Wow! This is week has been nothing but a blur! Forgetting where I had parked my car is pure evidence of this 'blur.' We had two of our midterms this last week! First anatomy, which included the abdomen and pelvic regions. Second was our Pathos. Both tests gave me excuses to stay at the school late, late like... midnight. It's interesting pulling a dawn to dusk.
Those previous words I typed lasted week in an attempt to explain how I felt. However, I don't believe they did justice, so let's try it again. Have you ever taken a cat and spun it around in multiple circles, then immediately dropped it to see if it can land on its feet? (I promise no animals were hurt during this.) Well, I can picture a cat dropping from my arms, trying to land on its feet, getting up and then trying to walk in a straight line. You know that feeling of dizziness and everyone is laughing at you as your stumbling all over the place. This is exactly how I felt during midterms!!!
All three tests snuck up on me, I faltered, but I eventually got back on my feet.
Part of the midterm in Physical Diagnosis was practical. We had 4 different physical exams that we needed to be able to perform. The exam lab was divided up into 4 different sections. Four of us at a time were asked to come in, guided to a section and then we were to either draw blindly (pick a card method) or the professor chose which exam we were to perform, we just didn't know which one. I was given HEENT (Head, Eyes, Ears, Nose and Throat) and Neck. The exam I was least prepared for! Of Course! Being clothed in the appropriate apparel, including my sweet white jacket, I quickly set up my equipment. (The patients were our fellow students.) Though I felt unprepared, I put my best foot forward and did it!!!
This will express my ever-growing nerdiness, but I find looking into ears and eyes really neat!! Especially, now that I know what to look for. I remember shadowing physicians that would try to explain how to perform such exams, but I just didn't quite understand it.
Here it is one week since our midterms and we are already preparing for exams scheduled for next week. We have two, anatomy and pathophysiology.
One thing I forgot to mention, during one of the cadaver labs we removed one of the lower limbs! We took a saw and cut through the sacrum, lower lumbar vertebrae and the pelvis. It was pretty cool removing it. We then opened up specific joints on the leg. Some tables did the hip joint, we did the knee and others did the ankle. Dissection really puts things into perspective!
An interesting event occurred last week, those that have applied for PA school for this year have begun their interviews. The first set of interviewees visited our cadaver lab. Their level of stress was written upon their face! Man, o'man do I not miss that type of stress! Its one thing to be stressing over an exam while in the PA program, but to know that you have to continue to fight and travel to different schools to prove yourself that you deserve to be in the program...! Ugh, I am just glad that is over with.
If I may give some advice to those who are interviewing for physician assistant school this year:
1) Take a deep breath and relax. They aren't trying to trick you! So, just be you!
2) Review any possible questions that maybe asked of you. I traveled from Utah to Virginia for an interview. I also interviewed at Toledo, Ohio. During both flights, I researched the best fit answers. I researched the school and its town. I studied the professors and the PA program.
3) Never say anything negative during the interview!!!
4) Reflect upon your life changing experiences. This is 'Why' you want to become a PA!
This weekend we meant to visit Shenandoah National Forest to take pictures of all the fall-colored leaves, but sickness has been cycling throughout our house! Abby to me, then Hannah and Clara!!! In other words, we never made it. Hopefully, everyone will be healthy soon and then I can get some pics for next time!
Those previous words I typed lasted week in an attempt to explain how I felt. However, I don't believe they did justice, so let's try it again. Have you ever taken a cat and spun it around in multiple circles, then immediately dropped it to see if it can land on its feet? (I promise no animals were hurt during this.) Well, I can picture a cat dropping from my arms, trying to land on its feet, getting up and then trying to walk in a straight line. You know that feeling of dizziness and everyone is laughing at you as your stumbling all over the place. This is exactly how I felt during midterms!!!
All three tests snuck up on me, I faltered, but I eventually got back on my feet.
Part of the midterm in Physical Diagnosis was practical. We had 4 different physical exams that we needed to be able to perform. The exam lab was divided up into 4 different sections. Four of us at a time were asked to come in, guided to a section and then we were to either draw blindly (pick a card method) or the professor chose which exam we were to perform, we just didn't know which one. I was given HEENT (Head, Eyes, Ears, Nose and Throat) and Neck. The exam I was least prepared for! Of Course! Being clothed in the appropriate apparel, including my sweet white jacket, I quickly set up my equipment. (The patients were our fellow students.) Though I felt unprepared, I put my best foot forward and did it!!!
This will express my ever-growing nerdiness, but I find looking into ears and eyes really neat!! Especially, now that I know what to look for. I remember shadowing physicians that would try to explain how to perform such exams, but I just didn't quite understand it.
Here it is one week since our midterms and we are already preparing for exams scheduled for next week. We have two, anatomy and pathophysiology.
One thing I forgot to mention, during one of the cadaver labs we removed one of the lower limbs! We took a saw and cut through the sacrum, lower lumbar vertebrae and the pelvis. It was pretty cool removing it. We then opened up specific joints on the leg. Some tables did the hip joint, we did the knee and others did the ankle. Dissection really puts things into perspective!
An interesting event occurred last week, those that have applied for PA school for this year have begun their interviews. The first set of interviewees visited our cadaver lab. Their level of stress was written upon their face! Man, o'man do I not miss that type of stress! Its one thing to be stressing over an exam while in the PA program, but to know that you have to continue to fight and travel to different schools to prove yourself that you deserve to be in the program...! Ugh, I am just glad that is over with.
If I may give some advice to those who are interviewing for physician assistant school this year:
1) Take a deep breath and relax. They aren't trying to trick you! So, just be you!
2) Review any possible questions that maybe asked of you. I traveled from Utah to Virginia for an interview. I also interviewed at Toledo, Ohio. During both flights, I researched the best fit answers. I researched the school and its town. I studied the professors and the PA program.
3) Never say anything negative during the interview!!!
4) Reflect upon your life changing experiences. This is 'Why' you want to become a PA!
This weekend we meant to visit Shenandoah National Forest to take pictures of all the fall-colored leaves, but sickness has been cycling throughout our house! Abby to me, then Hannah and Clara!!! In other words, we never made it. Hopefully, everyone will be healthy soon and then I can get some pics for next time!
Thanks Chad. Sorry that you have all been sick. Hope that you guys are on the mend. Good luck with upcoming exams.