HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

I am officially done with my first year of PA school!!! Actually I was done about 2 weeks ago. I made it through one year. I look back and can't believe how fast time has gone. I start rotations in 9 days. I'm nervous and excited at the same time. I'm not sure what to expect. It feels like when I started last year.
I haven't really given a good report of PA school. My goal is to give a better account of rotations.

rough week ahead - done

So last week was a little bit rough, but nothing too difficult. When I was researching PA school and asking others PA about school, they said it was hard. This week, I felt like I was in PA school. It's not that I didn't feel like I was in school before, but this was an intense week. We had 5 exams in 3 days and PRAISE YHVH, I passed  them all. I can't say that about all of my classmates. Unfortunately, for one of the exams, over half of the class failed. My suggestion for those going to PA school, get a PANCE review book. Get a few if you can. I find that the ones that have each specialty with its own chapter with the questions and answers is most helpful. I have been using those to study for many of my tests, especially Clinical Medicine. I suggest reviewing the questions for tests and reviewing the questions after tests on the sections you have already done. It helps solidify the knowledge that you are learning and it helps retain all the information you have learned. I think it really has helped me on my tests.

rough week ahead

Next week is going to be a rough one. They said that the 2nd semester is the most difficult...I'm not sure about that. We have 5 exams next week and they are all within the first 3 days. Oh GOD, please help me bring it all together.
GOD is so good. HE is blessing us to beyond what we can imagine.
One thing I didn't want to worry about was money. It's been a little rough but nothing too bad. I have not have to worry about money to the point it has affected my studies or my life. The only issue I have had is the inability to give to others. GOD is supplying all our needs. I am beginning to understand Psalms 23. The LORD is my shepherd and I shall not want.
I'm believing this will be a GREAT week!!!

Here we go

I just finished my first week of the third semester of my first year of PA school.
Let me tell you it was rough. I feel like I have been back in school for 3weeks already. We had 2 tests this week and a lot of reading. I have a lot more reading to do and then I have to study all the material I have received in the past week. This semester is definitely more time consuming, so far anyway.
We had a lecture on "Energy Healing" today. I really don't know what to think of it. I did not feel comfortable doing it. I don't know if that is considered witchcraft. I was not able to get involved though because I was not comfortable in my spirit. I did however, take the opportunity to lay hands on and pray for my classmate with the exercises we perform as part of the lecture. I know that GOD gives some the gift of healing, but I don't know if that is how HE intended. My speculation in this form of medicine stems from the ideal behind the source. The lecturer was saying that the energy comes for the sun and that you can pull from it. I'm not quite sure about that one but I pull my energy from GOD and pleaded the blood over my partner's life. I pray that my partner experienced a glimpse of GOD's glory and will want to know how to get more.
In 15 weeks, I will be finished with my first semester of PA school; then on to rotations. I am nervous and have no idea what to expect. I will cross that bridge when I get to it in 4 months.

One more semester

So classes start again on Monday. I'm excited. I am interested in learning whatever it is we have to learn this semester. This is my last semester before going on rotations. I'm sure it will be fun but I still feel like I need to learn a lot more before going out to rotations in January. I really can't believe how time has passed.
We have our white coat ceremony in December. We have been wearing our white coats because it's part of our uniform, but we have not had an official ceremony. It is a privilege and honor to wear the white coat. So it's really a big deal. Almost as big as graduation.

2 down

Hello again everyone!!

Praise GOD!!!

 I have made it through another semester. This is the 2^nd of 3 semesters for the didactic year. I am almost finished with my first year of PA school! I can’t believe how time has passed. This time last year, I had been accepted and was just waiting to start and preparing to move. I was also finishing a class for the program.  Now I’m almost finished with my didactic year. I don’t feel like I know anything but I’ve heard that’s the way I’m supposed to feel at this point. I have been to a few pharmaceutical type dinners and I find that I am able to follow along and comprehend what they are talking about. 

This semester was very busy. We had a lot of information to learn. We lost one of our classmates; however, it was due to medical reasons. GOD has allowed him to reapply and hopefully I’ll get to see him next year. The school has started interviewing for next year’s class. I haven’t been interviewing, but I am there to answer questions about the school and the program.  For those that are interviewing at any school, some advice. It’s important to know about the profession and even better if you know about the school. Some of the interviewees that I have seen have been asking simple questions about the profession. That doesn’t make sense to me. If you are going into something, wouldn’t you want to know all about it? 

Our program director tells us that next semester is not difficult as this past semester just more time consuming. It seems a lot more fun, though. The classes I’m taking next semester:

Physical Diagnosis III

Clinical and Surgical Procedures

Fundamentals of Diagnostics Methods

The Principles of Life Support and EKG

Clinical Medicine III

Pharm III

Clinical Psychiatry

Medical Genetics

We also have ACLS and PALS this semester. We have a couple of classes that are in the evening, but we have a lot more days that start later. This past semester, we were in class from 8am-5pm. This coming semester does not seem as bad. We do have a couple of days where we are in class from 8am to 9pm but there are not many. Our program director has been really great about working with the schedule. That’s the advantage of having a small class. She is able to manipulate the schedule and accommodate the students.

So for now, I’m just relaxing, enjoying my time, and cooking for my hubby every day. I really enjoy cooking. I only have a week off.

1 down, 5 to go

YES!!!
PRAISE GOD!!! The semester is over! I have a whole week off.

I made it through my first semester of PA school. All I can say is, 'WOW!' It wasn't too crazy but it was enough. I'm looking forward to next semester but I will admit, I'm a little nervous. This is the semester we learn the 'medicine' of PA school. This past semester was more of a review and a little introduction. Now we are getting into the 'nitty-gritty'. I have all my books, that I know of so far. Last semester they told us about a book we needed on the first day of class. I order all my books online because they are a little cheaper so it took a while to get that book. I also have the syllabi from two of my classes. I think I will start reading some of the assignments for the first week. I don't like getting behind and if I can stay ahead of the game, it'll be good for me. Just in case I slip.

This week I've been off has definitely been a 'relax' week. Although, I have cleaned the house. But that is usually relaxing to me. My husband doesn't understand it. It could be that having a clean house makes me relaxed or maybe the act of cleaning is relaxing in itself. I'm not sure. I have also planted a garden - an indoor garden since I live in an apartment. I don't think it should be too hard to water a few plants at the end of the day. I've always wanted to plant a garden. When we get a house, I want to have a greenhouse. I'm growing okra, green beans, green peppers and tomatoes. We eat those a lot and the possibility of having them fresh is appealing to me. That and the fact that fresh vegetables can be a bit costly if you buy them from the grocery store. We have been able to find a few farmer's markets around the area but I don't know if I will have the time to go. I also planted an avocado seed. I don't know if it will grow though. I looked on a few websites and they say it takes a while for those to grow. It was fun planting it. I think planting makes you feel like a little kid - you know playing in the dirt, getting your hands dirty. It was great.

This week I have also tried to finish the scrapbooks that I have started, over 4 years ago. It is a process. First, I didn't have enough materials, so I got a lot of materials. Then, I ran out of photo paper. I print pictures at home with my photo printer. So I got more photo paper the other day. Now, my photo printer is out of ink. It is a never ending process it seems like. I wanted to finish my 'bonus' daughter's scrapbook this week but I don't see that happening.

My husband and I celebrated our 4th anniversary this past weekend. It was wonderful. I am so happy and thankful that he was able to come with me on my journey. I know some people who go without their spouses or significant others.  I don't know if I could have done that. He is my support system and my motivation. Having him here reminds me of the bigger picture when I can only see that day or that week of school. For our anniversary, he took me shopping. I know that sounds crazy but I have never had the chance to just pick out what I want, regardless of cost. I got what I wanted and it was actually fun.

That's another thing. GOD is great!! HE has blessed us financially. We actually have more money now then when we were both working. I don't know how HE has done it but I'm going to continue to proclaim HIM as LORD and that JESUS died for our sins to give us a way back to HIM!  I'm going to continue serving HIM and trying to live a life that is pleasing in HIS sight. I will continue to be a light in this dark world.
Well that's all for now. I'm going to play Call of Duty for about 3 hours.

BE BLESSED!!

Hello Again

Hello everyone,
Sorry it has been a while since I have written. I really don't know where to begin. I'm actually about to go to bed after a long day of studying and school. I have my first lab practical tomorrow. We are being tested on bone structures. I think I am ready and I pray that I do well. I have been doing well on my tests in Anatomy and Physiology, and we just started Microbiology this week. I have 6 weeks left in this semester and one week for Spring Break before I get 'down and dirty'. What I mean is classes are going to be more intense. It is exciting when I think about the information I will be learning. I'm not sure of all the classes I'm taking yet, but I know I have Pharmacology, Clinical Medicine, and Pathophysiology.
So far, I have learned how to perform a HEENT exam. This is a Head, Eyes, Ears, Nose and Throat exam. I have also learned how to perform a lung and cardiovascular exam. They are teaching us how to do comprehensive exams now, but we will learn how to do more focused exams toward the end of our first year. I have never seen doctors perform some the procedures in the exams that we have learned; however, I do understand the purposes of the procedures and how abnormal results correlated with some disorders.
I am always grateful to GOD for the opportunity to share my experiences. I pray someone will be bless by reading my post. If you have any questions or comments....you know what to do  :)
Be Blessed!!

Another week

So I have finished yet another week. Going into week 5; 11 more till the end of the semester. I'm not counting down really, just really ready to get into the real meat of things. We are doing basics, reviewing Anatomy, Physiology, learning how to take histories, and we will learn how to perform a physical examination. But for the most part, it's relatively easy. I hate to say that word because it's not easy, it's just not as hard coming in. I think next semester is going to be crazy though.
We had tests in our 'major' classes, Anatomy and Physiology. I got an A on the Physiology test and I think I did relatively well on the Anatomy test. We have test every 2weeks in those classes.
We have Applied Learning which is like a "mini clinical". It's like a shadowing opportunity but with more interaction with the patients. We are suppose to be able to do a history and possibly physical exams. I don't know if I'll be able to do that at my site because the patients are mostly Spanish speaking, and I am not on that level yet. They have me at a Pediatric clinic, which is not bad because that's what I'm use to. I can only pick out a few words my preceptor was saying. Maybe with practice and actually learning, I will learn the language. Maybe this will be the motivation I need to really learn Spanish and stick with it.
All and all, it's good. I'm always grateful to GOD for the opportunity to go to school. When I look at my life and think things over, I praise GOD for His love and His mercy.
That's all for now; thanks for reading my blog and if you have any comments or questions, let me know.

Thank You

Thank You GOD, for another day.
It's been rough. Not rough because I don't understand what I'm reading, but rough because there is A LOT of reading. For all those soon to be PA students, there is A LOT OF READING. If you are not a reader, I suggest you start reading. I have read a total of 10 chapters in the last 3days. I have one more to read and then some memorizing to do (for Anatomy). I have to take a break to let my mind relax before I get into this next wave of reading.
Other than that, I'm having fun in school. It's a lot of information that needs to be process. I just want to make sure i have it for life, not just for the test. I have been voted the president of my class, somewhat unofficially, but I'm guessing it's going to stick. I think I made someone mad, though. I know some people like to be in charge but at what cost, and why do you want to be in charge. I was nominated to be president while someone else volunteered. Should that person be upset because I was nominated and voted by the majority, and that person volunteered and didn't win? I don't know but that's how it is.
One of my instructors told us something very profound the other day. I don't know why I never thought about it this way, but he said, "You are going to kill people, you are going to save people and you will write prescriptions, that's the nature of your job." I know about the potential of people dying but just hearing it like that makes it real; and really scary. I know no one wants to kill people but in this "practice" we call medicine, it's bound to happen. I just want my failure rate to be extremely, extremely low. It doesn't change what my goals are, just changes my perspective. It makes me want to know more so I don't have the habit of killing anyone. My prayer to GOD is that I give Him glory in my career. I know not everyone believes in GOD, but I want my light to shine so others can see (Matt 5:16), and ask and maybe, by helping someone in their healing process, they will come to know GOD and accept Jesus as Savior.
Thanks for stopping by to read my post. Hopefully it's helpful. I don't write much during the week because I'm so busy but the weekends are not half bad. I'll try to post often.

Just another day

Just another day, that the LORD has kept me
So day 2 is over and done with, um...I don't know how many more for this semester. I haven't gotten to the point yet that i want to count. That and the fact that I'm still trying to organize my life. We haven't hit the meat of things yet so I don't have a solid routine for studying and all that. The classes i will be taking this semester are:

Introduction to the PA Profession
Medical Terminology
Human Anatomy and Physiology
Physical Diagnosis I
Applied Learning Experience
Healthcare Policy
Psychosocial Issues in Healthcare
Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
Microbiology

Like I said, we haven't touched the meat of things yet so I don't have a study schedule just yet. One thing I advise for anyone reading, save money for books. That's if you don't plan on using loans. The best thing to do is either talk to someone from the previous class or buy online. My school gave us a book list and very conveniently had the ISBN number. It helps when looking for them on Amazon.com. I think I save at least $200-$300. You can also order a stethoscope and otoscope online.
Well that's it for today. I'm on  my way to get a Bamboo Tablet. Someone in my class has one and it looks very cool and useful.
We'll see. My lovely husband agree to buy one for me. I really hope it is a good investment.
His mercy endures forever

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL!!!

(From "Finding Nemo") First day of school, first day of school!
So today was the first day of school. Man, it is so surreal. I am so thankful to GOD for this opportunity. Now it is my hands to do what I need to do. We had orientation and also our first lecture. Orientation was just getting to know each other, our professors and our school. We had a couple of people come and talk to us and we went over our student handbook. I have two test this week already. I'm not too worried about them though, it's Medical Terminology, which I have taken twice already, and Introduction to PA profession, which is not bad because I have been researching this career for about 10 years now. I know a lot of what was in lecture today. So this week is probably going to be the easiest week until I graduate.
Praise God from whom all blessings flow!!