A Physician Assistant must show empathy for the patients and families
In hospital or medical settings bad news is told to the patients and their families almost daily, and for this reason, the doctors, physicians, and physician assistants must show great respect and empathy to patients and their families during troubled times. When communicating to a patient and the family that an arm was broken or that the lab tests came back positive, the person speaking to them must sound and be empathic. This is a very traumatic time for the family, and a physician assistant must respect that and communicate the terrible news with empathy in his or her voice. If the results are not communicated empathically, then the patient and the family may be offended. Plus, during this time they are looking out for a helping hand. A physician assistant should try to support them and encourage them as much as he or she can. Having a positive outlook on life will help the patient and family have hope.
A physician assistant’s ability to show empathy to a patient is something that should come naturally. To be empathetic is a personality trait, and it is a part of being respectful. Even though it is something a person will have naturally, each physician assistant must know how to use their emotions properly in the work place. While a PA must show empathy, the PA should not be sobbing in tears or be over dramatic. A level of professionalism and emotional stability should be used at the same time as empathy. A person pursuing a PA career will be taught how to maintain this balance throughout their schooling. A PA school with emphasize how to communicate with patients during checkup appointments, as well as in a hospital setting. PA programs include classes that focus on psychology, sociology, and interpersonal and intrapersonal classes in order to teach students how to appropriately give bad news to a patient and the family.
If a PA plans on pursuing his or her PA career field in a hospital setting, then he or she should specifically look for a PA program that will appropriately prepare them for giving traumatic news. It is also important for PAs taking their career in a different direction. Even when working in a pediatric center a PA would have to show empathy and care to the patient, it is all a part of health care. Almost all accredited PA schools will have classes to emotionally prepare their PA students for this, so it should not be too difficult to find a school with a strong program.
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