Physician Assistant Mock Interview
Master 40 Physician Assistant interview questions covering clinical scenarios, patient care, and medical decision-making.
Question 4 of 40
What are some of the challenges of working as a physician assistant?
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Community Answers
Rachelle Enns is an interview coach and job search expert. She works with candidates to perform their best in employment, medical, and post-secondary admission interviews.
This question is similar to the interviewer asking what your weaknesses are. Because this is one of the most common interview questions, you'll want to have a few examples prepared. Consider a few examples of patients coming in with a variety of unexpected ailments, technology going wrong, or a coworker showing up late for work. Tell the interviewer how you handle these situations.
Rachelle Enns is an interview coach and job search expert. She works with candidates to perform their best in employment, medical, and post-secondary admission interviews.
"A challenge as a PA can be that we have more patients than we have coverage or availability. I've learned so much working in this fast-paced environment. My most important take away from these types of situations has been learning the importance of time management, clear documentation, and appropriate scheduling."
Rachelle Enns is an interview coach and job search expert. She works with candidates to perform their best in employment, medical, and post-secondary admission interviews.
"My biggest challenge is having to prioritize on a daily basis, in hopes of getting everything done. No two days are the same as a physician assistant, so I can use a plethora of skills, which is amazing. I have become very proficient at prioritization and delegation."
Rachelle Enns is an interview coach and job search expert. She works with candidates to perform their best in employment, medical, and post-secondary admission interviews.
"My current team is understaffed and has been for about a year now. It can be challenging because each person on the team is stretched. However, it's been a great opportunity to collaborate on key initiatives. We are making the best of the situation."
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Anonymous Answer
Any time you are working with people, there is always the challenge of communicating effectively. Whether it's with patients or co-workers, it's important to take time to ensure both parties are on the same page working in the same direction.
Patients with unexpected ailments present a unique challenge. I may have to refer them out or take extra time to contact my supervising physician.
Rachelle's Feedback
This is a very well thought out response.
Anonymous Answer
A lot of people complain that physician assistants might not get the autonomy that they may crave, or get from attending medical school. However, physician assistants get autonomy working in rural populations or areas where health care professionals are lacking.
Rachelle's Feedback
This is an understandable challenge indeed; however, you make an excellent point when it comes to the opportunities present for PAs in rural areas. Well thought out answer!
Anonymous Answer
As a PA, you are trained as a generalist provider, and possibly a given specialty if you so choose. However, as a PA, you may encounter cases that are complex and beyond what you may feel comfortable treating and diagnosing. You can collaborate with other providers and do the best you can to treat the patient. Sometimes patients may be too complicated, and you may have to refer them to another provider.
Also, in any health profession, patients maybe not wanting to deal with their health condition, and you have to do the best you can to treat, educate, and provide resources. It is challenging to figure out how to best manage and help each patient, but as a provider, you should do your best to provide individualized care to have the best outcomes for patients.
Rachelle's Feedback
These are real work challenges, indeed. You do a nice job offering up options on how to overcome situations like this.
Anonymous Answer
One challenge working as a PA that comes to mind is having to center your treatment approach depending on the patient's insurance and medical coverage. Sometimes the best treatment option is not covered and is not affordable for the patient making it frustrating as you can't provide the best quality care.
Rachelle's Feedback
This situation sounds challenging! If it were up to you, what would you do to improve this situation? As a PA, what can you do to help alleviate this challenge? These are additional thoughts you may want to consider including in your response.
Anonymous Answer
It can be challenging, especially in the last year, when every team member has been stretched. We have been for years understaffed, but we have managed to collaborate successfully and make the best of the situation.
Rachelle's Feedback
It's wonderful that you have collaborated and worked together despite the intense challenges this year has brought. Do you expect to face the same challenged in this new role? That will be an important thought to approach in your answer.
Anonymous Answer
Working as a PA could be challenging when it comes to time management, as it's a very busy and fast-paced environment.
Also, caring for a difficult patient could be challenging. I was once taking a history from a patient who was not willing to share answers with me. I talked to him, calmed him down, empathized with him, and explained to him the importance of sharing answers. As a result, the patient became very open, and I was able to take a history and examine my patient.
Stephanie's Feedback
Great response; you highlight your understanding of the challenges faced by physician assistants, and you do a great job in sharing a specific example from your work. To close out your response, I suggest adding a sentence that clearly states your confidence and comfort in handling any new challenges as they arise.
Anonymous Answer
My biggest challenge as a PA is to manage my time-management skills, scheduling, and treatment plan for high-risk patients.
As a PA I had to work on weekdays, weekends, and holidays so I had to manage my work/life balance and take frequent breaks to reduce stress.
They are important factors when we work from low to high acuity areas in medicine, so managing treatment plans effectively would be beneficial.
Marcie's Feedback
Nice! You have done a great job providing several challenges that PAs encounter. Can you give more details about each of these challenges and the steps you have taken to overcome them? For example, why is time management hard for you and what do you do to remedy this? Good job!
Anonymous Answer
I'd say my biggest challenge in working as a PA will probably be seeing patients in a timely manner while also feeling confident about the work I have done. I have excellent time management skills and plan to utilize them. I'm also capable of prioritizing and delegating tasks if need be. I believe I'll be able to adjust to seeing more patients as I get comfortable managing my own patient load.
Jaymie's Feedback
Great response!
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