Tomorrow is orientation. I feel like a little girl waiting impatiently for Santa to arrive. I thought I'd be more nervous than I am. Granted, I do have butterflies flitting about my stomach, but there is a strong sense of calm protecting me. So this is what it feels like when you finally find your path... :)
More details tomorrow!!!
Tuesday, August 30, 2005
Monday, August 29, 2005
What is a PA?
The official definition...
Physician Assistants are health professionals licensed to practice medicine with physician supervision. Within the physician/PA relationship, Physician Assistants exercise autonomy in medical decision making and provide a broad range of diagnostic and therapeutic services. The clincial role of Physician Assistants includes primary and specialty care in medical and surgical practice setting in rural and urban areas. Physician Assistant practice is centered on patient care and may include educational, research and administrative activities.
Before applying to PA programs, each individual must assess his/her own capability and suitability for being a PA student as well as for a career as a dependent health practitioner. Programs require personal as well as financial sacrifices, and demands a high degree of self-sufficiency and well developed skills. A career which demands flexibility with respect to scheduling, location and scope of responsibilities. This profession attracts people who enjoy working with those who are ill, who can work effectively and cooperatively with doctors, nurses, and other allied health professionals, and who are comfortable with the role of the Physician Assistant.
Physician Assistants are health professionals licensed to practice medicine with physician supervision. Within the physician/PA relationship, Physician Assistants exercise autonomy in medical decision making and provide a broad range of diagnostic and therapeutic services. The clincial role of Physician Assistants includes primary and specialty care in medical and surgical practice setting in rural and urban areas. Physician Assistant practice is centered on patient care and may include educational, research and administrative activities.
Before applying to PA programs, each individual must assess his/her own capability and suitability for being a PA student as well as for a career as a dependent health practitioner. Programs require personal as well as financial sacrifices, and demands a high degree of self-sufficiency and well developed skills. A career which demands flexibility with respect to scheduling, location and scope of responsibilities. This profession attracts people who enjoy working with those who are ill, who can work effectively and cooperatively with doctors, nurses, and other allied health professionals, and who are comfortable with the role of the Physician Assistant.
What are you studying?
Within minutes of meeting a new person, the most common question undoubtedly is, "So, what do you do?" This past weekend I was faced with such a question and started with the answer, "I'm a student." Which elicits the follow up question,
"What are you studying?"
"I'm studying to become a Physician Assistant." And I watch as their eyes glaze over with confusion. I know they have no idea what a PA does....so this weekend, I asked..."Do you know what a PA is?"
Response: "Yes, don't you greet the patients when they come into the room?"
WHAT!?!?!?!?!?
I smiled and told her that PAs indeed do greet patients when they enter the room...as well as diagnose, prescribe meds, perform surgeries etc. etc. etc.
"Oh, Wow...I had no idea that kind of job existed."
And the inevitable follow-up...."Why don't you just become a doctor then?"
"What are you studying?"
"I'm studying to become a Physician Assistant." And I watch as their eyes glaze over with confusion. I know they have no idea what a PA does....so this weekend, I asked..."Do you know what a PA is?"
Response: "Yes, don't you greet the patients when they come into the room?"
WHAT!?!?!?!?!?
I smiled and told her that PAs indeed do greet patients when they enter the room...as well as diagnose, prescribe meds, perform surgeries etc. etc. etc.
"Oh, Wow...I had no idea that kind of job existed."
And the inevitable follow-up...."Why don't you just become a doctor then?"
Faith
2 more days until orientation...I feel energetic and excited. I am 100% ready to start this program and get on with my life. The road that got me to this point was bumpy at times and required a lot of personal sacrifices, risks, and faith. And I need to focus more on faith as this program gets underway...faith that I will thrive and not just survive. I have heard my fair share of PA student horror stories and I know that I will be challenged in ways I never thought imaginable. But, the personal growth that comes from struggle will be worth it in the end.
Thursday, August 18, 2005
Say What?!?!?
I called the school today and found out a few very important details. I had received a letter a few weeks ago letting me know the "scopes" I need to get as well as the book I need to read in order to pass an exam. The letter stated that I must pass this exam in order to enter the class. So, I assumed (and you know what they say about making assumptions!) that the exam would be the first day of class...so I spent the bulk of my last vacation studying...well, does drinking pina colodas and studying count!??!?
Anyway, the nice woman on the other line informed that the exam was 3 weeks into the semester. Not only that...but orientation is 8/31 but classes won't start until 9/6! WHAT A DIFFERENCE!! I felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders because instead of worrying about passing a test...I can worry about important stuff...like what I'm going to wear!!! Yup...there's always something to worry about, eh?
Anyway, the nice woman on the other line informed that the exam was 3 weeks into the semester. Not only that...but orientation is 8/31 but classes won't start until 9/6! WHAT A DIFFERENCE!! I felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders because instead of worrying about passing a test...I can worry about important stuff...like what I'm going to wear!!! Yup...there's always something to worry about, eh?
Monday, August 15, 2005
School supplies...
Wow...who knew shopping for school supplies could be so entertaining? I was walking through Office Max and felt like a kid in a candy shop. Geez...that's when you fully realized that you've crossed the line from being a dork to a total nerd. But, who am I kidding...I am embrace my nerdiness now. Nerds are cool.
So $150 later...I've got a new desk chair and enough pens and mechanical pencils to last me through graduation. I'm really hoping that the purple pens I bought (purple ink) can be put to good use...for some reason, I felt the need to buy 12!
As long as we're on this purple craze thing...I recently moved into my sister's old room. She moved out of my family's house and for a change of scenery I made the big move upstairs. Her room is actually about half the size of my old room...but I spent a lot of time as a kid in this room...so it's kind of cool to get it back. But, before I moved in...I painted the damn room the deepest shade of purple I could find. My poor parents...but did I mention that my mom's birthstone is purple? There has to be a connection...thankfully, my purple obsession does not cross over to clothing!! Or make-up!!!
15 days and counting...rather, FRETTING!
So $150 later...I've got a new desk chair and enough pens and mechanical pencils to last me through graduation. I'm really hoping that the purple pens I bought (purple ink) can be put to good use...for some reason, I felt the need to buy 12!
As long as we're on this purple craze thing...I recently moved into my sister's old room. She moved out of my family's house and for a change of scenery I made the big move upstairs. Her room is actually about half the size of my old room...but I spent a lot of time as a kid in this room...so it's kind of cool to get it back. But, before I moved in...I painted the damn room the deepest shade of purple I could find. My poor parents...but did I mention that my mom's birthstone is purple? There has to be a connection...thankfully, my purple obsession does not cross over to clothing!! Or make-up!!!
15 days and counting...rather, FRETTING!
Thursday, August 04, 2005
Purple Stethoscope
Last summer I quit my full-time job and moved back home with my parents in order to fulfill a year's worth of science pre-requisite courses. I started my pre-reqs with Chem 1 and 2 over the summer. I was really nervous about taking chemistry because it had been nearly 12 years since I first took it in high school!!
The prof told us we needed to get a lab coat. So, I went to a local medical supply store and tried on some of the coats. When I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror, I was taken back at the site. Me...wearing a lab coat...me...chasing a dream. Then I walked up to the cash register and while I was paying for the lab coat, I noticed a purple stethoscope hanging on the wall. As weird as it may sound...and I admit that it does sound weird....I suddenly had an overwhelming feeling that I indeed was on the right path...
...because purple is my favorite color. And I had no idea that stethoscopes came in purple!
PS- I ordered a plum colored Littman III last week!!! ;)
The prof told us we needed to get a lab coat. So, I went to a local medical supply store and tried on some of the coats. When I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror, I was taken back at the site. Me...wearing a lab coat...me...chasing a dream. Then I walked up to the cash register and while I was paying for the lab coat, I noticed a purple stethoscope hanging on the wall. As weird as it may sound...and I admit that it does sound weird....I suddenly had an overwhelming feeling that I indeed was on the right path...
...because purple is my favorite color. And I had no idea that stethoscopes came in purple!
PS- I ordered a plum colored Littman III last week!!! ;)
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