6 Years Later- I Am Happy

It is hard for me to believe but I did graduate from PA school six years ago! Which means that in order to maintain my national certification I had to pass the PANRE exam. To make a long story short: I PASSED! 

I did struggle with preparing for this exam. Having to study and take such a demanding exam after 6 years of not taking any exams made me very, very, very, very angry! I studied for the good part of two months. Hunkering down two weekends in a row on top of working a full time demanding job during the week was just NOT fun!

I did do the UMDNJ PANCE/PANRE online review course (google it). I had no interest in attending a live course as my days of sitting and listening to lectures for 12 hours several days in a row are over! Luckily, my employer did cover the expense and I did choose the Exammaster option which really was worth it's weight in gold. After sitting for the exam I did doubt whether or not I needed to study. Not because I found the exam to be easy (it was BRUTAL). But because the exam questions were so convoluted, cryptic and ridiculous!

The first 2 blocks were ok. I felt confident. But the last 2 blocks were a free-for-all. I had so many questions about the EYE BALL. Seriously? How many PAs work in ophthalmology??? By the last block, I was delirious. I felt defeated. I was making weird faces at the computer hoping the NCCPA was watching. I wanted to give them the middle finger. To add insult to injury, the Pearson Vue monitor decided it would be a good time to wipe down the vacant computers with Lysol bleach wipes during the last 45 minutes. I am very sensitive to bleach products (as many others are too!) and my eyes and throat started to immediately burn. It was awful. I was angry. I almost ran out of time during the last block because I spent too much time trying to catch the eye of the monitor to give her the finger as well! I didn't have time leftover to review my answers like the previous 3 blocks. I hit submit and left. I did report my experience to the monitor who tried to kill me with the bleach and her response was, "I have to keep the computers clean." There was no apology. I was totally defeated at that point but found enough patience to speak to her kindly but sternly. Kind of like the way I would feel during the 20th hour of a 24 hour shift when a nurse would page me and disturb my sleep for a renewal order of tylenol!

I immediately filed a complaint with the NCCPA they did respond telling me they would "investigate my claim". Even though I passed the boards, I didn't let it go and neither did the NCCPA. I received a letter from them last week congratulating me for passing the boards despite my bad experience and that they are still looking into the matter. I know I'm not the only person with chemical sensitivities so if this spares someone else from that misery...that is all I want.

I get many emails from prospective PA students inquiring how they can get IN a program. I don't have any magic answers for that BUT I do caution anyone entering this field to keep in mind that they to will have to maintain their certification over their career. Which now means taking an exam every 10 years.  Nurse Practitioners do not have to take any recertification exams- EVER. Keep that in mind when debating between the two careers!

Six years later- I can honestly say I do enjoy my career as a Physician Assistant. I have worked in 5 different (very different) fields since graduation and have been working in a very specialized field in women's health for the past 2.5 years. I am making a difference- a big difference in women's lives. I do feel good about the work that I do. It is rewarding. It did take me a few years to find my way and I did experience many unpleasant scenarios along the way.

Would I go back and do anything differently?
NO.

Did I have doubts as to if I would be happy as a PA after experiencing such unpleasant scenarios?
YES.

But, I never gave up and kept searching for the best job for me.

Six years later, I am in that job...

I am happy!