In my nearly 30 years as a PA, I have had the incredible opportunity and privilege of witnessing first hand the growth and maturation of the profession. It has been an incredible ride, and we all should be proud of the road traveled and the contribution that each and every PA makes to the health and well being of their communities.
My personal PA experience has been very diverse, and it took me more than 27 years to find my “dream job,” as a surgical PA in a burn unit. I'm grateful each and every day for the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of the patients I serve.
Medicine is a special calling in and of itself, and working in burns and trauma is a rare special calling requiring much sacrifice by the physicians, PAs, and nurses who choose to practice in this area. Especially difficult are injuries that we see to the most vulnerable in our society—the children.
Since beginning my most recent career as a burn PA in January of 2009, I've learned that while it is difficult to heal the physical wounds of our many patients, it is even more difficult to heal the emotional and psychological wounds that pain and suffering inflict.
On the other hand, I never ceased to be amazed by the resilience, strength, and spirit of our patients. Especially the children. From surgery every couple of days, to daily hydrotherapy sessions, burn treatment is a very difficult road for patients at any age. This aspect of the job is very hard on the providers who daily must experience the pain and suffering patients endure on the path from disaster to a restored life. It is a long, hard journey for everyone involved, with many setbacks and pitfalls along the way.
One of the good things about my job is the bonding that occurs between and among patient, staff, and providers. Once burned, a patient is part of our family for the rest of their lives, as even moderate burns sometimes require years of therapy, both physical and psychological, treatment, reconstruction, etc. We do whatever it takes to restore a life.
The bond that forms between and among the burn team members is also strong and life long. We suffer together with our patients, knowing all too well what is in store for a new patient who has the misfortune to be severely burned and end up in our unit. It takes a special group of people to walk the halls of the burn unit every day and hold it together. It takes a team to hold each other together.
On the days that it seems too hard to handle the pain and suffering that is a daily part of life in the burn unit, I just remember Raymundo, Tanner, Cole, Trina, Madeline, Aiden, Luis, and the scores of other children who have bravely faced their worst demons, travelled the most difficult road imaginable, and come out the other end well and resumed their lives as happy children. And, I count my blessings.
Making a positive difference in people's lives is the best job in the world. JAAPA
Steve Hanson is immediate past president of the AAPA.