Burnout, job satisfaction, and stress levels of PAs

OBJECTIVE:The main goal of this study was to assess burnout, job satisfaction, and stress to gain insight into the work lives of female and male PAs. METHODS:Data were obtained from the 2016 American Academy of PAs salary survey. Descriptive statistics were used to assess questions related to burnout, happiness, and stress and to compare responses by sex. RESULTS:Analysis revealed that, in general, PAs experience modest levels of burnout but are happy at work. More than half (55.6%) rated spending too many hours at work as an important contributor to stress. A higher percentage of female PAs than male PAs (32.2% versus 25.6%) have quit a job due to stress. CONCLUSIONS:Overall, PAs rate aspects of work life favorably. Further research on factors that contribute to the PA work experience may help inform interventions aimed at improving job satisfaction among healthcare professionals.