Personally, I had health-care experience as a PTA so I knew the basics of the healthcare field, but working specifically with PAs help me realize I few things about the profession.
I shadowed a family medicine PA, an orthopedic PA, and a hand surgery PA.
Here's what I learned...
Patients like to be touched. I know, I know. It sounds weird. However, it comes down to patients feeling as if they weren't given proper care if the provider never laid a hand on them. I mean, if you went to the doctor for something, and they just talked to you the whole time, would you feel like you didn't receive quality care? I noticed instantly the difference between the PA (who did touch the patient), and the doctor (who didn't). The patient was very upset with the doctor, "is it always that useless?". The level of care was the same, the only difference was the doctor didn't do any physical exam. Always find a way to touch the patient as a provider.
Patient cooperation is crucial. Shadowing in the family medicine office I realized the importance of encouraging patient cooperation with the plan of care (POC). To support patient compliance, including the patient in their POC. Let them know what they need to do, clearly and simply. Don't think "they won't know what I'm talking about anyway", it's your job as a provider to explain that clearly to them. Use print outs, diagrams, educated caregivers, or videos if needed. Use all your tools!
The vast majority of people are very kind. I think it's a HUGE misconception pre-med students have in their minds when they think about health-care. I was the same, I was naive in highschool/PTA school and thought most patients would be mean, or judgemental. To my delightful surprise, when I started clinical as a PTA, everyone was extremely nice to me! I thought, okay, maybe it's just outpatient. Then I worked in inpatient, and everyone was just as nice. My next thought; maybe it's just in physical therapy. Again, I was wrong, at all of my shadowing experiences, the patients were extremely considerate and kind. Be respectful, and I promise you will receive it back! This goes the same way for other providers as well. DO NOT fear being judged for your skills (especially as a student/new grad), ridiculed, or anything along these lines. They will come at some point, but you will be ready, and it won't get it down because of all the amazing people you've already met.
What did you learn from your shadowing experiences?