A little about me: I've been a registered respiratory therapist (RRT) for 19 years now. I wanted to
be a PA shortly after beginning my career, when I found myself working with some PA's in the emergency room and on the wards. I've always admired their training, autonomy, and professionalism. Another appealing aspect of becoming a PA has been the length of training required. In 27 months of rigorous didactic and clinical training, I could significantly expand my autonomy, increase my knowledge of medicine, and become an key member of the patient's care team. For me, it was the next obvious step in my love of medicine and patients, and to expand my role on the team.
After being accepted and excited to begin one of the top PA programs in our nation, I began PA school in the Fall of 2015. While, as a non-traditional student (I'm 47), I found it difficult and challenging being back in the classroom, I very much loved being neck deep in the curriculum of the first semester and learning from, what I consider, to be the best and brightest instructors in the world. http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-health-schools/physician-assistant-rankings However, about halfway through the first semester of school, my mother was unexpectedly faced with some medical issues. As part of her treatment, she would require back surgery. The first surgery didn't correct the problem as the doctor had hoped and in fact, it seemed to make matters worse.Two days after the initial surgery, my mother would once again undergo back surgery. After the second surgery she improved minimally, and was discharged home to recover and later begin physical therapy. For her the pain was unbearable during her recovery at home, but she tired to press on. Unfortunately, while recovering at home, she fell in the bathroom while using her walker and broke her leg. It was with this setback that I made the tough decision to withdraw from school, in order to return home to help care for my mother. As it turned out, she would not have to have surgery for the broken leg, but she would have to wear a cast until it healed. To add to that, it was decided that she'd need a third back surgery (once the leg healed enough) to correct the compression of spinal nerves that was causing her such great pain and loss of ability to walk. In February of 2016, my mother underwent her third surgery to correct the problem. The procedure is called an ALIF procedure https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXtKKB6zEhM and thus far has brought much pain relief, along with regaining 80% use of her lower limbs.
Since withdrawing from school in 2015, I have been accepted back into the same program for the Fall of 2017. I continue to work as a respiratory therapist 3 and 4 days a week and during my off time, I study anatomy, physiology, pathology, and clinical medicine books on my own, in preparation for my return to the rigor of coursework to come; better known as "the thunder dome" of PA school. After getting a stiff drink from the fire hydrant of first semester training, I'd be foolish not to spend my time wisely, getting ready for the grind that will soon be here. To that end, I hope you'll follow along as I spend the next year getting ready and even when I officially start the program. As I blog, I'll be sharing information on textbooks, websites, and different cases I find interesting while working in the University Medical setting during the year proceeding re-entry to PA school.Thanks for following along and please feel free to contact me with questions or comments. While my goal is to have a weekly post, I suspect that will wax and wane when school begins again, but I think having a blog to document and share my journey will be well worth it.
Take care!
Bryan
No comments:
Post a Comment