant for a year and then apply. Your videos are really helpful!

[@DaywithaPA]

Thank you! That’s a great idea! Best of luck!

[@Roger-uc9hs]

Did you have any jobs during undergrad and PA school?

[@DaywithaPA]

Yes, CNA in undergrad to get my pt care hours. In PA school you cannot hold a job and it’s actually highly discouraged due to the rigor of the program

[@Roger-uc9hs]

Day with a PA Did you do more school to become a cna ?

[@DaywithaPA]

It was a certificate program at a local comm college which took a few months to get, that’s all!

[@ohStyyy]

ortho bros

[@lakedina7909]

What does an orthopedic PA do

[@DaywithaPA]

Watch and find out 👍

[@CoolsMcghee]

Day with a PA 😂

[@adirayasharahla984]

Can I shadow you?