Top PTA Characteristics

1. 1. Compassionate

1.1. Being compassionate means being kind and caring. Someone who is compassionate likes to help people.

1.2. Being in the medical field is about helping people feel better. Patients go to PT because they are hurt or in pain, and a compassionate person wants to help the patient feel better and will not belittle them for being weak.

1.3. I think I am naturally a compassionate person. To continue developing this characteristic I will try to be more willing to assist others and to be more aware of their needs.

2. 2. Active Listener

2.1. An active listener pays attention to another person when they are talking.

2.2. Having good listening skills is important because the patient knows first-hand what the injury feels like, so the PTA needs to listen to and understand a patient when they are in pain when or if the treatment is not working.

2.3. My listening skills need some improvement. Sometimes I find myself thinking of ways to respond instead of giving my full attention to who's speaking. I will continue to improve my listening skills by being more present in conversations.

3. 3. Knowledgeable

3.1. A knowledgeable PTA will be confident in his or her skills and use them effectively. If a mistake is made, a knowledgeable PTA will know the proper procedure to correct the mistake.

3.2. A PTA needs to be knowledgeable because a patient is counting on the expertise of the PTA to make them feel better. A patient could go to anyone for treatment, but they are going to PT because the professionals are trained.

3.3. As a student, I have and will continue to gain knowledge of the PTA profession. After I graduate and pass the board exam, I can continue my education by renewing my APTA membership and by reading the latest research on PTA treatment and care.

4. 4. Friendly

4.1. Being friendly means being able to engage with many different types of people. A friendly person is outgoing, generally likes to be around people, and is interested in getting to know someone on a personal level and building trust.

4.2. Being friendly is a way for a PTA to connect with patients and have open conversations about the progress they're making. Additionally, having pleasant conversations during PT will make for a more enjoyable experience for both the patient and the PTA.

4.3. I am a friendly person who is typically eager to meet new people and talk to them. Sometimes I can be a bit shy, so I can work on my friendliness by having a list of conversation starters to engage my patients in small talk as a way to get to know them.

5. 5. Focused

5.1. People go to PT for treatment, so a PTA needs to remain focused on providing treatment with an end goal in mind: healing. When working with a patient who suffered a sports-related injury, it's important for the PTA to use methods that will prepare the patient to be in good condition to get back to their pre-injury performance level.

5.2. I chose being focused as a top characteristic because it's a way of beginning with the end in mind. A patient does not want to be in PT forever, so the PTA should keep striving to get the patient closer and closer to his or her end goal with each treatment.

5.3. Sometimes I struggle with focusing because I get distracted easily. I am goal-oriented, however; so if I keep reminding myself of the end goal in mind at each step, I will be able to focus better.