Yup In My White Coat

Today we had our first patients! We went to a retirement residential home and took history.  It was so much fun! We were in partners and got to know some pretty awesome people who we hope to get to go visit again since they did help us start our career!

We had a lecture on Sexual history and how to talk to patients about sex.  We also got lectured on how to handle patients hitting on us.

The most exciting thing today is we all go to dress up and wear our lab coats! We took a lot of pictures and just enjoyed each other looking professional!  We got out early to come home and study for our exams.

Half of our class is sick with this stupid bug going around. Wish us luck on our Physiology exam tomorrow with Pharm students!

Woah sorry long time

Sorry it's been awhile since I have updated.
First Clin Med exam was a success! I was the first to turn my exam in and I got an A! We got our grades in the middle of A&P so hardly any of us were paying attention but our teacher said I know your exam scores are coming in so I understand if you aren't listening haha.

This weekend we all tried to catch up on our other classes and rest.  A few of us had a pharmacy paper due.

Yesterday in Pharmacology, we got 50 antibiotics and 25 vaccine we had to memorize before our exam next tuesday so we were all pretty exhausted after that class.  We did not really go into detail so we didn't really understand what we were really learning.  We also have an exam on Friday for A&P with the muscles, bones, joints and actions of the upper limbs (that we just got Tuesday)

Today we got to do blood pressures in A&P (which we were not taught just given a sheet of paper).  It was interesting to say the least.  The PA's were expected to just pick it right up and teach pharm.

 In Clin Skills, we learned how to do subqu, intramuscular, and intradermal injections! We got shown in a powerpoint, practiced on an orange then were tested on it by injecting each other.  We all had a lot of fun and were proud we learned a skill!

We also had elections today. I didn't get president which was disappointing but I ended up being elected to be the student representative to be on the board for Arkansas Physician Assistant Association. I'm super excited!

Tomorrow we go to a retirement home and do patient histories. We get to wear our lab coats and be professionals :-)

We are all a little nervous because we have 3 exams next week! Pray for us

(Insert Jaw's music)

Right now you will see a lot of sleep deprived, anxious PA students. Our first clin med exam is Friday 8am and we are all freaking out!

In other news, today we had Professional seminar in which we learn about our profession. It is a lot of fun learning about AAPA and gets us re-energized for our final goal: be the best PA we can.  Next week we have class officer election. I'm running for President so wish me luck!
We also had a very frustrating A&P class. We were presented with 2 case studies to work out with our "families" (The two Pharm students). Most of the PA students walked out frustrated from having to do all the work while the pharm students looked around confused or just sat on their computer. Good group work guys. Then we had clin skills in which we learned about ordering different lab tests (remember treat the patient not the lab value :-)

At lunch, we had a guy come talk to us about the Guatemala trip which I get to go on! YAY!! It seems like a very exciting and educational trip! Now, I just have to make it to March haha.

Well I've got to get back to studying!

The first Exam is coming

Friday: we watched a movie on meth. I guess I was a naive child and did not know how much meth goes around and how easy it is to make.  Scary! Interesting documentary though

Today we had A&P in which we skipped over most slides and yet spent an hour on facilitated diffusion, passive and active which most of us have had forever.  PA students were wondering why so much time was spent on this but oh well

Then we had Clin Med.  It is the dark cloud hanging over all of us right now since we have our first exam on Friday and are still getting new material! Today we went over Immunity system which was roughly 90 slides.  Some had seen all of it before, most had seen some but a lot of it was new.  The professor was funny and a great teacher but it is just a lot of information to get down before Friday 

BUT WAIT THERE's MORE! We have another 100 slide lecture in the morning that will be on the exam.

It would be ok if it was our only class but we also have papers in Pharm, Case study in A&P, Radiology quizzes and much more.  

To add to the stress, we had our mentor group meeting tonight (7 of us with an advisor). We had dinner over at their house and it was really neat.  So nice to have professors who open their house to us but still on the back of all of our minds is "we have our first test is 4 days and lots of material to study." This put a little damper on the evening but we are still so grateful for the love they showed us!

Remember this is a marathon not a sprint!

Physical Diagnosis

Today we had one class and lab in the afternoon.  This morning we were entertained by Dr. White discussing how to take a history.  Dr. White throws in funny stories and old school movie references! It was great because we got out an hour early from that class.
This afternoon we got assigned our gowns and blankets.  Then we broke into our physical diagnosis group which were printed on a piece of paper.  Instead of us all crowding around a single sheet of paper, I got my camp director voice on and said loudly who the groups were. No worries our professor made fun of me and asked what cabin he was in! haha.  In lab, we did another touch lab. Actually the same one from A&P but this time it was just the four people in our group. My group took the time to write down all the inappropriate things to say to pts while doing an exam like are you an elbow model? You should be.  It was a lot of fun and we all got excited to get to learn to do the different physical exams!

Tonight, a group of us went up to the building (VIP Access after hours) and made a study group, quizzing each other. Little did we know that the guys do this every night!  Also the pharmacy students were up there. We were excited that they would be studying A&P etc but they had decided to have a game night at the building instead!
Tomorrow all we have is a 2 hour a&P class! WE are SUPER Stoked!

Medical Supplies and Prison Stories

It was pouring rain which would usually make everybody sleepy but not for the PA students who live in a classroom with no windows!

Our first class we discussed the history of PA and we all got signed up for Student association for PA. It was exciting to be a part of the association!  We found out that next years annual conference will be in Canada! I hope I get to go!

They also talked to us about a medical mission opportunity to go to Guatemala for spring break! I want to go so bad but it cost $1200. Maybe I could sell an organ or two :-)

We then headed to our second day of A&P. The Pharm kids were already in there and made it a segregation of pharm and PAs. I found this sad.  We learned the different slices you can order in a person's body (Transverse, median, frontal) and the different names of movement.  Then we were off to order all of our medical supplies.  This was a lot more confusing that I had anticipated! You have to chose between handle sizes, types of batteries, blood pressure cuffs, there were 6 different stethoscopes! We have until Friday to decide what we want. Most clinics have these items so we don't need the most expensive unless we plan on our families asking us to diagnosis them. (Mine has told me a lot I will be there primary care provider haha)

Finally we had our first Clinical skills class. This will be my favorite class. This is where we get to learn how to suture, place an IV, central line, intubate etc.  Plus my favorite teacher teaches it. He is a primary care provider for a prison so he told us lots of stories about the inmates and drug users. Gave us friendly advice (Did you know meth heads like to go to wal-mart because of the stimulating colorful displays?) We also got our first radiology assignments to learn how to read different films!

And the stress is on

Only having two classes a day should be an ideal schedule but when those two classes each last 3 and half hours...not so much fun.
Today we had 141 slides in our first class.  Talk about a lot of information to know! Though we did have some pictures of gangrene that made the lecture more interesting.  We learned about cell adaptation and cell injury.  We also got to hear some interesting gun shot wound stories and how to know if somebody was shot close range.

We also had our first Pharmacology class.  Though it was mostly about getting into groups and working on a case study, the 5 slides actually about pharm was very interesting.  It was quite irritating when she started talking over our head because she was use to talking to Pharm students. We are all furiously taking notes when she says "Oh all you have to know is to get to a steady state is 4-5 times the half life." Grrr! The over organized OCD me came out.  On our course maps (the guide to our lives) there was no pre-reading, when asked what we needed to read, she answered oh the professor for that session will just tell you. I NEED A PLAN! haha.  Oh well only once a week.

Tomorrow we have professional seminar, A&P and Clinical Skills
Oh and we get to order all of our supplies! Guess my playschool supplies won't work :-)

Day 1 Survived!

Our first day of real class was interesting.
We first have to park a long way away since freshmen have started class and are parking in the grad school parking lots! Then, I walk into the building and there are so many people! This is because 3 years of pharm students are there. I thankfully find some of the chosen 36 PA students!
Our first class is A&P.  Our instructor is a nice guy who use to coach track.  Some people walk in saying how big the classroom is (It seats 120 hahha)  Coming from a big university I had to laugh.  We have to spread out among the 55 Pharm 1 students.  We go over general first day stuff.  He tells the whole class that the PA professors printed out the notes for us but Pharm were on their own.  Then we have to get into family groups (more proof that camp is everywhere!)  We get told that each PA students needs to grab 2 Pharm students.  The Pharm students are more introverted and so it felt like picking teams.  These family groups are the ones we will be doing case studies and quizzes with so it is important to have people who actually work.  I get my two and we have a seat.  We are then told we will be doing a "touch" lab.  This is a time to see how comfortable we are with touching one another.  As a PA student, I am pretty comfortable with this. Pharm students were very scared and timid.  It was like pulling teeth to get through the exercise and get them ready for a semester of palpating, range of motion, etc.  The teacher starts talking to my group and asks so do you have 1 or 2 PA students, I said 1 and he said "wow you will be doing a lot of work." Thanks for the confidence!

We got out early which we all celebrated. A few of us went the union and ate there. They were having their usual first day free giveaway stuff so I got lots of coupons since after all I am a student!  We then had the ever scary Clin Med class.  This is the class we have been told to fear and to challenges us the most.  Today was about the general definitions so it was pretty low key and we got out early!  Though we know to not expect it.  We have Clin Med again in the morning and that is when we dive right in. Wish us all luck!  I'm thankful I did all the prereading and can relax a bit!

Knights of White Coats

We have mentor groups and we had to come up with a name.  We decided on Knights of the White Coat because we are in battle and we have Dr. White as our faculty mentor haha.  Today we got to order our white coats! This was an exciting step and people were questioning what last name to put on their coat if they were getting married or to buy one or two coats etc.

We also got to take our pictures for our ids. I know exciting haha. Though it did rain all day so I'm sure we will all look lovely!

Finally we got yet another lecture on prioritizing which is always aimed to the married people in our class. What if we don't have a husband/wife to put before school then actually our school is our first priority.  They tell us to take time to for our families and ourselves and yet don't miss the reading, lecture notes and stay on top of everything. Then they try to make us feel better by telling us their "schedules"
One is "I get up at 4am and study until school so I have no distractions.  Then I go to class, come home make dinner play with the kids for about an hr then study from about 7 to 10pm." This information is not very helpful instead it is stressful!

"We are learning 75% of medical school in 50% of the time" -Professors in PA school.

Orientation Week

Our first day of PA orientation was interesting.  We did the Myers-Briggs Personality Quiz and then learned CPR.  The CPR class was AHA with the new 30:2 standards.  The instructor did not have enough "Dummies" so that meant there were 4 of us to each dummy taking us 5 and half hours! Then we had a reception dinner from Summit Bank trying to get us to set up accounts with them.  Being a Dietitian, the meals were very unhealthy but were good southern food.

Our second day of orientation, we had a whole day of teambuilding and name games. With a group of 36 plus staff, this made a long day.  Some people became highly frustrated and I was frustrated that I was not allowed to talk since all activities I had already done! haha.  But it was a good day filled with invading each others' personal space!

Today is our third day.  We had some students in the class above us come and talk to us.  They gave us helpful information but added to the stress of let's get this started!  Then we got our Myers-Briggs quiz back with information about us.  The Navy came and fed us and tried to recruit us.  Now we are onto technology set-up and library 101 (which I'm pretty sure we have all had many times before.) It does give us all time to organize ourselves and bond!