Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Random about me..

Well this was supposed to have posted about 4-5 weeks ago but just realized it did not while looking through my posts.  Oh well, better late than never. Enjoy!

Ok, so I figured I always write just about PA school so I got this off another blog I follow so you will get to know me outside of classes better! (Sorry for those who only follow to hear about PA school experiences)
reading: "Outlander" by Diana Gabalden. (yes, for avid readers like myself, there is still time to read if you wish during PA school)
eating: vanilla yogurt and granola
drinking: iced coffee :) my savior as a grad student
wearing: Blue knee length flowy skirt, white shirt
jewelry: long blue/silver earrings, 2 silver bangles, wedding & engagement rings, silver multi loop ring
craving: papa Gino's pizza (yes, it just tastes different than any other pizza)
wishing I was in: Walt Disney World :)
dreading: this exam tomorrow, I wish the weekend was not as nice so I studied more
missing: my roommates from college
glad it's: going to be 87 again today!
hoping I'll be called by: I'm not waiting for any calls...
crushing on (my dreams): Ryan Reynolds
tired of: reality shows about people's everyday lives.. Really could care less
can't get enough of: gorgeous weather and water sports
can't stand: Beets. Yes, I just hate them.
glad about: the way my life is headed and that I am going on vacation with friends in August :)
thankful I'm not: still waitressing!
fascinated by: celebrity gossip (except for the aforementioned reality "stars")
believing in: the plan that has been laid out for me


So sorry for this extra bit about me but hopefully it was a nice break from your day as it was for me. Happy Tuesday!  (as previously mentioned, this was written on a Tuesday when I originally did it :) )

Monday, May 28, 2012

Back in Full Swing

Well, back in full swing we go.....well, except for today off :)  Gotta love a Memorial Day weekend filled with nothing but sun!! This weekend consisted of studying, reading, cooking out, ice cream sundaes, relaxing with family and friends, boating, and sleeping <--all of my favorite things!

Been back to classes for two weeks now and so far so good for summer semester!   But there is a dark side to PA school that I had not really put much thought into before the first day back from break.  I walked in my normal self, excited to be back (to some extent) and ready to not only learn but catch up with my friends.  I was not expecting to see some of my fellow classmates gone.
One of my good friends in the program is no longer in our class along with two others who I did not get to know as well but still was friendly with.  It never passed through my mind that some of my classmates would no longer be continuing this journey with us and it kind of shook our framework as a united class.  We are very much a cooperative program, helping everyone through it as we go and we just never expected this.  I hope to see their faces back next year.

 Okay, next, here is a quick run down of our day to day classes of this 12 week summer semester:

Mondays:
  10-12: Pharm
  1-2:30: Patient Assessment
  3-5: Clin Med

Tuesdays:
  8-9:30: Patient Assessment
  10-12: Patient Assessment Lab

Wednesday:
  8-10: Clin Med
  10:30-12: Pathophys
  1-3: Health Care Issues
  3-5: Clin Med

Thursday:
  8-10: Pharm

Friday:
  8-10: Pathophys
  10-12: Clin Med
  1-4: Recitation Time (time for extra classes/makeups which is used pretty much every week to squish in more info as needed)

So luckily, they have a few days in our schedule that allows us to enjoy our summer as well (or at least study outside).  These past 2 weeks we have started our cardiology module, focusing mainly on hypertension, cardiovascular disease and heart failure.  This is a lot more intense since the heart can have so many things wrong with it (which then causes a domino effect it seems) but so far it is really interesting and the pharmacology makes sense.  Looking forward to this next week to see how it continues!
Also, some exciting news, next Monday (or the Monday after that depending on circumstances), I will be watch an autopsy!  I am very much looking forward to this if you can't tell already :)  The pathology professors at my school both happen to be state medical examiners and have invited us to watch an autopsy in groups of four and my group is the next to go.  So pending there is an autopsy scheduled, I should be going on Monday!   I will definitely keep you all up to date on how it goes.

But for right now, we have our first two exams of the semester starting this week.  Clin med on Wednesday and pharm on Friday.  I just finished an assignment for pharm and a bloodborne pathogens quiz for health care issues (which is required to be completed before rotations, so out of the way nice and early).  Now, off to get some sleep to be ready for the 4 day school week ahead.
Hope you all got to enjoy your Memorial Day! Let me know if you did anything fun!

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Break, Interview

     So more than half-way through break already...wow, did that go by fast!  I have spent most of my time just relaxing around the house, reading, catching up on some movies and TV shows, going to the zoo, and seeing some friends from home and undergrad.  It has been so nice to decide what I want to do each day and enjoy myself.    Although, I was on BlackBoard today (website where they post all of our grades and lectures for class) and they have already posted our schedule for next semester in clin med...looks like I should enjoy the free time while I can!  We will be learning cardiovascular, GI, and musculoskeletal diseases and treatments, as well as infectious diseases.  Looks like a lot of work but I am definitely looking forward to it :)
     Over break I also did an interview for a pre-PA student located in the Texas area.  He has a blog that includes many interviews with practicing PAs and PA students that is extremely helpful to anyone looking into the profession!  You should definitely check out his blog and my interview here! 
     I also wanted to give a shout out to "mrsmacschlep" here on blogger!  I help out with doing tours at my school for students who are interviewing for the program.  I help to answer any concerns or questions they have and show them our facilities.  I was lucky enough to meet my first reader on this past Monday's interview day!  Good luck to you mrsmacschlep and I wish you the best with this and other interviews you may have! 
    So for today over break?  Doing some reading, updating my iPod for some good study/workout music (suggestions always welcomed), and meeting up with my mom and niece for lunch!  Loving this thing called break :)   Have a wonderful rest of the week everyone!