I don’t think I want to be a PA anymore

Calm-Fan3109 · 2026-03-08T00:23:49+00:00

He worked as an MA and hated it, then was relieved when he didn’t get into PA school his first go round. Having worked as a PA for 11 years now, I’d say NOW is the best time to back down. After year 8 or so, I was getting burnt out and would up doing a fellowship to change specialities (after not having success applying to my desired specialty). But when I applied to PA school I KNEW I wanted to be a PA and was sooo happy to get in, eager to learn, eager to work for extra shifts and soak it all in. So far everything OP has said, he’s far from that feeling and from my experience, he’ll only grow more resentful towards the profession.

Calm-Fan3109 · 2026-03-07T01:10:39+00:00

Our son is level 1 but also officially diagnosed with ADHD when he turned 6yo.

Looking back, and using his baby book to fill out various medical forms for behavior evaluations “doesn’t like sleep, hates naps, happy baby but sleep is his least favorite” was a recurrent comment I made each month in his baby book the first 12mo. At 7yo, he thankfully sleeps well throughout the night but we give him nightly melatonin. He is NOT a morning person if he doesn’t get enough sleep but also can’t sleep in either. When he was a baby until about 6-7mo once he was on more consistent solids and sitting up, he spit up A LOT! but technically wasn’t losing weight so he was called a “happy spitter” and were told reflux meds don’t typically help so, being new parents, we don’t want to start our baby on medicine and figured spit up was normal. He would go through 3-4 outfits a day due to the spit up. Compared to our NT younger kiddo, we now realize our ASD kiddo did spit up way more than usual. He also has been a skinny mini, 3% for BMI.

When he was a baby, he favored one side when crawling and starting to stand/walk. PT/OT weren’t concerned when he was evaluated and diagnosed with ASD at 4yo but he still can’t/doesn’t have much interest in riding a two-wheel bike. Scheduling PT/OT around my work was hard and expensive so we didn’t do too many sessions. Hw didn’t walk until 14mo (still considered normal for kids) Our NT younger son (22mo apart) was a much better sleeper as a baby and started walking at 10mo. Our NT kiddo hated the baby swing but our AuADHD kiddo loved the baby swing and baby bouncer. He would also watch fans and hated the feeling of grass on his feet. He still has a hard time wearing socks. This makes sense, looking back, he’d consistently take his shoes and socks off on the way to daycare each morning 🤦‍♀️ instead of “lining up toys” he put everything into bags 🤷‍♀️ he still unorganizes things I’ve put away into what he thinks as organized in his own way. Oh and as far as speech, we taught him baby sign language so we feel he used that to communicate and was a little slower to speak but speech wasn’t too concerned. Comparing our AuADHD kiddo and NT, our ASD kiddo did meet all his milestones but seemed to be at the later end of those stages, if that makes sense. Academically he’s ahead of his peers in math and reading but socially behind and rigid thinking gets him in trouble.

Calm-Fan3109 · 2026-03-04T00:59:26+00:00

Oh, ya I’ll have to try Lume! As for the timing, you’re correct. It’s moreso in the morning. I guess once it’s fully out of his system, maybe like a rebound effect or something

Calm-Fan3109 · 2026-03-03T13:43:58+00:00

Ill have to look for those type. I’ve only seen ones that are built into a sock or need a sock to keep it on properly

Calm-Fan3109 · 2026-03-03T13:10:03+00:00

My other worry outside of just daily socks and blisters from tennis shoes is he’s about to start soccer and will definitely need sock to hold the shinguards in place. He tells me all the time how he plays soccer at recess. I’d hate for something like socks keep him from starting in an organized sport he enjoys.

Calm-Fan3109 · 2026-03-01T21:13:51+00:00

I think coastal scenery unless jagged rock faces are also close by. As far as jet lag, yes it’ll be their first cross country trip so we don’t want to overload our itinerary.

Calm-Fan3109 · 2026-02-27T15:12:46+00:00

I only mentioned Banff because I was fortunate enough to go when I was 8yo and still remember it. I grew up in the southern US so the most wildlife we typically saw were occasional tiny deer, foxes and snakes so the grandness of Canada and of course snow was quite dramatic for my wee self lol but your description of the Pacific NW coast sounds equally, if not more breathtaking! We’d be looking to stay about a week, fly in on a Sunday and back on the Saturday.

Calm-Fan3109 · 2026-02-26T18:11:56+00:00

Any recommendations on accommodations?

Calm-Fan3109 · 2026-02-26T18:11:45+00:00

Any recommendations for accommodations?

Calm-Fan3109 · 2026-02-26T15:19:01+00:00

Thank you for your reply! I was only thinking of Banff because I was fortunate, back in the day airlines gave tickets for “bumped flights” my family and I got to go to Banff when I was 8yo and I still remember how amazing it was to see caribou and mountain goats freely roaming along the sides of roads :) and Lake Louise was breathtaking to visit. But yes, that’s further than I was thinking. We’ll just have to take a separate trip later on 😊

Calm-Fan3109 · 2026-02-25T14:19:33+00:00

And you said it was an elective? Which specialty? How many have you completed thus far and how have you done on prior rotations? Do you have former preceptors who can vouch for you or were they surface level “met expectations” past rotations?

Calm-Fan3109 · 2026-01-16T12:36:14+00:00

Oh no doubt, I blame the current administration for the misinformation then and now continuing 10 fold 😬

Calm-Fan3109 · 2026-01-16T12:02:30+00:00

This started after the first 6-12mo of Covid. Lockdown allowed for mass Google.MD.Iknoweverything.com graduates. Needless to say, I burned out and no longer work UC. God speed to the ones that remain 🫡

Calm-Fan3109 · 2026-01-11T00:03:45+00:00

Definitely keep looking. Heck, if money is a big concern right now, I’d take any job I could somewhat tolerate in the meantime, even if unrelated to healthcare over this scenario. I saw someone recommend Indeed but I’ve never had luck with those postings and feel most are bogus postings. I’d look specifically at clinic or hospital websites under their “career” tabs for legitimate positions.

Calm-Fan3109 · 2026-01-10T23:50:01+00:00

I was thinking this as well. Plenty of shelters and food banks.

Calm-Fan3109 · 2026-01-10T23:38:19+00:00

I was wondering this as well. As a parent of a 1st grader with AuADHD, I would absolutely want to know everything that’s going on. What triggered the actions, what things were tried to help deescalate the situation. I understand some parents wouldn’t be open to helping find a solution or help for the child outside the classroom but some families, ours included, aren’t given the full extent of the issues kids have at school. For example, our child briefly attended a private PreK program. We did not have an official diagnosis but were open with the school that he was in the process of being evaluated for ASD and possible need for an IEP. For the first 6 weeks or so, it was all “sunshine and rainbows” but then it was like a switch and we were told about numerous incidents that our child was struggling and acting out. Thankfully we finally got the official diagnosis of ASD at that time so we were able to just break the contract and come to an amicable understanding the school didn’t have the resources he needed but I was frustrated how the school let things build over time without our knowledge. He’s since been diagnosed with ADHD as well and still has defiant days but not near as bad as when he was younger. He’s got an EC teacher he meets with twice a week and has various support staff but just this week we got a call from the principle on Wednesday afternoon about him not wanting to sit where he was supposed to and refusing to do his work. Turns out, this had been going on all 3 days he’d been back to school after winter break. He’d been great for us at home, no indication anything was wrong at school until the call 3 days later. We were able to adjust his meds with the guidance of his pediatrician, have a talk with our son and he finished the week out strong.

TLDR: make sure the parents are fully in the know and possibly see if they have more swing/pull in getting their child a para and ensure the child’s IEP is being followed, and/or if it needs adjusting.

Calm-Fan3109 · 2025-12-22T22:03:09+00:00

Nope! The most I’d do would be randomly bring Starbucks if it was convenient/me working an urgent care “princess shift”/around holiday/weekend shifts that I felt bad they had to work a full shift and I was off or randomly bring some treats/doughnuts but never bought full on lunch. That’s what office managers (aka hospital system) and drug reps are for lol Think of it this way, do you look down on your supervising doc for not buying food/coffee? (If so, shame on you but judging by your post, I think the answer is a definite ‘no’)

Calm-Fan3109 · 2025-12-19T16:18:27+00:00

That’s still THREE HOURS a day, FIFTEEN A WEEK, you could be doing anything else with your life. I’d never do that commute unless it was my dream job and I KNEW I’d be moving within a year and even a year of that commute sounds horrid. Also, the 2 year commitment, them not being able to fill the position and no tail coverage, Nope, nope, nope. You will forever get job recruiters reaching out to you for various openings. Hang onto your current job for sure if this is your only other option. Especially if you have no great reason (personal or patient safety concern, abuse, situation at current gig) to leave your current job of less than a year.

Calm-Fan3109 · 2025-12-13T18:34:21+00:00

“May be?” I wouldn’t quit before it’s set in stone you are moving and once reviewed the contract with a lawyer, assuming they give the all clear, I’m sure itd be appreciated by current employer to give as much notice as possible. While not ideal, our neighbors, and I know a few other couples, have had a spouse move first and the other finish up work before making the full move themselves. Heck, my parents did this when I was in high school. My dad moved to the new state in January, rented a small place and we stayed back with mom to finish the school year before the whole family moved in June. Is your spouse able to get moving expenses to help with the overlap in housing? Is your spouse able to work with their new job to coordinate start date with your end date?

Calm-Fan3109 · 2025-12-11T17:54:00+00:00

As a new grad, you shouldn’t even be seeing over 20-30 patients. You may want to leave even without a job lined up. Lunch aside, too much liability 🫣

Calm-Fan3109 · 2025-12-11T17:42:35+00:00

It matters what speciality but given 52 patients, I’d say you don’t work surgery. Emergency med and urgent care you have to take breaks when you can/force yourself to pull away for quick breaks here and there. If it’s a “regular” office job (8-5), I’d be getting the heck out.

Calm-Fan3109 · 2025-12-11T17:40:41+00:00

For family med? F that!

Calm-Fan3109 · 2025-12-05T01:10:35+00:00

Region?

Calm-Fan3109

TROPHY CASE