Should You Consider a Physician Assistant Residency?

We’ve been accused here at ThriveAP HQ of being nurse practitioner-centric. And, well, it’s true. We do tend to talk more about NPs than PAs on the blog. As a nurse practitioner, it comes a bit more naturally. In reality, however, nurse practitioners and physician assistants alike experience very similar professional challenges. One such challenge is the learning curve faced by new graduates.

Physician assistant students receive excellent clinical training as part of their PA programs. However, there is still so much to learn! In the employment setting, physician assistants are expected to take on a lot of responsibility which is difficult right out of school. No matter your IQ or the number of hours you spend in the library, you simply can’t retain the vast level of medical knowledge necessary to work as a physician assistant in just a two or three year program. Fortunately, the concept of residencies for physician assistants is gaining traction. PA residencies are the perfect compliment to the physician assistant education. They remove some of the pressure that comes with on-the-job learning in your first year of practice.

ThriveAP+ is a residency-like program for physician assistants and nurse practitioners. The program is ThriveAP’s answer to helping facilitate physician assistants’ transition from education to practice. ThriveAP+ not only benefits PAs, but also medically underserved patients who receive care from participating providers.

A few soon-to-be PAs have reached out to us looking for more information about the program. How is ThriveAP+ structured?

ThriveAP+ Kick-Off 

To kick-off the Fall 2017 ThriveAP+ class, participants will converge on Nashville, TN for two days of training. At the kick-off conference, you will get to know fellow PAs and NPs forming supportive relationships that will benefit you throughout the program and your career. Participants will attend courses on professional and clinical development to help get the ThriveAP+ experience started off on the right foot. Course content includes topics like ‘Patient Care: It Can Be Compassionate and Efficient’ and ‘It’s All About the Knots: Suturing Skills’ and much, much more!

Weekly Didactic Webinars

Professional and clinical development will continue on an organized basis with weekly ThriveAP+ meet ups. Physician assistant and nurse practitioner participants from across the country will meet online in a virtual conference room for one to two hours. Medical experts will present on clinically relevant topics from cardiac arrhythmias to dermatologic conditions and emergencies in primary care. Professional development continues with additional virtual presentations on topics like asking for feedback, billing and coding 101, and more.

Personalized Mentoring and Coaching

Physician assistants participating in ThriveAP+ work full-time at the facility where they are matched. Facilities participating in ThriveAP+ are committed to helping PAs reach their full potential. Clinics agree to designate one or more PAs, NPs, and/or MDs to help coach and mentor the physician assistant in the clinical setting. Clinics agree to set challenging but reasonable expectations for the PA based on skill and experience.

The education and supportive practice environment provided by the program helps inexperienced PAs get their careers started out on the right foot. Graduates of programs like this often find that they have more opportunities after having completed the program than they had before doing so. Emerging as more experienced service leaders, PAs may go on to continue practicing in medically underserved areas or use their experience as a launching point for their career. In whatever capacity you continue to serve as a physician assistant, your ThriveAP+ experience provides a unique and impactful foundation.

Interested in learning more about ThriveAP+? Addend our information webinar on Monday, April 24th at 5pm CST. Sign up to attend by registering here! 

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