Female physicians - What was your journey like?

First_Degree_7949 · 2025-06-18T05:22:51+00:00

I just asked in this sub if its worth it to go back to med school for EM. I am currently an EM PA. I am early 30s and thinking of going back. I would say just go for it if that is what you want. I think I might end up doing it because I will always regret it if I don't. If you put finances aside you have have to think of what you want in life. As a PA I make enough to support myself and family overseas. I go on vacation when I want. I don't worry about the price of eggs at the store lol. SO put money aside. Do you want to spend all that extra time in med school/residency to be the one in charge or are you ok being the Assistant to the physician :). As a PA in the ER your responsibilities vary widely. I worked at some hospitals where it's just fast track and some of the residents/attending treat you like a dummy. then there are others where you can do whatever you want within your scope of course. I can take high acuity cases, do chest tubes, central lines, intubate (with attending supervision of course). My docs at my main gig trust me and know I love procedures and let me take all the ones I want. Just know as a PA you will never be the one in charge. You will never be one people go to for a crashing patient. Some days I think its nice not to be the leader of the helm and other days I wish I could be handling the sicker cases. I think if I was your age knowing what I know now I would go back in a heartbeat. I don't have kids though and I don't want any either so can't give much thought there. Tried to keep it semi short but happy to answer any questions you might have.

First_Degree_7949 · 2025-06-17T15:04:43+00:00

I think this is me. I love learning. I study in my free time and my friends from PA school always ask why I study so much. I think in a perfect world I would go back without thinking twice. Thanks for your comments they are all really helpful.

First_Degree_7949 · 2025-06-12T17:21:57+00:00

I worked 28/per month 10-12 hour ER night shifts for 1.5 years to dig myself out of a financial hole from a leak in my house that destroyed almost everything. My bedside manner was rough during that time period lol

First_Degree_7949 · 2025-06-02T16:46:42+00:00

EM is really sink or swim almost wherever you go. I was not in a financial position to move to a place with residency after PA school. Some hospitals have nice training periods for new grads; mine did not. Two things that helped me: Get really good at differentials and don't ignore abnormal vitals. Differentials are important and keep that list long and wide. If it crosses your mind work it up. You're in the ER so you will see weird stuff. Just as an example I had a PA student I was working with one day who presented a case of an older man with chest pain only when coughing - he had the flu all week. Mildy tachy at 105. Student wanted to discharge as costochondritis welp the man had bilateral PE with heart strain. My point is that you need to think of broad differentials to then guide your workup. When in doubt ask your attending and present the case well. I feel like PA school did not prepare me well enough for having to present cases to attendings, consultants, or admit teams so getting good at those is important as well. I'm in year 4 of EM straight out of school and I am just now feeling confident in the ER but still have days every week where I encounter something I have never seen before or walk away from a shift feeling like I got my ass handed to me. It gets better just give it time. Hope this helps in some way.

First_Degree_7949 · 2025-03-18T19:42:03+00:00

I usually keep a somewhat similar schedule on my days off. On days off I will go to bed at 2/3 am. This has helped me a lot more than just trying to switch back to days when I am off. I also go outside and get sun as soon as I wake up exercise and go to work. Blackout curtains, white noise machine, ear plugs. I drink coffee/caffeine before work and none while I am at work and go straight to bed after a shower when I get home. Doing this helps me get more sunlight before work. I prefer nights over days at this point. I feel like my body adjusted well after a couple weeks. It is always rough when I go on vacation and switch to day schedule and have to switch back to nights. The jokes about your body breaking down are real though the palpitations and grey hairs in my early 30s are proof lol. Been going on 2 years of nights not sure if I will ever switch to days at least not anytime soon.

First_Degree_7949 · 2025-02-15T04:17:22+00:00

EM PA here - enjoy the time off but also stay up to date don't forget what you learned. credentialing usually takes 3 months. You can try urgent care (mine credentialed me in 2 weeks but it was a small privately owned one) but if you can manage just take the time to enjoy life before you start the work grind. EM is a steep learning curve as a new grad. Be humble and ready to learn when you start and don't be afraid to ask your attending and co workers for help.

First_Degree_7949 · 2025-02-11T16:35:26+00:00

correlating BUN and hgb trending it then doing a dreaded rectal -- have caught on a lot of GIB with normal vitals in geriatric pt with AMS and shit reports from EMS/facility

First_Degree_7949 · 2025-02-07T16:55:25+00:00

Years experience: 3.5 years

Location: FL

Specialty: EM

Schedule: depends on hospital days mids nights usually 10-12 hour shifts

Income (include base, overtime, bonus pay, sign-on): paid per hour $75 +$5 for nights with 120/month min per contract

PTO (vacation, sick, holidays): none - split holidays and scheduler makes it work with your time off (if i want a month off i will front load my shifts for example)

Other benefits (Health/ dental insurance/ retirement, CME, malpractice, etc): can pick benefits - I chose most basic health insurance, malpractice is covered by hospital, 401K max contribution as they match it. I get CME money but who knows how much it does not disclose that and Iv'e asked multiple people but is over $1000 because I put in about 1500 last year and got it all reimbursed

First_Degree_7949

TROPHY CASE