This week, we had 1 exam and 1 quiz. I have to admit. I was feeling lazy this week. I have been having a lot of problems with my eyes for some reason. They have become very inflammed and have produced dry skin on both the upper and lower lid. My eyes have been tearing a lot the past few days and it has gotten to the point that the outer corner of my eye has started to become very raw and almost split. I was hoping I could diagnose myself this week (since we are in our derm lecture and this is looking more severe each day), but no such luck. Thankfully I am heading to the doctors tomorrow to get it checked out. But, needless to say, i have been very lazy this week and somewhat unproductive until today just based on the fact that I physically can not keep my eyes open. With that said, I still got a 87 and a 88 in both of my quizzes this week. Not bad for not doing full quality work, especially in grad school. Hoping to continue with a grade in the A to A- range next week, but I will be a very happy camper to graduate with my MPAS with a strong B+ average.
Next week, on Monday, we have our weekly Clin Med quiz/exam (Monday), an anatomy lab quiz (Thursday, weekly as well), and an anatomy exam (Friday). I also have a group assignment of 4 derm case studies due on Monday which I am happy to say was finished and submitted this past Monday. And on Thursday I have a group project/presentation in anatomy for our head module. We have to review the head anatomy, describe the condition of normal pressure hyrocephalus, and an overview of how to put in a VP (ventricular peritoneal) shunt. I can say with complete confidence that this will be a very busy weekend!
Alright, off to study my 201 slides of dermatological conditions/pathology!
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Monday, January 23, 2012
Crazy has started.
Gotta love medical humor.
You will need it when you start the rigors of PA school.
This has been an absolutely crazy past week or so. All of the studying and assignments are beginning to build up. I never understood why so many PA students created blogs and then never followed through with keeping them updated. Now I know why.
This past week I had an exam. No big deal. One and done. This coming week I have 1 exam and 1 quiz, and a group assignment due. Next week 1 quiz and 2 exams as well as a group presentation. Now I am really starting to get stressed but am working through it. Right now studying for dermatology and anatomy. For derm we need to know at least 50+ lesions and how to distinguish between different lesions and diff diagnoses and treatment, etc. Anatomy still finishing up the head and neck for our quiz on Thursday. So lots and lots to do!
Tomorrow we have our first patient assessment lecture were we actually get to go into our lab bays (which look like real pt. exam rooms) and start to do history and physicals and start pt exams. Looking forward to it!
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Bookstand
Just a quick aside while I am working on my study guide tonight.
Buy a bookstand.
Just do it.
This is my first time using it and I have one little equation for you.
Just do it.
This is my first time using it and I have one little equation for you.
Bookstand = Love.
Ok, sorry, back to work!
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Questions?
Any pre-PA questions out there that I can answer based on my experience? Feel free to ask!
First Exam Complete!
I know I said that I would not write a post again until later this week, but I can not contain myself!
We had our first clin med exam today (as mentioned in the previous post). So excited because I just got my grade posted on blackboard and I got a 96! Feeling good about how this program is starting!
Today was Wednesday, clinical medicine day again, and it went great! Well..pretty well. Our first lecture was supposed to be taugh by the same PA who taught us lab medicine last week (as this was the final part of the module) but unfortunately she did not make it because of icy roads I guess. So we had our exam first and then had a little break before our next 2 lectures. We learned of different skin cancers and how to diagnose and treat each. The doctor who taught today's lecture was actually a general surgeon in my schools town for the last 30 years, so his experience and stories today during our lecture were beyond amazing to hear. I can not wait to hear more throughout the next two years!
Off to study and write up some notes!
We had our first clin med exam today (as mentioned in the previous post). So excited because I just got my grade posted on blackboard and I got a 96! Feeling good about how this program is starting!
Today was Wednesday, clinical medicine day again, and it went great! Well..pretty well. Our first lecture was supposed to be taugh by the same PA who taught us lab medicine last week (as this was the final part of the module) but unfortunately she did not make it because of icy roads I guess. So we had our exam first and then had a little break before our next 2 lectures. We learned of different skin cancers and how to diagnose and treat each. The doctor who taught today's lecture was actually a general surgeon in my schools town for the last 30 years, so his experience and stories today during our lecture were beyond amazing to hear. I can not wait to hear more throughout the next two years!
Off to study and write up some notes!
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
PA-S!
Hi all, so I do not have a lot of time to post right now. I have my first clin med exam tomorrow morning that I have to get studying for. But first, I thought I would let you all know that today was our white coat ceremony!! So it is official, I have my white coat, school crest pin, and PA-S name badge to prove it! I am really excited to be considered a part of the PA medical community now that I have this honor of wearing a white coat. And, if I do say so myself, I look pretty good in it ;)
I took a couple of pictures, sorry for the random circles covering my school name and my full name (trying to keep this anonymous as possible). So here you are, hopefully someday all of you reading this blog will be excited to share your white coat pictures as well someday!
I took a couple of pictures, sorry for the random circles covering my school name and my full name (trying to keep this anonymous as possible). So here you are, hopefully someday all of you reading this blog will be excited to share your white coat pictures as well someday!
I'm a PA-S!
The white coat!
I am still at the point where I am beyond excited to wear this around (required to wear at every class and clinical rotation) but I can gaurentee that I will be sick of this coat in about 2 weeks probably :)
Alright, well I have to get back to studying for my clin med exam (on pathology of inflammation and lab medicine/immunology) or else I will be in trouble with myself tomorrow!
I will update you all on classes later this week!
xoxo
xoxo
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Schedule
I hit 500 blog views today! Thank you all for the support. It has been quiet in the comment section but I am glad that this site seems to be a good read for all of you out there. Let me know if the majority of you are pre-PAs, PA students, or just reading for fun! :)
So today I got my last two course syllabi and and schedules so I finally have my calendar completely filled in (pending snow days and such). So I took a picture of my calendar for each month to show you all of the scheduled exams and tests that I know of so far. Enjoy...
My clinical medicine professor decided that it would be less stressful and probably more effect to have a quiz (as she calls them, "small exams") once a week instead of 3 huge exams per semester. All of the green highlights are quizes, all the pink are exams, and the orange are assignments that are due that day. I will show you my daily schedule later...it's already crazy.
As of today and getting all of my schedules, I am officially overwhelmed with the amount of work ahead!
Tomorrow I have pathology/pathophysiology from 8:30-9:30 and then anatomy lecture from 9:30-12:00. This is the first time I am having these two classes seeing as though they are only on Thursdays and Fridays. I am so thankful I have a radiology background now, after looking over the first module, I already have a basic understanding. Let's see how long this will be helpful for now lol.
Then, after classes, I have my service learning orientation with the community program I am going to be involved in. I am anxious to see exactly what I will be helping with while doing my two hours each week! Until next time, enjoy your long weekend everyone!
xoxo
So today I got my last two course syllabi and and schedules so I finally have my calendar completely filled in (pending snow days and such). So I took a picture of my calendar for each month to show you all of the scheduled exams and tests that I know of so far. Enjoy...
My clinical medicine professor decided that it would be less stressful and probably more effect to have a quiz (as she calls them, "small exams") once a week instead of 3 huge exams per semester. All of the green highlights are quizes, all the pink are exams, and the orange are assignments that are due that day. I will show you my daily schedule later...it's already crazy.
As of today and getting all of my schedules, I am officially overwhelmed with the amount of work ahead!
Tomorrow I have pathology/pathophysiology from 8:30-9:30 and then anatomy lecture from 9:30-12:00. This is the first time I am having these two classes seeing as though they are only on Thursdays and Fridays. I am so thankful I have a radiology background now, after looking over the first module, I already have a basic understanding. Let's see how long this will be helpful for now lol.
Then, after classes, I have my service learning orientation with the community program I am going to be involved in. I am anxious to see exactly what I will be helping with while doing my two hours each week! Until next time, enjoy your long weekend everyone!
xoxo
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Clinical Medicine
Once you are in PA school, this is the name of the class that will begin to take over your life. As my professors call it, it is the "meat and potatoes" of PA school.
Today we had 6 hours of clinical medicine. This is our typical Wednesday, 4 hours of clin med in the morning, a one hour lunch break, and 2 hours of clin med in the afternoon (followed by another 2 hours class). So Wednesday is one of our longest days on campus. The first hour of class each week is our pathology class time taught by the medical examiner of our program. Today it was on inflammation. It was rather "dry" as our professor told us (no pun intended), but was very fast paced and our first real taste as to what this year would be like. Then we had lab medicine and immunology for the last 5 hours of the day. This was the most exciting topic I have covered in the past 3 days! Our professor is actually a practicing PA who graduated from my program in their first class. She has been practicing for over 12 years. She is teaching this module because she was a med lab tech before becoming a PA. We learned normal lab values, different tests to order for diagnosis of diseases, different panels, and then the immunology portion of the body. I can tell I am going to like this class :)
Tomorrow was supposed to be our white coat ceremony but unfortunately it got postponed until Tuesday due to weather conditions. So tomorrow we have no classes which is good because I have notes that I need to type up. So, busy busy I will be tonight and tomorrow! Wish me luck! My first quiz is on Wednesday on everything we learned in clin med today so I better get on those notes!
xoxo
Oh! I almost forgot, I got a 91 on my first exam in PA school (our self taught medical terminology exam we had on the first day)! I will take it :)
Today we had 6 hours of clinical medicine. This is our typical Wednesday, 4 hours of clin med in the morning, a one hour lunch break, and 2 hours of clin med in the afternoon (followed by another 2 hours class). So Wednesday is one of our longest days on campus. The first hour of class each week is our pathology class time taught by the medical examiner of our program. Today it was on inflammation. It was rather "dry" as our professor told us (no pun intended), but was very fast paced and our first real taste as to what this year would be like. Then we had lab medicine and immunology for the last 5 hours of the day. This was the most exciting topic I have covered in the past 3 days! Our professor is actually a practicing PA who graduated from my program in their first class. She has been practicing for over 12 years. She is teaching this module because she was a med lab tech before becoming a PA. We learned normal lab values, different tests to order for diagnosis of diseases, different panels, and then the immunology portion of the body. I can tell I am going to like this class :)
Tomorrow was supposed to be our white coat ceremony but unfortunately it got postponed until Tuesday due to weather conditions. So tomorrow we have no classes which is good because I have notes that I need to type up. So, busy busy I will be tonight and tomorrow! Wish me luck! My first quiz is on Wednesday on everything we learned in clin med today so I better get on those notes!
xoxo
Oh! I almost forgot, I got a 91 on my first exam in PA school (our self taught medical terminology exam we had on the first day)! I will take it :)
Monday, January 9, 2012
Day One
Day 1 of PA Classes = Complete!
So today was my first day and it went very well! I left my house earlier than I needed to just because I had never parked in the garage I will be parking in before and I wanted to make sure my garage pass worked, I had enough time to walk from the garage to my class building, and that the class was in the classroom that was listed (there has been a lot of construction going on in the building since it was just taken over by the school last year and they are just finishing converting it into a school....it is SOO nice!) But anyways, I got to class about 10 minutes early. So I will go over my classes one by one (which I am sure will be the first and last time due to the massive amount of work headed my way really soon!)
8-9: Health Care Issues
For this class we got the syllabus, went over it and the objectives of the class; then we basically just talked about PA school 101. The ins and outs of studying and what to expect and how to handle it. So basically a short review of orientation for 45 minuts..fun.
9-10: Service Learning
Service learning is giving back to our community. It is a class only done in the first semester of PA school and basically each person is assigned to a local non-profit organization or school or clinic to do a service to the community for 2 hours a week for 10 weeks. I will be doing my service learning at an organization for low income families that need health screenings and nutritional advice. My orientation for this is on Friday so I will find out more then. So in class we just talked about what is expected of us during our site visits and what to expect.
10-12: Pt. Assessment
After reviewing the syllabus we started our first lecture! We started to learn how to take a patient history by starting a patient interview and how to write a SOAP note (note that encompasses what each patient visit is about). We learned what observations go where, how to compile a SOAP note and about differential diagnoses in a note. It was a rather repeatative class but I am excited about the direction it is taking!
12-1: lunch = free pizza! yay! And we got to choose the medical equipment that we wanted that comes included in our tution! Double yay! Hello purple stethoscope tubing (although I already have an amazing Litmann Cardiology III at home!)
1-3: Pharmacology
Ouch. So basically we went over the syllabus very quickly then went right into a 2 hour lecture on pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics and about different drug receptors and characteristics. As of right now the class is mostly review from undergrad but that will change by next week as we are moving right along!
3-4: Clinical Medicine
The meat and potatoes of PA school. Learning about different diseases and pathology and idiology. Love it. Today we just went over the syllabus and took our medical terminology exam (yes, exam on the first day of classes) because we have this class on day (6 hours) on Wednesday so we will just wait untilk them to start learning about lab test and normal vs. abnormal lab test values. Should be good!
But the exam went very well. We were told to buy the med term book before school started and self study due to the exam during the first week of classes. It went great and I am anxiously awaiting the grade to be posted on blackboard. You need to get at least an 80 on this exam or you have to retake it and you will not get a grade higher than an 80 if you retake it. Luckily I know I rocked that exam :)
Until next time, I have work to get done!
So today was my first day and it went very well! I left my house earlier than I needed to just because I had never parked in the garage I will be parking in before and I wanted to make sure my garage pass worked, I had enough time to walk from the garage to my class building, and that the class was in the classroom that was listed (there has been a lot of construction going on in the building since it was just taken over by the school last year and they are just finishing converting it into a school....it is SOO nice!) But anyways, I got to class about 10 minutes early. So I will go over my classes one by one (which I am sure will be the first and last time due to the massive amount of work headed my way really soon!)
8-9: Health Care Issues
For this class we got the syllabus, went over it and the objectives of the class; then we basically just talked about PA school 101. The ins and outs of studying and what to expect and how to handle it. So basically a short review of orientation for 45 minuts..fun.
9-10: Service Learning
Service learning is giving back to our community. It is a class only done in the first semester of PA school and basically each person is assigned to a local non-profit organization or school or clinic to do a service to the community for 2 hours a week for 10 weeks. I will be doing my service learning at an organization for low income families that need health screenings and nutritional advice. My orientation for this is on Friday so I will find out more then. So in class we just talked about what is expected of us during our site visits and what to expect.
10-12: Pt. Assessment
After reviewing the syllabus we started our first lecture! We started to learn how to take a patient history by starting a patient interview and how to write a SOAP note (note that encompasses what each patient visit is about). We learned what observations go where, how to compile a SOAP note and about differential diagnoses in a note. It was a rather repeatative class but I am excited about the direction it is taking!
12-1: lunch = free pizza! yay! And we got to choose the medical equipment that we wanted that comes included in our tution! Double yay! Hello purple stethoscope tubing (although I already have an amazing Litmann Cardiology III at home!)
1-3: Pharmacology
Ouch. So basically we went over the syllabus very quickly then went right into a 2 hour lecture on pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics and about different drug receptors and characteristics. As of right now the class is mostly review from undergrad but that will change by next week as we are moving right along!
3-4: Clinical Medicine
The meat and potatoes of PA school. Learning about different diseases and pathology and idiology. Love it. Today we just went over the syllabus and took our medical terminology exam (yes, exam on the first day of classes) because we have this class on day (6 hours) on Wednesday so we will just wait untilk them to start learning about lab test and normal vs. abnormal lab test values. Should be good!
But the exam went very well. We were told to buy the med term book before school started and self study due to the exam during the first week of classes. It went great and I am anxiously awaiting the grade to be posted on blackboard. You need to get at least an 80 on this exam or you have to retake it and you will not get a grade higher than an 80 if you retake it. Luckily I know I rocked that exam :)
Until next time, I have work to get done!
Sunday, January 8, 2012
First Day of Classes in 10 hours!
Start classes in the moring! The day is 8-5 with only an hour break for lunch.
Tomorrow I have:
8-9: Health Care Issues I
9-10: Service Learning
10-12: Patient Assessment Lecture
1-3: Pharmacology
3-5: Clinical Medicine (Med. Term. Exam from 4-5!)
So off I go to do one last self practice of my notecards for my exam and then off to bed to be sure I am wide awake for a full day of classes in the morning! :-D
Here we goooo......
Tomorrow I have:
8-9: Health Care Issues I
9-10: Service Learning
10-12: Patient Assessment Lecture
1-3: Pharmacology
3-5: Clinical Medicine (Med. Term. Exam from 4-5!)
So off I go to do one last self practice of my notecards for my exam and then off to bed to be sure I am wide awake for a full day of classes in the morning! :-D
Here we goooo......
Saturday, January 7, 2012
Orientation
Wow. Orientation was yesterday and I do not even know where to begin. It was definitely one of the most exhausting days I have had in awhile.
I arrived on campus at 7:30am for check in and a buffet breakfast with the rest of my classmates and the BSN students that also had orientation yesterday. Then we had to take our student ID pictures for the Ids we have to wear at all times on campus (lkuckily I got a pretty good picture this time) and we sat down in a lecture style classroom to settle in for the day basically.
We had an intro to all of our professors and from the dean and then we went over all the policies of the program (dress code, professionalism, attendence, etc.). Then we had a discussion with some of the second year students and we got to talk candidly with them about their opinions of different professors/doctors and just basic questions about their opinion of aspects of the program. After was lunch and then we came back to talk with more services that the school offers.
It was a long day...some of the professors scared us about the workload we are about to take on, others seemed very reassuring. But the one thing I took out of this day was how wonderful my class seems to be. We are all very open to making new friends, everyone is very friendly and I already have a lot of people that I can talk to which is great. I think we are all going to share resources and study well together(I hope) and will pretty much be a good "family" for these next two years.
I already have my first medical terminology exam on Monday, our first day of classes, and a lot of lecture notes to print and look over. I am anxious for Monday and to fill you all in on how our first day of classes go!
xoxo
I arrived on campus at 7:30am for check in and a buffet breakfast with the rest of my classmates and the BSN students that also had orientation yesterday. Then we had to take our student ID pictures for the Ids we have to wear at all times on campus (lkuckily I got a pretty good picture this time) and we sat down in a lecture style classroom to settle in for the day basically.
We had an intro to all of our professors and from the dean and then we went over all the policies of the program (dress code, professionalism, attendence, etc.). Then we had a discussion with some of the second year students and we got to talk candidly with them about their opinions of different professors/doctors and just basic questions about their opinion of aspects of the program. After was lunch and then we came back to talk with more services that the school offers.
It was a long day...some of the professors scared us about the workload we are about to take on, others seemed very reassuring. But the one thing I took out of this day was how wonderful my class seems to be. We are all very open to making new friends, everyone is very friendly and I already have a lot of people that I can talk to which is great. I think we are all going to share resources and study well together(I hope) and will pretty much be a good "family" for these next two years.
I already have my first medical terminology exam on Monday, our first day of classes, and a lot of lecture notes to print and look over. I am anxious for Monday and to fill you all in on how our first day of classes go!
xoxo
Thursday, January 5, 2012
PA Adventure Starts now!
Tomorrow is finally here, orientation at school. I am so excited, nervous, anxious, and beyond thrilled for the day to finally be here!
A couple of days ago I met up with not only 3 of my upcoming classmates, but 3 other students who just finished their didactic year at my school. I am so happy to have had the oppourtunity to go to a local pub with them and get to know a few people before all 70 of us are in a room all new together. I got along very well with these 3 new students and am really glad to have had the resource of the 2nd years to answer all of our worries and questions.
So tomorrow is the day! I have to figure out what business casual attire to wear tomorrow still! Wish me luck, here I go!!! :-D
xoxo
A couple of days ago I met up with not only 3 of my upcoming classmates, but 3 other students who just finished their didactic year at my school. I am so happy to have had the oppourtunity to go to a local pub with them and get to know a few people before all 70 of us are in a room all new together. I got along very well with these 3 new students and am really glad to have had the resource of the 2nd years to answer all of our worries and questions.
So tomorrow is the day! I have to figure out what business casual attire to wear tomorrow still! Wish me luck, here I go!!! :-D
xoxo
Monday, January 2, 2012
Less than 4 days!
Happy New Year!!! 2012!!!! What are some of your resolutions?? Mine is not to procrastinate...but I suppose that it will be next to impossible to procrastinate in PA school anyways, so that works in my favor :)
So my PA class orientation is on Friday!! I can't believe how fast this came up, I feel like yesterday was Christmas. Luckily I am all moved into my new apartment and today we put away the last of the boxes and totes that were strewn across our new place. So we are very excited!
Today I also got my first e-mails from one of my future professors who also happens to be the woman I interviewed with at the school. She wrote:
"I wanted to send you a quick note welcoming you to the PA studies program. I hope
everyone enjoyed their holiday season. You are about to embark on a long but
rewarding journey. When you are tired and frustrated with studying just remember their is light
at the end of the tunnel. You will get through this year.
I am sorry I am unable to be present for orientation. I am in Bolivia setting up a clinical
rotation for the second year students. Hopefully it will be a success and something some of you
will want to experience. I can´t wait to meet you all!"
So this was very exciting as my program already has a clinical rotation site in Belize as well. It will be great to be offered the oppourtunity to experience a PA rotation in another country. So we shall see what happens next year!
Tomorrow I am meeting 2 of my classmates for the first time! I am currently friends with a woman who has just finished her didactic year at my program and she knows another student coming into the program with me as well as another girl. So we are meeting tomorrow for lunch to chat and to exchange and questions we have. I am excited to finally put a face to people I have been chatting with online on our program's facebook page. I will let you all know how it goes!
So my PA class orientation is on Friday!! I can't believe how fast this came up, I feel like yesterday was Christmas. Luckily I am all moved into my new apartment and today we put away the last of the boxes and totes that were strewn across our new place. So we are very excited!
Today I also got my first e-mails from one of my future professors who also happens to be the woman I interviewed with at the school. She wrote:
"I wanted to send you a quick note welcoming you to the PA studies program. I hope
everyone enjoyed their holiday season. You are about to embark on a long but
rewarding journey. When you are tired and frustrated with studying just remember their is light
at the end of the tunnel. You will get through this year.
I am sorry I am unable to be present for orientation. I am in Bolivia setting up a clinical
rotation for the second year students. Hopefully it will be a success and something some of you
will want to experience. I can´t wait to meet you all!"
So this was very exciting as my program already has a clinical rotation site in Belize as well. It will be great to be offered the oppourtunity to experience a PA rotation in another country. So we shall see what happens next year!
Tomorrow I am meeting 2 of my classmates for the first time! I am currently friends with a woman who has just finished her didactic year at my program and she knows another student coming into the program with me as well as another girl. So we are meeting tomorrow for lunch to chat and to exchange and questions we have. I am excited to finally put a face to people I have been chatting with online on our program's facebook page. I will let you all know how it goes!
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