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A pure science graduate who has been working for two years – John (not his real name), a lab technologist – read an article about “Best Jobs in America” from CNNMoney.com at his working place before he went out for lunch. He felt a bit uneasy when he found out that “Physical Assistant” was reviewed second of all the best jobs in America which claimed to have great pay (median salary approximately $90,900) and growth prospects (with 27% 10-year job growth).

He strongly felt that he had the great chance to earn this PA job as he has related working experience and academic qualification, and he was looking forward to seeking other opportunities rather than earning a mediocre salary – approximately $24,000 per annum.

But John still ended up working in the same lab – why?

It was because he did not take enough actions to get what he really wanted. He was not trying hard enough.

How to be a part of this amazing profession?

Knowing the route of this career

By knowing the pathway of this career, it’s like knowing which direction to take while you’re heading to a destination – You’ll stay focused on the flow/direction and create related goals gradually throughout the whole study process. For instance, like most professions, you have to pass a series of board exams that are accredited by the National Certifying Board of Physician Assistants (NCCPA).

Some people couldn’t endure too many examinations as PA’s are required to pass a nation board exam and must re-certify every 6 years by passing another board exam. If you want to become a PA, you must have high-determination and patience as these common values are normally possessed by physicians and nurses.

Don’t make any attempt of pursuing PA education if you don’t want to have any patient contact. Like any other medical professions, PA is also considered as a caring healthcare profession. A PA needs to spend more time with patients than the physicians and often get more accurate information to make a more rapid diagnosis.

Understand the competition – Take PA job application seriously

Job listing for PA is still considered small but it has created huge competition among PA job seekers as more people are seeking high salary and security. As one of the job application, you need to have a vision of becoming an outstanding employee in order to outsmart your competitors. You have to take everything seriously for your job application including:

Writing cover letter – A cover letter is must for any job application even if you send your application online. Writing resume – Have to be honest in writing your resume. Be particularly with the fonts and layouts of your resume. You can use the resume template in Microsoft Word. Your photograph – Invest some money to produce good quality photos for your job application. Start visiting the nearest photo studio at your neighborhood. Interviews – Get prepared for the hardest interview questions. You can get these questions (and answers) in advance from sites like Jobinterviewquestions.org and Jobsearch.about.com. Remember to dress nicely for your interview – You have to dress to impress your interviewers as your appearance can affect their judgment on your credibility at work. Your confidence tends to grow if you look good during your interview and you will be able establish a good rapport with your interviewers.

There are no definite shortcuts in life as you have to show enormous effort to become a physician assistant. Don’t be like John – start making appropriate planning and actions before it’s too late.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), there are more than 2.5 million practicing nurses in the country; overall, nurses make up the largest workforce in the healthcare industry. In the field of nursing, there are many different career options and types of nursing jobs to choose from. For many registered nurses, job security and level of compensation are very important considerations that affect their decision on what nursing job or career path to pursue. Because nursing can be a very taxing and demanding job, it helps to get paid a lot so that all your efforts and landau scrubs free shipping are worth it in the end. Those starting out in the nursing profession (newly graduates or less than a year of experience) will inevitably have to start at the entry-level but after a few years of experience you can set your sights to higher paying jobs and advance your nursing career.

A high-paying nursing role requires advanced education and training compared to other types of nursing roles. The top three highest paying nursing jobs (excluding management and supervisory levels) are advanced practice or clinical practice nursing.

Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)

Receiving one of the highest salaries in the nursing field, a nurse anesthetist earns an average of over $100,000 a year. To become a CRNA, you have to take further studies in addition to your nursing degree. If you are already a registered nurse, you will have to finish a graduate degree program and pass an examination to be a licensed nurse anesthetist. One of the main responsibilities of a nurse anesthetist is delivering anesthesia during surgery and works with an anesthesiologist. It is an ideal option for those who are less inclined to patient interaction (since patients will be unconscious most of the time) and are more interested in technical skills or surgery. This requires a more impersonal role in contrast to most nursing duties especially since you are unlikely to see the same patient twice in the surgical field.

Nurse Practitioner (NP)

A nurse practitioner usually works under the supervision of a licensed physician and administers mid-level patient care. NPs are usually authorized and qualified to do some minor procedures and examinations, depending on the regulation imposed by the state. Some states allow NPs to practice independently of physicians while some states legally require NPs to practice under supervision. Those who are allowed to work independently may prescribe medications and provide primary care. Salaries of NP may vary from state to state but may approach the same level as CRNAs. Unlike CRNAs, NPs care for patients directly and often build long-term relationships with patients.

Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS)

A clinical nurse specialist assists in specialized research, advocacy, education, and even management. It is an advanced practice that requires a Master’s of Science degree in Nursing and a CNS certification for the particular field of interest (i.e. oncology, psychiatry, cardiology, etc). This type of job is ideal for those leaning towards scholarly pursuits as it requires rigorous research, critical thinking, gathering of data, and other academic engagements. The average salary for CNS is $70,000-$80,000 a year but can easily approach to over $90,000 with experience.