Just completed ACLS training this afternoon, and now I am ACLS certified! And I feel like I know absolutely NOTHING.
Perfectly normal feeling, right? Many of you who are well into PA school can attest to this, I'm sure. The more you know and learn, the more you realize just how little you do know. Today as we ran mock codes, I found myself stopping and thinking about the algorhythms (which have recently changed a bit), second guessing my choice of drug and doubting that the intervention I suggested was correct, all while the "patient" lay there dying. Talk about pressure. It didn't help that the instructor at my station was sharp as a tack and tough as nails. I always manage to get the BEST instructors who give just a little bit more education that what is called for.
Again, it's all about integration. How can I take this piece of information that I learned months ago and apply it to this new information today. It's like building blocks, really. This is when medicine becomes fun! I have some fun moments. Moments when answers to questions just fly out of my mouth without a thought. And then I have not so fun moments when the only words that come to mind are, "I don't know."
I have many reasons for being so excited about clinical year. First, I'm tired of the classroom. There's no real fun in learning lots of medicine if one can't practically apply it. I'm a hands on type of person, and I learn by doing. Second, I miss the patients. I love the interaction with patients and I miss talking with them and hearing the stories they tell. Third, I love to travel. I love moving around. I look forward to being in a new environment with new people every 5 weeks! We will see if I eat those words 2 months from now.
Good night, folks!
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Saturday, April 16, 2011
3 months in, 1 month out
Warning...this will be a long blog. Why? It's the least I can do for being away so long.
Hey gang! Wow...where do I begin? I can't believe I've let this much time pass since my last entry. I see I've gained a few more readers. Thanks to all of you who read the blog. I hope it is serving a purpose and answering questions. At the very least I hope it's allowing you to live vicariously through me while I journey through this thing called PA school. So, without further ado....
I'm three months in, and so far this semester has been another rollercoaster ride, albeit much easier than last semester in that I know what is expected of me, and I know what type of work ethic it will take to successfully complete it. The material is very interesting, and this semester we are really learning how to integrate. Early on the instructors stressed the importance of NOT integrating to avoid confusion. At this stage of the game, integration is key. Now I'm expected to take the anatomy I learned this time last year and apply it to the Neurology and Nephrology that I'm learning now. Not an easy task, but when it's done it makes learning a lot easier. Medicine becomes fun because you now are able to answer the most important question: why?
I'm enjoying the material for the most part. I would guess my weakest subjects this semester are endocrinology and neurology. My strongest subjects are nephrology, ortho, and EM. I've discovered that I'm really good with my hands and calm under pressure. I've also discovered that I need to work on developing a better differential list, and on my physical exam techniques. We all have strengths and weaknesses. It's important to acknowledge them, pat yourself on the back for the strengths, and work on the weaknesses.
Today we began our ACLS training. How exciting!! Recent changes have been made in BLS and ACLS, so we began learning the BLS changes (its CAB's now, and not ABC's), then we went on to learn how to intubate and place IO lines. Out of all the skills we learned today, I think intubation was my favorite. I got it in the very first time with no help, and the instructor praised me when I finished. Talk about an ego boost. Keep in mind, we practiced on dummies. Let's see how good I am when I intubate my first real patient...old school style, without a Glide-o-scope!
In the midst of studying for 3-5 exams per week, being in class from 4-8 hours a day, and having a social life, we've had to prepare for the clinical year, which officially begins one month from now. I'll be heading off to Juneau, Alaska to complete my primary care rotation. I can't express how excited I am about this opportunity. This is a wonderful site that will allow you to do what you want as long as you are competent and confident. I will be working both in the clinic and the hospital, and I'll even be working with the radiologist on occasion. I'll be sure to take lots of pictures, and if I remember to bring the appropriate equipment, I will post them here for those who are interested.
This blog will no doubt morph into something quite different as I embark on my clinical year. I plan on sharing as much information as I can with the readers here, being careful to maintain the anonymity of my patients. I'll let you know what I see regularly, and what I'm allowed to do. Something I would love to do is post student cases here. If time allows I will surely do that.
Ok...not much else to say other than have a good weekend, and if you're in the NW part of the country, try to stay dry!!
Hey gang! Wow...where do I begin? I can't believe I've let this much time pass since my last entry. I see I've gained a few more readers. Thanks to all of you who read the blog. I hope it is serving a purpose and answering questions. At the very least I hope it's allowing you to live vicariously through me while I journey through this thing called PA school. So, without further ado....
I'm three months in, and so far this semester has been another rollercoaster ride, albeit much easier than last semester in that I know what is expected of me, and I know what type of work ethic it will take to successfully complete it. The material is very interesting, and this semester we are really learning how to integrate. Early on the instructors stressed the importance of NOT integrating to avoid confusion. At this stage of the game, integration is key. Now I'm expected to take the anatomy I learned this time last year and apply it to the Neurology and Nephrology that I'm learning now. Not an easy task, but when it's done it makes learning a lot easier. Medicine becomes fun because you now are able to answer the most important question: why?
I'm enjoying the material for the most part. I would guess my weakest subjects this semester are endocrinology and neurology. My strongest subjects are nephrology, ortho, and EM. I've discovered that I'm really good with my hands and calm under pressure. I've also discovered that I need to work on developing a better differential list, and on my physical exam techniques. We all have strengths and weaknesses. It's important to acknowledge them, pat yourself on the back for the strengths, and work on the weaknesses.
Today we began our ACLS training. How exciting!! Recent changes have been made in BLS and ACLS, so we began learning the BLS changes (its CAB's now, and not ABC's), then we went on to learn how to intubate and place IO lines. Out of all the skills we learned today, I think intubation was my favorite. I got it in the very first time with no help, and the instructor praised me when I finished. Talk about an ego boost. Keep in mind, we practiced on dummies. Let's see how good I am when I intubate my first real patient...old school style, without a Glide-o-scope!
In the midst of studying for 3-5 exams per week, being in class from 4-8 hours a day, and having a social life, we've had to prepare for the clinical year, which officially begins one month from now. I'll be heading off to Juneau, Alaska to complete my primary care rotation. I can't express how excited I am about this opportunity. This is a wonderful site that will allow you to do what you want as long as you are competent and confident. I will be working both in the clinic and the hospital, and I'll even be working with the radiologist on occasion. I'll be sure to take lots of pictures, and if I remember to bring the appropriate equipment, I will post them here for those who are interested.
This blog will no doubt morph into something quite different as I embark on my clinical year. I plan on sharing as much information as I can with the readers here, being careful to maintain the anonymity of my patients. I'll let you know what I see regularly, and what I'm allowed to do. Something I would love to do is post student cases here. If time allows I will surely do that.
Ok...not much else to say other than have a good weekend, and if you're in the NW part of the country, try to stay dry!!
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