Yesterday, the day after the anatomy test was a day of relaxation!!! I went home and did nothing! Well, I actually got caught up on some of my favorite shows! Big Bang, The Walking Dead...to name a couple of 'em.
Physical diagnosis class has become a complete 'physical' type class. Originally, we focused on questions and how to properly ask and use follow up questions. Now, it's all about how to demonstrate specific functions of the body. Some areas of the body more personal than others, you know what I'm talking about. For these regions, I am extremely glad we are practicing on a plastic model and not each other!!! Can you image doing a rectal exam on your friends...ya, I didn't think so!
I was practicing the Deep Tendon Reflexes on Abby tonight and I couldn't get a couple of them to work on her, plus her patellar reflex was rather weak, so I wonder how others apply. I am excited to use these techniques on patients in a clinical setting. For now, kids, wife and fellow students will have to do. I need to do more practicing. I want to have all the physical exams down pat before the final. We have to perform all of them on a fellow student (the pretend patient) within an hour!!! I want to be were I was with x-ray. I could walk a room and see exactly what was needed and perform the exam and be able to identify the bony structures. Creatures of habit...repetition is the law of learning! I believe in communication with patients. Most of them don't have a clue on what is really going on. They were just told to come get a test done.
As I was sitting in Pathophysiology the other day, I began to realize how much I hated pathways. Step-by-step systems that occur at cellular levels (or other levels within our bodies). I use to moan and groan during my undergrad whenever a teacher would introduce a new pathway. Now, especially with cardiovascular, "Bring it on!!!" It's commitment time! During this first semester, I have definitely realized what study habits work for me and what don't! Study Groups? For me, they only work if I know my stuff!!! I have to study and solidify the information prior, otherwise I am just lost.
I have been trying to study the information prior to class, when I get to class the terminology and systems then become more of a review and then I recap everything right after class!!! I have noticed that many fellow students type things out, but I feel the need to write it out on paper...I guess I'm old!
With permission, I have copied a different perspective from a fellow student:
"Here's hoping I'm not the only one...new life changes since PA school:
1. Counting sheep has been replaced w/counting cranial nerves…or tracing blood pathways…
2. I can never just go on a run anymore, I have to go shift my oxygen-hemoglobin disassociation curve to the right
3. Eating, sleeping, and cleaning the house are REALLY fun
4. Hallmark commercials have suddenly become much more emotional than they used to be
Besides the Hallmark comment, I couldn't agree more (That's probably more of a girl thing...?) Time is valued like Gold or Diamonds!!! How fast can you cram a large amount of information in your head!
The firehose analogy applies yet again!
Physical diagnosis class has become a complete 'physical' type class. Originally, we focused on questions and how to properly ask and use follow up questions. Now, it's all about how to demonstrate specific functions of the body. Some areas of the body more personal than others, you know what I'm talking about. For these regions, I am extremely glad we are practicing on a plastic model and not each other!!! Can you image doing a rectal exam on your friends...ya, I didn't think so!
I was practicing the Deep Tendon Reflexes on Abby tonight and I couldn't get a couple of them to work on her, plus her patellar reflex was rather weak, so I wonder how others apply. I am excited to use these techniques on patients in a clinical setting. For now, kids, wife and fellow students will have to do. I need to do more practicing. I want to have all the physical exams down pat before the final. We have to perform all of them on a fellow student (the pretend patient) within an hour!!! I want to be were I was with x-ray. I could walk a room and see exactly what was needed and perform the exam and be able to identify the bony structures. Creatures of habit...repetition is the law of learning! I believe in communication with patients. Most of them don't have a clue on what is really going on. They were just told to come get a test done.
As I was sitting in Pathophysiology the other day, I began to realize how much I hated pathways. Step-by-step systems that occur at cellular levels (or other levels within our bodies). I use to moan and groan during my undergrad whenever a teacher would introduce a new pathway. Now, especially with cardiovascular, "Bring it on!!!" It's commitment time! During this first semester, I have definitely realized what study habits work for me and what don't! Study Groups? For me, they only work if I know my stuff!!! I have to study and solidify the information prior, otherwise I am just lost.
I have been trying to study the information prior to class, when I get to class the terminology and systems then become more of a review and then I recap everything right after class!!! I have noticed that many fellow students type things out, but I feel the need to write it out on paper...I guess I'm old!
With permission, I have copied a different perspective from a fellow student:
"Here's hoping I'm not the only one...new life changes since PA school:
1. Counting sheep has been replaced w/counting cranial nerves…or tracing blood pathways…
2. I can never just go on a run anymore, I have to go shift my oxygen-hemoglobin disassociation curve to the right
3. Eating, sleeping, and cleaning the house are REALLY fun
4. Hallmark commercials have suddenly become much more emotional than they used to be
5. Everybody around me has a disease. And they’re all going to be on my next patho exam
6. Getting a haircut, washing my car, and filling up my gas tank are pretty big accomplishments. Do not take them for granted.
7. My “Fridays” have moved to whatever day the anatomy exam is…which means I will have had 6 Fridays in 4 months. I celebrate by going to bed early"
6. Getting a haircut, washing my car, and filling up my gas tank are pretty big accomplishments. Do not take them for granted.
7. My “Fridays” have moved to whatever day the anatomy exam is…which means I will have had 6 Fridays in 4 months. I celebrate by going to bed early"
Besides the Hallmark comment, I couldn't agree more (That's probably more of a girl thing...?) Time is valued like Gold or Diamonds!!! How fast can you cram a large amount of information in your head!
The firehose analogy applies yet again!
"You get to drink from the firehose!"
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