-S to -C

I passed the boards! If feels great. I'll be completely honest. I really wasn't sure when I left the exam suite if I was going to pass. It was pretty tough. I have read that there are two versions of the exam. One slightly harder one, and another that is slightly easier, and exam questions are weighted. So you don't get a percentage at the end as your score. You get a number that is calculated. It took me the entire 6 hours (including breaks) to finish, and it never takes me the whole time to finish an exam. Boy was I tired after all that. I came home and crashed, hard, for about an hour and a half. But it is over, and thankfully I don't have to worry about it for the next 5-6 years!

All in all I actually did well on the boards. I think the reason I left the exam frustrated was because I could only remember the questions that I was sure I got wrong. It was hard for me to even remember any of the questions I was sure I got right. It was sort of the same feeling I had when I left my interview for PA school. I was so focused on the things I "should have said" that I thought it didn't go so well.

Oh well. I passed, and that is all that matters. Now I am just in a waiting game... and it isn't fun. The hospital I will be working at doesn't really count the temporary license as anything. (A fact I wish I would have known before paying the money for one.) And they also want a hard copy of my certificate from NCCPA. Those things are in the works, I just have to wait for them to get to me in the mail. I have done everything else I need to do to start. Now I am just sitting around doing basically... nothing. That might sound like a great thing, but consider this. I have been BUSY every day for the last 24 months. I have always had something I could be studying or brushing up on for something related to school. All of a sudden that all comes to a screeching halt, and it is weird... and... boring. Haha. I am soooo glad to be done with school. I just wish I could find a hobby or something to occupy my time until I start work. Oh well, I guess I'll have to get over the fact that I can sleep in everyday and do whatever I want... and not feel guilty about watching the TV for more than 20mins or playing video games at all! My life is pretty rough right now.... :-)

Til next time,
M-R

Graduated

Hello all,

It has been a really, really long time since I have posted. To those who were following along, I apologize. The last several months have been tough. Not only have they been tough mentally, but physically and emotionally. My loved ones have sacrificed a lot during this time, and I have been feeling like the last two years I was on a deserted island or something. Every time I got a chance to relax for a minute and get on the computer I only wanted to do something brainless because I could not think anymore. Therefore, writing in my blog became less and less of something that I wanted to do.

The good news is, I made it!!!! I graduated and got my big boy coat! Now all I have to do is take the PANCE next week, hopefully pass, and I don't "have" to study for the next 5-6 years. Of course I will be studying everyday. Reading at least an article or getting on uptodate to read about something. But I won't be studying because I have a test to take and I really have to make sure I know the most random knowledge, not necessarily stuff important for patient care, so I can pass. It will be a nice change of pace to read about something because I know it is relevant to my practice and patient, and not because it is on the exam.

Oh! Something I probably should have posted awhile ago: I did get a job! I have had a job for a few months now. I will be working in one of the local hospitals doing inpatient Internal Medicine. I am really looking forward to starting work, and making a paycheck. It will be a far-cry from paying to work ;-)

Anyway, I guess that is it for now. I am looking forward to seeing where this blog goes from here. I think I am planning on continuing to update as I go along. This will give those looking toward PA as a potential career, and those wondering what the first year out looks like, an idea of what they might expect. Good luck to all those finishing up this year too. It feels absolutely amazing!

'Til Then,
M-R