Hey guys,

I wanted to know how much a PA can be involved into surgery? Sure I am aware of the fact that they can´t do as much as a doc does, but I guess they do more than just hand the med swab and scalpel?!
Maybe somebody who got experience as a PA in surgery could give me some information on that.

Bye

Yes. There are definitely PAs in surgery. They practice under the licensure of the surgeon (physician), but they can sometimes do a lot of stuff under those auspices. They are not surgeons, and they are still PAs, but they work in the operating room and they do more than most surgical techs. Talk with a nearby PA program to see if they can put you in touch with a PA who works in this specialty, and s/he can tell you more specifics/limitations. Good luck.

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MS (Health Sciences) - Brigham Young University @ Provo, UT
BA (German Language & Literature) - University of Oregon @ Eugene, OR
Navy Hospital Corpsman (Fleet Marine Force) - 2nd Marine Division / 4th Marine Division

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Thank you very much for your answer

they first assist, mainly retract provide exposure, cut sutures essentially all the things to speed up the process. basically you are "assisting" the surgeon. there also comes a point where a surgeon may feel more comfortable and allow you to do more. i've been in the OR where the PA did as much as a surgical tech and once with a surgeon who had worked with that PA for a while and treated him like a resident and they shared the surgical field doing one side each.

basic question you gotta ask yourself is wether you are confortable always following someone elses lead i know me as a surgeon i want to be the one in charge

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OBGYN PGY II
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