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| Face To Face With The Credentials Committee: Information for PAs and NPs Looking for Employment |
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by Robert M. Blumm, MA, RPA-C, DFAAPA - September 28, 2010
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If I could give new PAs and NPs advice about their chosen career, I would advise them that success as a PA/NP is all about preparation and confidence. Confidence comes from a strong foundation and from the affirmation of instructors, preceptors and various mentors and from their patients. As a new surgical PA, my focus was on being prepared for my next surgical encounter. I found out what type of surgery I would participate in the next morning and prepared by refreshing my memory of the pertinent anatomy, understanding the physiology of the case and preparing for potential problems. The US Army taught their personnel in this manner and produced wonderful surgical team members.
A good surgical PA/NP needs to understand how the body will react to a modification made during the procedure. One of my mentors, Dr. Cottle said it this way;” Blumm, what physiological changes are taking place in this patient because of this portion of the procedure? Preparation and sound physiologic knowledge is the key to a successful operation. Lack of preparation brings with it apprehension; it makes us question our ability, our training, and causes us to become numb with fear. Fear is like an anesthetic that creates a malfunction in our response to a situation. Whether you are approaching a credentials committee for a first time or you are changing jobs after 20 years in a practice, you should dress carefully, look assured and approach the committee with both humility and an aura of confidence.
Credential committees are made up of key physicians in hospitals, chiefs of service, our peers and an administrator. These professionals are given the responsibility of discerning if a candidate is aware of the mission of the hospital and the rules concerning its operation. They are mentors in their own profession and are not present to challenge your education and ask you to summarize the cardiology chapter in Harrison’s. They will ask you questions concerning your profession, your choice of specialty, your training and your values. They are looking for evidence that you will care for their patients both competently and with compassion. They are given the responsibility of discerning whether salary and benefits are more important than quality patient care that should be delivered without an eye on the clock and with integrity. The committee is wary of over-confidence and needs to be assured that you are aware of your limitations and that you know the proper procedure for consulting a senior member of the staff, whether that is a resident or an attending physician. A superior candidate is knowledgeable of the bylaws concerning a PA/NP in this hospital or facility as well as in the state in which they will be practicing.
Yes, it takes more than a suit of clothes and a shine on your shoes to pass the credentials committee. It takes the body language that says, “I have prepared myself with my education, I am knowledgeable of my role in the state and in the institution, and I have the training and the experience to get the job done safely.” How do you prove this? Join your national organization as well as your state and specialty organizations. Continue to prove yourself competent by attending your specialty meetings for CME as well as that of your physician supervisor. Read constantly! Be aware of the changes that are taking place in your profession by reading every journal you can get your hands on and continue treading after you secure your job. Be intelligent enough to realize that a coal that is separated from the others in a fire becomes cool. Networking and attending meetings with your peers helps to maintain the heat that demonstrates that you are aware and involved. And finally, be a participant and ask questions yourself, as this demonstrates confidence and the mind of a thinker.
Robert M. Blumm has received national recognition as a distinguished fellow of the American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA). He is the past president of the Association of Plastic Surgery Physician Assistants, and was past-president of the American Association of Surgical Physician Assistants, past president of the American College of Clinicians and NYSSPA, as well as Chairman of the Surgical Congress of the AAPA. In addition, Bob received the John Kirklin MD Award for Professional Excellence from the American Association of Surgical Physician Assistants. Along with his associate, Dr. Acker, Bob was the first recipient of the AAPA PAragon Physician-PA Partnership Award. He has been a contributing author of three textbooks, written 150 plus articles and is a sought out conference speaker throughout the United States.
The viewpoint expressed in this article is the opinion of the author and is not necessarily the viewpoint of the owners or employees at Healthcare Staffing Innovations, LLC.
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| Merry Thornton (Katonah, New York) |
on 02 Oct 2010 at 10:20 am |
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| I am proud of you, Mark! Keep up the hard work! |
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| Catherine Metzge (Pennsylvania) |
on 30 Sep 2010 at 1:50 pm |
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The NCCPA should have grandfathered in all PAs from the first 10--20 classes. We should not have to take a certifying exam every 6 years.
I graduated in 1972 from the first 4 year program and passed the first NCCPA certifying test in 1973. I am now 60 y/o and have found it difficult to take the exam on a computer with a timer as well as cover topics such as cardiology that I have not worked in. |
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