So you landed in-person PA shadowing?? AMAZING! Post-COVID, this is huge! 

PA shadowing exposes you to what your future as a PA may look like, helps you understand the healthcare setting, the role PAs play in medicine, how PAs work as part of a healthcare team, and the pros, cons and nuances that come with being a PA. 

You also have an incredible opportunity to observe actual medicine – patient complaints and symptoms, the labs and workup that goes along with it, treatment plans, procedures and patient education. 

Needless to say, PA shadowing gives you a competitive edge to your application and demonstrates to PA schools that you know what the PA career is about and you know what you are getting yourself into. 

But there is a certain etiquette you MUST demonstrate when you shadow so that you make a great impression.

Here are some tips to help you shine on your PA shadowing days:

• Dress professional. Your attire will vary depending on the clinical setting. For example, if you are shadowing in the OR, you will likely be given scrubs to wear on your shadowing day when you arrive. If you are in a outpatient setting, you may wear scrubs or business attire. It all depends on the clinical setting, so prior to your big day, if you aren’t sure, definitely ask what they would prefer you wear. If you are still unsure, definitely err on the professional side – slacks, blouse, flats, button down shirts…Think along the lines of business casual.

• Arrive early. Nothing will get you off to a worse start than arriving late. It’s unprofessional and disrespectful to the clinic and provider who are opening up their clinic and patients to you. Shadowing is a huge opportunity. Outside of an actual emergency or a situation outside of your control, you need to show up early. It’s just good manners.

• Introduce yourself and shake hands. Professionally introduce yourself with the provider you are shadowing and the healthcare professionals you meet, as well as the patients you are introduced to. Ask the PA before seeing the first patient if they would like to introduce you or what they would prefer you do in the room. If you aren’t sure, ask. 

• Don’t interrupt the PA when they are with a patient or talking to another professional! This is so important! Remember, you are a guest to their clinic. So unless otherwise prompted, you need to be a “fly on the wall” while the PA is talking to the patient or collaborating with another provider. The provider is working and as a shadow, you must respect their working time by being a “shadow” while in patient rooms or during medical related conversations with other professionals.

• You may have questions regarding what you observe, which is great! It shows you are engaged and interested. But there is an appropriate time to ask questions. Save your questions for when you are prompted, or when you are alone with the PA in between patients and when they aren’t documenting in the chart. Let them finish the work they need to do, then during downtime, you can ask questions. If you aren’t sure, just say, “When you aren’t busy, I have a few questions about the patient with XYZ.” 

• Show gratitude – Thank patients briefly before you leave patient exam rooms, then at the end of the day, thank the PA. Later, send a thank you card via snail mail to show your appreciation for their time and the opportunity to learn from them! 

Overall, act professional! One of the cornerstones of the physician assistant profession is professionalism. And it’s KEY to putting your best foot forward and building a good rapport with the PA you are shadowing. Especially if you want that solid strong letter of recommendation! So always act with professionalism! Wear appropriate attire, arrive early, put your phone up, be polite, smile, treat every single person with respect – from the janitor to the receptionist and on.

Way to go on landing the privilege to shadow! Let your best, most professional self shine. and absorb and learn all you can on your shadowing days! 

For incredible PA shadowing, check out our PA-Cers group where we host weekly PA Shadowing Hours in tons of amazing specialties, coaching intensives to make you a stronger applicant, practical skills workshops – such as suturing and splinting – and a membership! You can add all of this to your CASPA application to immediately make your app more competitive! See you inside the PA-Cers group!