While PA school does an excellent job at teaching you the foundations of medical knowledge, you’ll still face a large learning curve when you transition to clinical practice. This is to be expected, so don’t let it scare you! You’ve been down a similar road before. Remember how it felt when you started to get the hang of things during clinical rotations? That feeling of growing confidence will come again with time. As a new graduate, it may take you months to a year to really start feeling self-assured as a provider, but trust me, the time will fly by.
Nevertheless, things may be a bit tricky in the meantime. But don’t worry, you’re not alone on this journey. We’re here to guide you through the days ahead!
Here’s some things you can do as a new graduate that’ll boost your confidence and get yourself on track to become an independent provider.
1. Seek out good mentorship.
Gaining confidence as a new provider is a lot easier when you have the right support.
When you’re interviewing for your first PA job, I highly encourage you to inquire about their onboarding process. You want to make sure you’re working with a team that’s invested in your learning and has a plan to provide guidance to a new graduate. Failure to acknowledge that you’ll need additional training support is a red flag during interviews. You’re looking for a place that wants to invest in your education and help you become the best provider you can be.
2. Hit the books.
If you want to hit the ground running in your new position, I recommend spending some time further educating yourself before starting. (Yup, you’ve just spent over two years studying constantly and I’m advising you to do more!) Some extra preparation is especially helpful in specialized practice areas that are minimally discussed during your PA education.
Now, this isn’t meant to be hours spent hitting the books, but a podcast or journal article here and there while you await credentialing can go a long way. Nobody expects you to come in as an expert, but building some basic knowledge will not only help you feel more confident in yourself, it’ll also help your colleagues feel more confident in you.
3. Avoid comparison.
The saying “comparison is the thief of joy” is definitely relevant here. Whether you’re comparing yourself to your experienced colleagues or a fellow new graduate, it’s not a productive mindset. Try to avoid it whenever possible.
If your friend from PA school texts you saying she’s already independently seeing patients and you’re still in a shadowing phase of your onboarding process, don’t feel bad about yourself. Remember that each speciality, practice site, and patient population is different. Each position will have different learning requirements and some will take a lot longer than others. It’s not a race and your focus should be solely on providing high-quality care to patients!
4. Know your value.
When you’re relying on others to teach you, it can be easy to feel more like a burden than a coworker. Remind yourself that you did what it takes to be where you are today. You’ve obtained your master’s degree and passed the PANCE. The team selected you as their newest employee for a reason! Whatever you need to be reminded of, words of affirmation go a long way.
While most of us PAs consider ourselves perfectionists, nobody expects you to know what you’re doing as a new hire. This is true whether you’re fresh out of school or even just switching jobs with years of experience under your belt. Your coworkers expect to teach you. You’ll quickly no longer be a burden when you’re helping them manage their schedule in a few short months!
5. Consider a fellowship.
Fellowships are great options for people who are interested in highly competitive specialities or those who just desire a little more guidance as they transition to practice. They can also be a good way to land a job at a desirable facility that otherwise may not hire new graduates.
Fellowships usually result in a decreased initial salary, but can be helpful in landing a dream job following completion. No matter what you’re looking to pursue, fellowships aren’t the only way to get there, but they can be a good opportunity to learn at an institution dedicated to teaching.
When I graduated in 2021, I pursued a critical care and hospital medicine fellowship. This lasted six months and resulted in a position afterwards. Now, I won’t lie. The fellowship was exhausting. I was working overnights and well over 40 hours per week. Like most fellowships, it was also at a reduced rate of pay. However, I’ll say I learned a ton from this experience and it definitely increased my confidence as a provider.
6. Remember you’ll always be learning.
After about a year in the fellowship, I switched my specialty to cardiothoracic surgery. Just like that, I was facing another learning curve and starting over as the new kid on the block. While my experience definitely helped a bit, the position was completely different and required me to put my learning hat back on.
The truth is, whether you’re a new graduate, an experienced provider switching PA specialties, or even staying put in your career, you’ll always have something to learn. That’s the beauty of medicine—it’s always evolving. The best providers embrace this and continue to keep themselves updated as standards of care change.
Final Thoughts
It’s normal to feel a bit overwhelmed as a new graduate PA. But you’ve gotten this far because you have everything it takes to succeed. Remember, nobody expects you to get through this without a few bumps in the road. Follow these tips and you’ll make the transition from student to provider as smoothly as possible.
