Monthly Archives: October 2024

Two Years in the ED

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It’s been two years since I first walked into the ED as a tech. It’s been quite the ride.

For those who haven’t heard or read the story of how I got into the ED, Next Steps tells the tale. Even after getting the job, I was trepidatious. It wasn’t long before I decided I was definitely in the right place. And now I’m even more convinced that I am.

My original hope was that I’d be in PA school by now, but honestly, the extra year has been worth it. There are several reasons. For one thing, I’ve gotten a lot better at being a tech.

It also has given me the opportunity take over and teach the “Tech in Trauma” class required by all techs before they can become red-badged (meaning they can be the lead tech on traumas). I’ve also spent a lot more time assisting in procedures, including providing traction while the orthopedic doctor set a femur, suturing, even being part of a thoracotomy. While I wasn’t the ones doing the main work, simply observing such stuff has helped me to learn and will be invaluable once I start my clinical portion of my education.

I also, once I was accepted, decided to take an additional step at ensuring my success. Like the days of old when a monarch might assemble a Council of War to advice them for upcoming battles, I’ve assembled a Council of Moore. I asked three people in the ED that I have a lot of respect for, one of the attending, a PA, and one of the assistant nurse managers to be part of my Council of Moore. We’ve had one meeting already where I was able to get some good advice and as I go through the next two years I’ll be relying on them for advice, feedback, criticism when necessary and even a wee bit of cheerleading. Had I started PA school a year ago, I doubt I would have taken this step, much to my detriment.

When I started working in the ED my goal was at least 1000 hours of patient care experience, because that’s the minimum of what most schools I was applying to required. At this point I calculate I have approximately 4,500 and will have well over 5,000 by the time I start school. It’s been long and tiring, and some weeks I’ve worked 60 or more hours in the ED, but it’s been oh so worth it.

So here it is two years later and I’m still going strong and raring to start PA school come next May!

One last comment: my statements above are not endorsed by my employer, Albany Medical Health System nor do they reflect the views of my employer.

All’s Quiet on the PA Front

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I can’t believe it’s been since July that I’ve made a blog post. That’s two whole months of not posting. There have been multiple reasons, including laziness on one hand and being too busy on the other. Looking over my work calendar I’ve worked a number of Monday night overnight shifts, which means I’ve simply been asleep during the time I’d normally be posting on Tuesdays.

At the start of the year I picked up a lot of extra shifts, in part to ensure I had more patient contact hours when applying to PA schools. That obviously paid off. Since then I’ve picked up shifts for the extra money and experience and honestly because some nights we’ve been short-staffed and I’ve felt like helping out. One of the benefits of picking up shifts on short-staffed nights is that I’m often in the A-Zone which is not only where the traumas come to, but also where the tech desk is next to the provider desk. This, for me, is the real benefit. I learn a lot this way.

For example last week, both the attending and the lead PA that night had students following them. And in good Socratic fashion, they took time out to further their students education. Since these were slow nights, this meant I was able to listen in and even participate. As a result, I got basically graduate level lectures on hyperkalemia and pain management. That’s pretty cool.

I also in the last month was able to take advantage of some time schedule and visit the campus of the PA school I’m currently planning on attending. It was both exciting and a bit of a letdown. The letdown is because (and this is typical of a number of programs) it’s not on the main campus of the associated university and is basically in an office building. So much for that ivy covered wall experience. That said, I’ve had that, so that’s ok. But it was definitely exciting because I was able to stand in the classrooms and lecture halls I’ll be in in about 8 months!

I still wake up and have to pinch myself and say, “did I really get in?” I’m in a number of Facebook groups for prospective PA students and it’s heartbreaking to see some of the posts as they list their rejections and the like. I give advice where wanted and condolences where appropriate. There are also the successes which are nice to see and to give congratulations on.

But at this point, PA school itself is 8 months away. I’m thrilled and nervous!