#panre

Soooo it’s been a minute since the members of #pablr have chit chatted on slack! Last time was September of 2017! 

@hangrypa​ had brought up reviving this venue and I think it’s swell. Click on the LINK to be added! This is a new link from the old slack channel. Apparently, the free version of slack is a little limited in space and I don’t feel like deleting individual messages. :-D 

In the past, we have generally organized scheduled live chats centered on a variety of topics like pre-pa stuff/shadowing/volunteer, pa-s stuff, and pa-c stuff. Once we get people added, we wills start organizing chats!

- after studying waaaaay too much for the PANRE... turns out it’s WAY easier after being in family medicine for a few years, weeee!!!! (also turns out I wouldn’t have had to take it at all, but that’s a whole ‘nother thing.)

- after getting faster internet

A very Happy Thanksgiving to all of my followers! I am extremely grateful for you all. This blog started in 2011 when I was teaching French and wanting to pursue medicine but didn’t know how. It evolved into a blog about my journey as a non-trad in PA school and my life as a PA-C.

I found a great medical community here for support and guidance and I’m so grateful to be able to pay it forward and offer advice and help for people who are also on the journey to PA school. There were many times that I NEVER thought that I would get where I am. I am grateful to all of you who provided words of encouragement and support. 

Y’all are awesome. Seriously. Thank you for following me and thank you for supporting me. 

Mr Poppen and I have finally moved to our new town! We are basically mostly moved in and unpacked. It was the most stress free move I have ever had so that must mean something. Our rabbit is adjusting well. He was so grumpy the week before the move, the day of, and the day after. Although, his enclosure is almost 3 times as big as the last one (which was too small anyway), it was a lot change for the little guy. I can happily report that he is eating, banking, pooping, and snuggling well. :-D

I start my first job as a PA-C on 3/4. The move was distracting and so I didn’t have time to contemplate this change but now it is hitting me like a ton of bricks. I haven’t even TOUCHED a patient since November. It feels like an eternity since I took my boards. I also feel like I forgot everything. *sigh*

I know that I haven’t. It is just weird to be in this place. I wanted to be a physician assistant for so long and now I did the thing and I am starting my big person job and I’m unclear how to proceed. I still feel so stupid and the learning curve for burn medicine is SO steep. I’ve been reviewing big picture burn stuff (pathophys, common complications, resuscitation, etc) but I feel so…unprepared? My job CLEARLY stated that they would be training me and they know that my knowledge base is limited in burn specifically. It’s just…overwhelming I guess.

PA-Cs of tumblr: how did you handle transitioning from student to provider? What tips do you have for a new graduate? I am 1000% prepared to be honest about what I know and don’t know. I realize the importance of being clear about that. I guess I’m just wondering how you balanced being the provider and still needing to know so much?

And it REALLY cuts into my boards study time, man. I do like 15 practice questions and I’m ready for a nap. Today, I’m going to *attempt* to get in 5 total hours with 40 practice questions. The questions are easier to accomplish but then filling in the time reviewing the stuff I don’t know is annoying. I’m glad I signed up for Rosh Review because it gives me great stats on the stuff I don’t know, which is now a paper list called “Shit You Suck At”.