First Semester and Christmas Break

Ahh...the moment you wake up and realize you have no studying to do. I am one week into a three week break from school and it couldn't have come at a better time! The first semester was trying for us but was exciting. We've successfully pushed through Gross Anatomy, Physiology, Embryology, as well as Intro to Clinical Med I. There have been many ups and downs but we have stood up, brushed ourselves off, and jumped back in with both feet. The last few weeks of the semester were stressful with all of our finals. I've honestly never felt that stressed and anxious! For those who have finished, currently enrolled in, or preparing for PA school, utilize family and friends for support. My sanity has been spared only because of my family. They have helped lift me up and keep me focused when I needed it.
The Gross Anatomy course was great even with the weekly exams. We each belonged in a small group with a student from Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, and MD school where we shared a cadaver. By far, this was the best part of the course. I'm the type of learner who does best with a hands-on approach. It's obvious the human body is an incredible and complex machine but this experience shows it so much more amazing
Embryology and Physiology were two courses that teach you to look at the big picture. Small things occur here and there that may seem unrelated but putting them together with a few other pieces of information tells you so much more. Embryology was a good example of this. When this class first started, I felt like the info was going to be "memorize this to get through the exams." Towards the end of the semester there were so many things that were coming together where I would read back on earlier notes and the room would suddenly be brighter! I'm sure this will be a common occurance from here on out.
ICM I was, by far, the best course for the first semester. So much of it was familiar to me from my previous medical experience. A lot of the material was review but there was some that was new. There are exam rooms we used to practice our physical exams on our classmates as well as a few "patients". We would have a few practice sessions on different exams such as cardio/pulmonary, musculoskeletal, abdominal, male/female exams. Even though each test-out was nerve racking, I loved it!
This past week, I honestly haven't done much. I've felt a little lost without books and notes in front of me. Kind of an odd feeling but I'm getting used to it! It'll be great to get together with family tomorrow and Christmas Day. No thoughts of school or rehearsing medical exams for different complaints in my head (even though I do miss it already). The second semester starts up January 9 where we will be focusing on deeper medicine and pharmacology. I hear from some 2nd year students this is a tougher semester but others say it's not as tough. We'll see which it is. I'll update you shortly after the semester starts.
I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a safe and blessed New Year!

Breathe!

Ok..Ok..I know it's been a few weeks since I last posted.  I wanted to give you all a quick update.  The studying has been almost overwhelming.  I haven't had much time for extra activities.  I put away a day on the weekends for family but other than that, I'm head down in texts.  So far this semester we are working on Gross Anatomy with cadaver lab, Intro to Clinical Medicine I, and Embryology.  We will be starting Physiology in a few weeks as well.  There is a quiz most days in Anatomy as well as a weekly exam and lab test outs in Clinic Med.  I think the most everyone is handling the stress OK.  We haven't seen any mental breakdowns as of yet but we're just getting started.

There is so much more to talk about but I just don't have the time...yet!  As soon as I can come up for more air, I'll fill you in.

How Time Flies

The last two weeks have gone by incredibly quickly!  It's funny to think back on when I received my acceptance letter.  I was counting down the days in my head and thought it would take forever to get here.  Coworkers would ask how many shifts left.  I would reply 36...21...15.  Once it was below 10, the time was gone faster than I could have thought.  Feels like it was just yesterday we started this whole process.

As a family, we made a commitment to take a mini vacation before school started.  We didn't want to spend much money so we spent a few days in Yankton, SD near the water.  We spent the time golfing and relaxing.  We then drove down to Omaha for a day around their Old Market.  This was time I felt we needed together since the hectic schedule of classes would keep our vacation time together to a minimum.  We had a great time!

My last shift was a 36 hour stint this past Monday and Tuesday.  Fairly busy with a bit of down time in between patients.  As it neared 7pm on Tuesday, reality really took hold of me.  I wouldn't return to where I was standing in the same capacity.  Yeah, I'll pick up a few casual shifts now and then but it won't be the same.  I've felt the nurses could always rely on me to help out with difficult IV starts and questions on meds or documentation.  This is gone.  Helping others, whether they are coworkers or patients, gives a person such a strong feeling of accomplishment.  It's so hard to describe but so enjoyable to experience.  I know these feelings will come back at some point during school.  Maybe they will be even stronger, but until then there is, without a doubt, an empty spot in my heart right now.  It plain sucks!

I hope those that I've worked with realize how much I miss them.  The friendships created have meant so much to me and I can't thank them enough for this.  I have been truly blessed by working with the most caring, compassionate, and skillful providers there are.  Thank you!  "wipes tears away"

So...this coming week will be the start.  School is ramping up slowly with orientation Wednesday through Friday.  Student services, setting up of computers, introductions, and other logistical stuff will be happening Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday morning.  Start times will be anywhere between 8 and 9 in the morning which isn't bad at all since I will be driving 50 miles to get there.  Friday afternoon has been set aside for the White Coat Ceremony and Reception.  This will entail the presentation of white coats to the students.  Families are present to enjoy this day.  I am so excited for this but at the same time very nervous.  This will be the last few days of freedom before things get hectic.  I AM READY!

Here is the upcoming schedule for the next 28 months.  Whew!

Long awaited update

I apologize for falling behind.  The last few courses were a struggle to find and get scheduled but it was finished.  Let me tell you, the biochemistry was a nightmare.  The information and instruction from the professor was fantastic.  The material...ugh!  Almost made me think twice about continuing on.  But they were finished a few months ago with nothing lower than a B.  THANK THE LORD!

Also, we had our interviews towards the end of January.  Needless to say I was nervous but the faculty made us feel comfortable and answered any questions we had before the interviews began.  We were separated into groups of three and had two interviews.  I can't give specifics on what questions we were asked but I was surprised and how easy some were and how difficult others were.  For those of you who are working towards this goal, you need to keep one thing in mind...BE YOURSELF!  The faculty want to know the kind of person you are.  They aren't interested in hearing someone try to BS their way through the interview process.  They want to know how you think, your personality, your values, etc.  If you try to answer with what you think they want to hear, you won't make it.  Trust me.  I had one in my group and it was so glaringly obvious this was what he was trying to do.  Needless to say, he didn't make it into the program.

After the interview process was over, we were given additional information about the program and a quick tour around the new medical campus.  It is beautiful!  I truly had the feeling this is where I was supposed to be.  It is state-of-the-art.  Everything we could ever need was right there for our studies was  right there.  That was it.  The tour was over and if we didn't have any additional questions, we were free to leave.  Overall, it was a great experience.  I was tempted to not even go being I was so nervous.  Thinking back, that was a ridiculous thought.  

Prior to leaving, we were told we would receive notification on acceptance or denial in approximately two weeks.  That was the longest two weeks of my life.  I thought for sure I completely crumbled during the interview.  Of course thinking I didn't tell them enough or seem confident enough for them to want me into their program.  Same things I thought after my interview for paramedic school.  I had to convince myself I did and said everything they needed for a competent decision to be made on their part.

Exactly two weeks had finally crept by.  After checking the mailbox every day, there it was.  A large envelope with my name on it from XXX PA Program.  My gut told me I was in since it was such a large envelope but I couldn't open it right away.  It sat on the kitchen table for over an hour.  Finally, with shaky hands, I tore open the top and pulled out the packet.  The first letter had what I had been waiting to read for so long..."Congratulations on your acceptance to XXX PA Program."  My wife was right next to me when I read it.  I can't begin to explain the feelings that rushed through me.  So much stress and relief just ran out of me and at the same time, I knew there would be so much more stress to come.  

Fast forward to now.  We've been working on setting up our own health insurance coverage since I will no longer be working, have most of my books purchased, a new laptop (which, by the way, is my first brand new MacBook Pro with Retina Display), and have put in my notice at the hospital.  I just finished up my last weekend and am on a two week vacation with the family.  Not many plans other than leaving town starting July 4 until the weekend.  I have a few things to tie up around the house, work my last 36 hour shift at work, and that's it folks.  Orientation week is July 23 and classes start July 30.  My goal is to keep you updated on what we are studying and how the days go.  I've read other PA student blogs and they say it's a struggle to stay caught up due to so much school work.  I'll try my best and if you have any comments or tips, please let me know.