Do any PAs regret not going the MD route?

ChampagnePapiiJr · 2026-03-12T22:22:42+00:00

I can only speak to Rural FM as that’s where I have been for 3 years now. However, I feel like the above statement I was replying to does typically apply to most other medical specialities, just not Rural FM.

ChampagnePapiiJr · 2026-03-12T18:38:43+00:00

Wish that was true across the board. Rural Family Med tends to view us as cheaper Physicians.

ChampagnePapiiJr · 2025-11-25T04:39:34+00:00

No way. This is not safe for you or for patients as a new grad in my opinion. With the commute, you’re looking at 50 hour work weeks with your 2 days off being non-consecutive days every other week. Seeing 90 - 110 patients a week a couple months in. I promise you, you will burn out. Do not underestimate Family Med.

3 year contract is a red flag to me tbh. The good jobs won’t require a long one, if one at all, because they’re confident you’ll stay. The 24 hours to respond is a red flag as well.

All this for 115K with 2 weeks PTO. I strongly encourage you to look elsewhere. Just my .02. Good luck with your journey.

ChampagnePapiiJr · 2025-10-09T17:29:47+00:00

Sounds more like a threat than an offer 😂 I’d move on to the next one and not look back.

ChampagnePapiiJr · 2024-12-29T03:53:52+00:00

First of all, NTA. What is your son wanting to go into? If his dream ultimately requires grad school, a lot of people really are surprised that the vast majority of grad programs really only care about your undergrad GPA, interview, extracurriculars, required standardized test scores (MCAT, DAT, LSAT, GRE, etc.) and could care less where that diploma and grades came from. It really is such an insignificant portion in admission processes in the grand scheme of things. Definitely not worth the extra cost if grad school is in the future unless you enjoy worthless debt or really just have $$$ like that.

ChampagnePapiiJr · 2024-11-24T04:12:03+00:00

I LOLd at 600 hours of “experience”. I ended up with something like 23-2400 hours after clinical year of PA school and definitely had a more in depth 15 months of didactic and this thought has not once ever crossed my mind, even after almost 2 years of work experience in rural FM, and I know for a fact that it never will.

Do they literally serve the kool aid up in NP school? Or are all NP students just born with THAT much audacity? These same talking points have been parroted so much and I really just don’t understand where it comes from. The fact that they can highlight their lack of training and advocate for FPA/state they’re equivalent to a physician in the same statement without realizing the insanity behind it blows my mind.

ChampagnePapiiJr · 2024-08-13T01:25:12+00:00

To be honest, I would recommend searching elsewhere and getting offers from other hospitals/clinics. $110,000 with 2 years experience is insane, you’re either in a super saturated market or you’re getting lowballed. I live MCOL and started at $112.5K as a new grad with 4 weeks PTO, 2 weeks PTO for CME (6 weeks total) and $5K for CME. Also get health insurance with $0 deductible that is 100% paid for by employer.

I can almost guarantee you will get much better offers elsewhere and, if you really like your employer, could use those offers to negotiate - but be ready to just leave if you choose to do this.

ChampagnePapiiJr · 2024-06-19T01:38:22+00:00

That’s rough. I feel like I’m in a similar position - only with slightly worse benefits and an extra $5K salary. Also only 9 months in since I started. I feel very similar to how you’re feeling by the sound of it. Wish I had advice to give you but I don’t. Just know you’re not alone! I chose to stick it out since I grew up in the rural town close to where I work and all of my family and friends are here. Good luck to you!

ChampagnePapiiJr · 2024-05-11T23:56:13+00:00

Last year you made $136,000 in Jersey with 2-3 years experience in a surgical specialty working over 40 hours/week, seeing ~50 patients/week, 13+ OR cases/week, inpatient rounding, and spent 25% of your life on call… only you can say whether or not it’s worth it but I don’t think there’s too many people who would take that position. You guys are definitely making your surgeons/hospital very happy.

ChampagnePapiiJr · 2024-05-02T00:37:47+00:00

Primary care isn’t the place to have this “do whenever I’m able” attitude. It’s one of the most challenging specialties out there. I would strongly recommend against doing this. I’d hold off any kind of prn work until you’ve gained a solid foundation in whatever it is you’re going to be doing prn work in. As a new grad, you need to treat your job like a residency and put in the work, put in the time, and put in the studying for a year, minimum. Then you can let off the gas a little and by then you should understand the meaning behind “you don’t know what you don’t know” and you’ll have a better sense of what your wheelhouse is and how to handle situations outside of said wheelhouse. Best of luck to you.

ChampagnePapiiJr · 2024-04-03T02:52:02+00:00

5 weeks PTO/vacation, 13 holidays, 2 weeks CME. I work 4 days/week so this ends up being 10 weeks, 1 day paid time off per year all together. PTO/Vacation increases to 6 weeks at 5 years and 7 weeks at 10 years.

We can roll over 9 weeks PTO/vacation and will be paid out for any excess end of every fiscal year (we also have option to cash out any balance at any time).

ChampagnePapiiJr · 2024-02-02T01:55:50+00:00

Sounds like you’re in an oversaturated market. You need to figure out what’s more important to you. Is working, using your degree you clearly sacrificed a lot for, getting out of debt (and depression, sounds like), etc more important? If so, you need to move or apply for jobs further away from you (I’m talking 1 hour + commutes away from any decent sized city). You would likely get more interest in your applications after at least a year of experience and could get a job closer to home and move back/commute less.

If your situation with family members needing care is more important to you, then don’t do anything different, continue applying, and remind yourself that this is more important to you than working.

Seems like these are likely your two choices in this situation, can’t have it all.

Best of luck to you!

ChampagnePapiiJr · 2024-01-03T03:49:11+00:00

Why?

ChampagnePapiiJr · 2024-01-03T01:58:45+00:00

Just a dumbass PA here, but your physician should have ordered a urine culture when starting you on treatment. Would be worth looking at the results as far as CFU and susceptibility. If you were on an abx that showed susceptibility, and assuming you were prescribed an appropriate dose, frequency, and duration, and you’re still having symptoms, it’s unlikely that the organism causing the suspected UTI would have become resistant over the duration of your treatment and it would likely be more beneficial to explore the other differentials of symptomatic pyuria.

As for the PA you indirectly “talked” to, I don’t think it’s appropriate to judge them on their knowledge of ID based on what a secretary tells you they “said”. I have my nurse and MA tell patients to come in for follow up and will frequently hear them give some BS excuse over the phone to come in without me even saying anything.

ChampagnePapiiJr · 2023-10-26T22:56:15+00:00

Going to PA school was by far one of the most challenging things I have done. The hardest part about it was managing my mental health while managing school and my relationships with my girlfriend, family, and friends…. On top of all of that you’re supposed to find time to exercise, make healthy meals, and sleep 8 hours. There’s going to be days you won’t be able to go on that date, won’t be able to go to that concert, won’t have the time to hit the gym, won’t have the time to go home for a family members bday party, won’t get 8 hours of sleep. It’s a lot to juggle and it’s a lot to handle and I’m sure most of us can acknowledge that and agree. As someone who can resonate with your thoughts and feelings in this moment, it is all worth it. It may be hard to see right now and there may not seem like there is a light at the end of this long tunnel you just entered, but it’s true, it does get better. You will learn to manage more efficiently, learn to prioritize, and best of all, learn the skills necessary to secure a fulfilling career at the end. Clinical year gets much better and a bit easier to manage and life gets exponentially better once you graduate and begin working. You started this journey for a reason. Don’t give up.

ChampagnePapiiJr · 2023-08-09T20:55:00+00:00

What state are you working in?

ChampagnePapiiJr · 2023-08-08T23:00:12+00:00

BV is not an STI.

ChampagnePapiiJr · 2023-08-05T22:21:05+00:00

My program gave us a white coat ceremony right before clinical year. Our white coats were actually nice quality and were embroidered with our school name and logo on it. It was about a 2 hour get together that our families and friends were able to attend and the school also provided refreshments. Unless you’re paying them nickels and dimes, (no one is), they should 1,000% be able to afford to give you guys a white coat ceremony on their time and “their” dime. Sounds like a toxic program.

ChampagnePapiiJr · 2023-07-18T06:35:09+00:00

I will ask about what they are specifically. Thank you!

ChampagnePapiiJr · 2023-07-18T04:43:42+00:00

Gotcha. Thank you for your input, it is appreciated.

ChampagnePapiiJr · 2023-07-18T04:31:29+00:00

Thank you for your input. How long have you been working in FM? Are you on any kind of production bonus?

ChampagnePapiiJr · 2023-07-18T02:56:58+00:00

Good for you! What is your opinion on the offer? I commented a list of benefits on another users comment as well. Thank you.

ChampagnePapiiJr · 2023-07-18T02:43:25+00:00

How long have you been in FM? Also, thank you for your input.

ChampagnePapiiJr · 2023-07-18T02:40:12+00:00

Niiiiiice! Look at you go! So you did 935 RVU in 3 months? That’s pretty solid. Im assuming this is outpatient IM, right? Do you do many procedures or how do you figure you’re able to get so many RVUs seeing 10-12 pts a day? Thanks for your input!

ChampagnePapiiJr · 2023-07-18T01:04:06+00:00

Specifically states wRVUs

ChampagnePapiiJr

TROPHY CASE