PA-Strong

Documenting my journey in my last year as a PA student!

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August 16, 2017: Officially graduating from our physician assistant program and receiving our long white coats. It was such a long journey and I would not have made it without everyone in this picture, as well as the support of my family and friends. I'm so excited for all of us to start this next chapter of our lives and beginning a lifelong commitment to helping others. Congratulations to my fellow peers.

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GRADUATION

May 5, 2017 - University of Detroit Mercy

Pictures of my beautiful friends on our graduation day. We did not receive our degrees on this day as we we're not technically done with the program. We got to celebrate such a monumental accomplishment.

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Je suis fini!

It's true, I have finally finished PA school. I'm officially a physician assistant, just waiting in the -C (as soon as I pass my boards!). And the job hunt continues. When starting school I was so set on a certain field, then quickly learned I had completely different interests. Now that I have completed school, I can't wait to start working, whatever field it may be. I'm so ready to begin learning and using the knowledge I've obtained over these past 3 years.

My final rotation, Internal Medicine preceptorship was a great ending to my clinical rotation year. I had a great preceptor which helps, but was able to balance learning, working and enjoying my time with my peers and patients. I'm so thankful to everyone that's helped me along the way. My teachers, preceptor, family and PA family, without whom, I would have never completed this journey.

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So, I'm a little out of sequence. I haven't posted about my recent 2 weeks in LTC, or my 3 week elective in orthopedics, but this could not wait. Today I began my first day of my OB/GYN rotation, specifically labor and delivery!. If you couldn't tell by the expression on my face, I am more than thrilled. I have been waiting for this over a year. After quick introductions, I was ushered into the OR to scrub for my delivery, a c-section. I was able to witness the miracle of a little baby girl being born today. I can't wait for tomorrow, I'll keep you posted!

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ER Rotation

March 2017: When it's slow on Easter, and you're working the ER. I have to say, I feel that my ER rotation was one of my favorite rotations so far. Is a great learning experience, working with multiple doctors everyday, and learning new things from each one. We thought our fair share of exciting traumas, and then the run-of-the-mill primary care complaints. Sometimes you feel like your in over your head.

One take away that found it very interesting, working in the ER in the city, find that there are many without access to health care, and regular Primary Care follow-up. Unfortunately, the resources of the emergency room are being abused, but this may be their only opportunity to get the health care they need, and you need to be able to help them. 1. It's important to do a full history on these patients, including medical history, surgical history, social history.

2. Review medications they are currently taking.

3. Make sure that they have prescription refills when discharged, so they are able to take medications as prescribed.

4. Counsel on the cessation of smoking, decrease in alcohol use and dangers of other drug use.

5. Provide education wherever, and whenever possible. Especially sex education and practicing safe sex.

6. Give patients access to free or low cost clinics for follow up, dental care, whatever they need. Use your resources!

I will admit I was a bit surprised at the amount of young adults coming into the ER with complaints of possible STIs concerned pregnancy. And they were unknowing to the normal function of their bodies. Such as menstrual cycles should occur "monthly". Another area of surprise was that the high rates of ectopic pregnancy and past medical history is many women in the city. This was brought to my attention by one of my preceptors, who made note that one cause can be history of sexually transmitted infections, or untreated sexual transmitted infections. Providing some information and education could help in one area to decrease this.

As students, your assistance with resuscitation, and traumas may be limited. Don't just stand back and watch, do whatever you can to help. This is helpful to the residents and attending school and a great way for you to take everything in. Put the patient in the monitor, put blood pressure cuff on, pulse ox, help get the patient out of clothes (always have scissors handy) and jewelry. While there are many things going on at once, one of the first things being done in an emergent resuscitation is getting vitals. Try to maintain composure and most importantly stay calm, you will see frightening things, but you need to remind yourself to stay calm.

Finally, be active, be forward. Take any opportunity you can for procedures, be it pap smears, ultrasound, suturing, I & D. And don't be nervous about doing it. Ask questions if you have any, research the procedure quickly before hand. Once they saw me throw a suture (nervously I might add), they kept coming to me with more lacerations. I got great experience, more than with my surgery rotation actually. I developed so much confidence in my self and abilities. 

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February 2017: Well, this is all I really have to show for my Pediatric rotation, The Wall. It was a pretty relaxed rotation, and my first with other students from my program. Don't get me wrong, we were very productive...but we know how to work hard and play hard! (By play hard I mean color an entire coloring book of Nemo/Frozen characters and then move on to Trolls) I say we were just channeling our inner child, to... you know, connect with the kids! 😁 I have to say, thing I learned the most for my preceptor during this rotation, was to love your patients and make them laugh. It can be scary to go to the doctor for the first time, for both the child and a parent. So make it something that they will enjoy and remember!

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Hi! I am currently majoring in biology but I am in the midst of deciding a major change due to the chemistry courses involved in the bio major. It's killing me slowly 😭 what are your thoughts on majoring in something other than chem or bio? What are some majors you've seen thoughout school?

I'm so sorry, I never saw your message! I'll be honest it's the first I've received haha.But if you're still having any concerns message me. As long as you meet your prerequisites, I know you can major in other subjects. Personally I just went with my program curriculum, as I was in the advanced PA Program. They didn't leave much room for deviation.

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January 2017: I finished my surgery rotation, praise the Lord. No, no, it really wasn’t all that bad. Also more amazing than I could have imagined. You’d think working with a bunch of surgical residents and doctors would be all serious, all the time, and that they’d be all uptight and intimidating. Well, they were half of the time, but they actually have a sense of humor and can crack a smile. Especially my attending, it’s really great because it makes you comfortable and able to open up, ask questions, learn. As much as I told myself I don’t want to work in surgery, they could have turned me…If it weren’t for those hours. Oh my God, those hours. 12 hours a day, 5 days a week, for 5 weeks! –coming from someone who’s never worked a 12 hr shift. More power to those people. – I was able to do it, but throughout the 5 weeks, I was on a slow downward spiral beginning Monday until I hit rock bottom on Friday. It was an amazing learning experience working with the chief of general surgery, a fellow and many residents. Most memorable I believe will be the med students that help get the hang of it in the beginning.

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HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! It's been a difficult year, it's been a good year. I completed my first semester of clinicals, met new people and learned so much from each of them. I can't wait for this new year and the new experiences that come with it! 2017 will be my year, the year I become a healthier me, the year I graduate PA school and become a PA-C. I am do excited for the opportunity to start working as a physician assistant and begin helping patients. Happy New Year to you and yours!

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So ready for this holiday break! Tis the season to relax and not study!!

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I have officially finished my second rotation, Inpatient Psychiatry! I had a wonderful time working with my preceptor, as well as the patients. As much fun as I had, I can’t wait to start my next rotation in Family Medicine, a nice change in pace. 

At this week’s MGM (Major Group Meeting) we met with the UDM Dental School in an effort to work interprofessionally with the dental students and dental hygiene students. We learned about the importance of early dental care and about the application of Fluoride Varnish. After that, we met with dental hygiene students who demonstrated an intraoral examination and guided us in the application of Fluoride Varnish on each other! It was an interesting and messy experience to say the least (I ended up getting some on my coat). It’s always fun when working with friends!

It was a great learning experience working together with the dental students, and learning from a different perspective. 

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Holla at your boy

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ACLS training during didactic week before rotations begin! We each got to run a Megacode and it was awesome!! It was excellent training, by the end of the course I was confident in my abilities to save a life one day. I don’t want anyone to be hurt but I can’t wait to jump on a chest and use my new skills!

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Didactic Week of Rotations

Well, break is over and didactic week begins. Right now I feel like I’m drinking out of a fire hydrant with the amount of information coming at me. 

 We have completed our 2-day ultrasound course, which was awesome!! I’ve never operated an U/S before so it took a little getting use to, but I was amazed at how much we learned in such a short period of time. I can’t wait to use these skills out on rotations...if I ever get one, haha. I haven’t received a rotation yet, and though I know the PA gods are diligently working to schedule one, I am an extremely impatient person. 

We are also obtaining ACLS training this week to assist us in rotations such as ER and Surgery. As much as I miss my break, I just LOVE it! 

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We Did It!

We passed PEDS!! Can't believe I finally made it and I wouldn't have with out the support of the people in this photo, my family and my faith. It's been a long year and there has been a lot of tears, laughs, hugs, good times and bad times. We have completed our didactic year of PA school and are starting our next chapter of clinicals in 2 short weeks!! I've made so many new friends and I love my PA fam. Congrats to all and good luck in the future! ❤️😷🏥💉💊 

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DATING IN GRAD SCHOOL

Throwback Thursday to August 2015!

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Truth!

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Senioritis

I have a serious case of senioritis approaching the end of this semester. What is the treatment you ask:

In all seriousness, we are sooo close to being done with didactic year, and I am so ready to start clinicals. It’ll be new and scary at first, but so exciting to finally start using all the information we’ve learned these past 5 years. 

One of the most important tips I’ve gathered about entering into rotations is to keep an open mind about EVERYTHING! Don’t tell your preceptors that you hate a certain rotation and would never consider doing it. At this point in our careers, WE LOVE EVERYTHING!! You never know who you are going to meet and what connections you may need in the future. Every experience is what you make of it and to get the most from each rotation you need to put your best foot forward and work hard. If they are doing a procedure, try to assist. Use every opportunity and learning experience to better yourself as a PA student and future PA professional.

To quote Beyonce, “We run this!” Let’s do it!!