This week I started the first rotation of my clinical year! I will be working with a PA in a family medicine clinic for the next week. I was terrified going into this week- I honestly wanted to just take on another year of didactic learning than have to put myself into an unknown situation every month. BUT I’ve had so much fun this week!

First and foremost, I’ve learned that adjusting to a working schedule is HARD. Even though I’m working in a clinic with normal 8-5 hours (while others have to work MUCH harder hours), I’ve been exhausted every night coming home. I definitely need to practice being productive when I get off work and then going to bed early, instead of vegging out as soon as I get home and getting nothing done.

Additionally, I learned that I am much more capable than I gave myself credit for. Within only two days, I was seeing my own patients and not feeling completely lost! I still get very nervous when doing a physical exam, and I’ve learned I am NOT very good at actually seeing things in peoples’ ears haha, but I can elicit a pretty good history from patients and get a general idea of what is going on and what needs to be done.

Over the next 3 weeks, I hope to improve my ability to get important information from patients, become more confident when doing a physical exam, and develop my skills for diagnosis and treatment. Especially meds- your girl needs to re-learn her meds. 

Send any PA or pre-PA friends my way, and I’ll be happy to answer any questions!