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| Reinventing Yourself to Maintain Security |
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by Bob Blumm, MA, PA-C, DFAAPA - February 14, 2011
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We have all heard the expression concerning the need to reinvent ourselves. Many of us who are PAs or NPs have been involved in this process for years. I have called it a process because it is part of an evolution as clinicians cross train, involve themselves in lateral mobility or take the elevator up or down. Many years ago, I heard the quotation, "be nice to people on the way up because you will meet them on the way down." I think that I have managed to live out that concept throughout my career as regardless of the person, their rank in the university medical center, whether they were nurses, orderlies,, nursing assistants or fellow PAs and NPs not withstanding administrators and physicians, I demonstrated respect and affirmation. Some of those people became PAs and one became my boss and I slept like a baby.
What is the genesis of the situation that makes this practice so important?
Everyone who is taking the time to read this small article is involved in the process of aging. If we fail to age, then we are either out of touch with reality or we have become one of the "dearly departed." I started in this profession when I was 22 years old, and now, forty years later, I am a dinosaur or senior PA by dint of my existence on mother earth.
I’ve had a great ride throughout my career and have achieved almost all of my hopes and dreams but I am still breathing, my wife and I still have three years on a mortgage, I placed everyone in my family into either a college or graduate school or both, had vacations, a home, a pool, two cars and lots of family time and fun. I always owned my own business and because of the myriad of things that I mentioned, I forgot one small item, to have a 401 K which would have provided me with financial security. My wife became a teacher at about age forty so she will not be a high roller in the benefits department while I continue to do surgery at a decreased scale, speak at conferences, consult, do temporary per diem work at LHI for our military troops. I write articles for which I accept no payment, have contributed chapters to books and co-authored one book where I will have royalties. When I retire I will have social security and a VA stipend due to my exposure to Agent Orange in Vietnam and hope to continue to consult and maintain my speaking schedule.
The problems of aging PAs and NPs is that although we are well trained and maintain our enthusiasm, we are competing with young, ambitious, excited, motivated excellent younger peers who have a great deal to offer also. The new generation of PAs and NPs come at a lesser salary which is attractive for thrifty doctors. They can take 24 hour call whereas most of us have paid our dues and are not going to the hospital at 3 AM any longer. Younger clinicians are like soft clay that can be shaped or molded into whatever their SP wishes whereas older clinicians have developed techniques and skills but some have not kept up with changing technologies. I still work as hard as or harder than my younger colleagues but have a greater need to take off my shoes at the conclusion of a day, have a glass of wine and go to sleep before 10 PM. My concerns are that there will be cases that require my assistance, that there will be companies that can capitalize on my experience and that I remain vibrant enough to maintain excellence as a conference speaker.
The conclusion of this epistle is that the young rarely appreciate their youth and the older realize that their time is numbered. I strive to reinvent myself when speaking to technology companies, journals and government officials so that I do not lose my grip on any opportunity that presents, although I know that someday my hard work and good fortune will cease. Young clinician, appreciate your vigor and strength and learn everyday knowing that ours is a profession that requires continues excellence. Older clinicians, do not lose heart because we are on a journey, and there are new opportunities around each corner until that time when we are satisfied to put our stethoscopes in a box for our children or grandchildren.
Life is a precious gift and one that should not be taken for granted as time flies with the speed of an eagle and our aim should be to fly to the highest heights and enjoy every day, every flight and every opportunity to be involved in the process of helping to heal mankind.
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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| Bob Blumm |
on 27 Feb 2011 at 10:22 pm |
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Thank you both so much for your comments, affirmation and honesty. we perform our duties because of our love for humankind and our knowledge that we can make a difference. Unlike physicians, we have the opportunities to utilize that word lateral in terms of other employment opportunities and we do so because unfortunately like Mr Hughes when asked "how much is enough, his reply was a little more." We need the extra income to provide for our future peaceful retirement and will probably still discover the art of helping others freely if the government will take care of our liability insurance.
Bob |
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| JRH, PA-C (OLYMPIA, WA) |
on 27 Feb 2011 at 9:39 pm |
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YOUR ARTICLE IS BOTH ENTERTAINING AND APPRECIATED- THE COMMENT OF YOUTH BEING WASTED ON THE YOUNG SO APPROPRIATE!
AFTER SPENDING 33 YEARS AS A PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT AND 43 YEARS TOTAL AS A PATIENT CARE PROVIDER--YOUR THOUGHTS RING TRUE--WE ARE OLDER- WISER-SLOWER-AND HAVE THE ABILITY TO SMELL THE DIAGNOSIS VERY QUICKLY - THE WALK- THE "LOOK"- THE HANDSHAKE--BUT LESS LIKELY TO USE "THE MACHINES" UNLESS WE HAVE TO FOR THE LAWYERS. THE YOUTH OFFERS THAT ENERGY- THAT FOR MOST OF US OLD TIMERS HAS SLOWLY BEEN DRAINED FROM US OVER THE YEARS--WITH MILITARY DUTY- CALL AND ESPECIALLY ABUSIVE PATIENTS.
THANK FOR YOUR COMMMENTS |
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| Anonymous |
on 15 Feb 2011 at 6:23 pm |
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Thanks for telling your story and for your nice words.you are in the middle and unfortunatly the reason why most PAs have additional jobs is that we cannot set aside that nest egg.. Even after a second job we manage to spend our income on things that are important to us at the moment. It's a hard world.
Bob |
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| JVL-PAC (Vancouver, WA) |
on 15 Feb 2011 at 5:39 pm |
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| Thanks for your article Robert. I'm not sure where I fit in, young or old. I've been a PA for 16 years and now 40 yo. I guess I'm somewhere in the middle of the abyss. I appreciate being able to put in a full day's work but like to go home to have dinner with my husband and kids at the end of each day as well. Current job allows that but nothing towards the nest egg or any significant fringe benefits. Regardless, I think we have a great profession and it's provided me a good compromise between family/ life/ career/contribution to society. I hope to some day accomplish a fraction of what you have done for our profession. I also hope that in my lifetime, I will see primary care become as highly regarded and rewarded like the specialties so that we can better attract more future medical professionals to this field. Thank you. :) |
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