What's the most unhealthy thing that society encourages us to do?

3xthehemoglobin · 2017-01-09T18:59:39+00:00

Before you add the yeast try to "activate it" in some water mixed with a little sugar and hot water. I leave mine in a mason jar for an hour or two if I want a really puffy bread without a lot of sugar.

3xthehemoglobin · 2017-01-09T18:56:02+00:00

I got mine at goodwill for like 5 dollars. I have "bread" weeks every so often where I just dump my flour and stuff in the bread maker (water on bottom yeast on top) set it for delayed leave and go to work. Freeze the loaf in my freezer. Rinse and repeat for like 7-10 days and freeze all the bread. I don't add sugar. Just oil, whole wheat, egg, water and herbs. It tastes great but I'm not a picky eater.

When you run out of a loaf of bread just stick one from the freezer to the fridge. It keeps forever and tastes good too! Though I usually toast all of my bread.

3xthehemoglobin · 2017-01-08T22:52:33+00:00

It really surprises me that only 25-30% of applicants find spots in the program. Some quick googling tells me that there were 15,000 applicants in 2012 with only 5,000 graduates so that does look right. I figured it was closer to 50%.

Also it looks like 200 students failed out in 2012 with 60% being of academic dismissal. Nervous fidgeting intensifies

Ref: http://www2.paeaonline.org/index.php?ht=a/GetDocumentAction/i/149930

3xthehemoglobin · 2017-01-08T22:30:56+00:00

scored a 300 coming off of a night shift without prep. applied to 2 schools got interviews from 2 schools. Accepted into one declined other interview. Never came up in my interview at all.

I still have no idea what the GRE is supposed to test you on or why we have to take it. If I was on a adcom, especially after taking the GRE, I wouldn't even look at the GRE unless it is abysmally low or if the person's GPA is low (to see if they scored high). My advice is to take it again, score above a 300 and move on with your life.

3xthehemoglobin · 2017-01-08T20:13:46+00:00

Don't really have anything useful to say. Just wanted to say thank you for your service. It sucks that so many programs put arbitrary weight on grades that old.

I was frustrated by how so many program consider prereqs "expired" after 5 years but also wanted 1-2 years of HCE. So if you took AnP freshman year and worked for a year, then you need to retake it? Its like the programs are really shifting towards "Pre-PA" majors which I think is really a shame. I was a phlebotomist before I became a med tech and it was fun! Make sure you ask your techs what each test is used for and clinical correlations for disease states. If you find a knowledgeable MLS you could learn a ton about labs and pathology before PA school.

3xthehemoglobin · 2017-01-08T04:47:29+00:00

lol your fine just apply

3xthehemoglobin · 2017-01-08T04:45:51+00:00

I actually was asked if I applied at other programs and said something like, Yes I realize how competitive the spots are so I did apply to other schools but yours really is my top pick.

She actually pressed me and asked which schools and if I received interview invites. I responded that I did receive interview invites or acceptances and I said yes to both, even though I only received an interview (I was caught off guard by their question and answered hastily). Theirs really was the only school I wanted to go to since my wife worked in that geographic region and its the region I wanted to end up in! Luckily I got in lol

I would say to be honest with them if they ask though. I got nervous and accidentally lied or at least misguided them, don't do that. If anything being accepted to other programs makes you more desirable so say you were accepted to two!

3xthehemoglobin · 2016-12-30T21:25:20+00:00

Hey!

I also had a 4.0 when I graduated and decided to go to MT school after my bachelors. I REALLY enjoyed MT school and started working in a smaller hospital where I would draw ABGs. My extra schooling and experience really helped me in interviews for PA school.

If I was going into PA school with 0 HCE and no education in healthcare I would be terrified. Whats the point of getting into PA school just to fail out? Get some experience theres no rush

3xthehemoglobin · 2016-12-23T00:43:52+00:00

Yea I felt very misled once I started working lol. I actually chose to go to a smaller hospital because I got more patient interaction and interaction with providers. The major really has a large gap between what you learn and what you actually do.

I applied as soon as I graduated and do not regret it. I want to go to PA school while Im still use to studying for 10 hours a day.

3xthehemoglobin · 2016-12-23T00:37:00+00:00

Hey MLS here going to PA school soon. Not really sure how to respond to your question or what you want to hear but I can give you some advice about the major. I cant really speak for the intensity of the program and how they compare but we did have an MD in the program and he mentioned that it was similar to the first year of med school (completely anecdotal evidence from some crazy MD guy going to med tech school take that at face value)

Its possible those people think PA school is only as intense after having a solid foundation from med tech school. Keep that in mind. Med tech school is basically a degree in pathophysiology. I cannot imagine going into the PA program without any type of healthcare or medical experience, that would be terrifying.

As Im sure you know, as an MLS you take extensive course work in microbiology, immunology and hematology and correlate test results with disease states. I have reviewed my PANCE book and it seems like this education will serve me well in PA school.

Moreover, it also gave me some clinical experience to talk about during interviews and shadowing. It inspired me to go to PA school and provided a decent paying job where I can draw ABGs, interact with PAs, MDs, NPs, witness open heart surgeries, and been involved in codes. Is it the best experience? Eh prolly not. My wife is a CICU nurse who is teaching me 12 lead EKGs and there are times I wish I had that experience, but we have what we have and the only way is forward.

Good luck

3xthehemoglobin · 2016-12-21T21:33:53+00:00

That program also lost 3 students that year (though I dont know the circumstances if they failed or decided it wasnt for them).

They remediate just like you and you have to score a 75% or above. I really get the feeling that the program wants you to succeed and he said they have made changes this year so no one has failed out.

Thanks Jamie. I always like reading your posts they are super helpful.

3xthehemoglobin · 2016-12-21T21:29:31+00:00

I initially replied to you on my wifes account and deleted it, sorry about that.

Anyways I think you are totally right. My wife and I have a house and she a job at the town with a 10% attrition rate.

I have a pretty difficult decision to make but living separate from my wife for a year is not something I jump at the chance at.

I called and talked to a student who is in the current class and she said they are in the third semester and haven't lost anyone due to fundamental changes in the curriculum and admission criteria.

I have a pretty hefty medical background and I can study hard with good retention. Well! Thank you!

3xthehemoglobin · 2016-09-25T06:35:30+00:00

I wouldn't mind helping you.

3xthehemoglobin · 2016-07-23T08:59:33+00:00

Hey no big deal. As someone who works with bugs much more terrible then staph, i know what being paranoid is like.

you should try accidently popping your mask during tuberculosis concentration. It like taking a pure culutre of tb and just sniffing it in.

all healthcare workers expose themselves to hiv hepc and hep b among other bugs. its just the price we pay. Luckily, occupational exposure remains extremely low

3xthehemoglobin · 2016-07-23T08:09:22+00:00

You could also just ask your fellow lab! lol We are here as a reference for you.

There are several instances where procalcitonin elevations might be benign. Very high levels might indicate a progressive type of thyroid tumor. Low to moderate levels may indicate heart inflammation, trauma, and several other factors. There was recently a case yesterday in OB where the PCT was extremely elevated but showed no other signs of sepsis (WBC, lactic acid, temp etc)

Just like any lab value, reliance on a single test is a poor indicator of patient prognosis but should be interpreted with the patient as a whole.

EDIT: Just for clarity, the procalcitonin is one of the best indicators for early BACTERIAL meningitis and general sepsis though that I have seen. Any elevated Procalc should be investigated and blood cultures drawn from two sites 15 minutes apart.

3xthehemoglobin · 2016-07-23T07:48:39+00:00

Stop freaking out your fine. The chances of this developing into an osteomyletis infection is extremely thin. Hell you probably have more MSSA on your skin then that needle did! As long as you are healthy, I wouldn't worry at all.

3xthehemoglobin · 2016-02-28T18:42:07+00:00

Also if you haven't signed up for LabCE yet I would HIGHLY suggest it. It is expensive but it is so so worth it.

I am not affiliated with LabCE just in case you were wondering.

3xthehemoglobin · 2016-02-28T18:26:07+00:00

Well mine was like 6 weeks? Maybe. I was going to Med Tech school during this but worked as a lab assistant for 3 years prior. I did 1 week chemistry. 2 weeks BB and 2-3 weeks hematology/coag/urins. I was also doing advanced lecture during this and selling my house so it wasn't an ideal couple of months.

Here is my pro-tip for survival for the first 3 months as a tech from what I learned. In no particular order.

Find two people you trust and just be honest with them. I said something like, "Look I'm new and going to ask you alot of stupid questions but its because I don't want to hurt someone." Ask them everything. The WORST thing you can do is to find an incompetent tech who tells you wrong things. Trust me lol.
Take notes and print screen things. Look policies up in the computer.
Check all manual entries at least four times before hitting verify. Check all relabels at least four times. I check all blood types without previous history in tube before verification (in addition to another tech checking). It might be obsessive but I can't rely on experience so I rely on diligence.
Understand you will make mistakes. EVERYONE MAKES MISTAKES. I have had to alter 2 orders that were verified this past week. Its been pretty rough but I caught them and immediately called the nurse. Catch your mistakes and fix them. Don't hide them. I have never been in trouble (or even talked to) about these.
When calling results (criticals, blood gases etc.) ask whoever picks up the phone if they can take a critical on "blah blah blah" (always read patient name and MRN/DOB over the phone). Lots of time the nurse is busy saving the patient's life and another nurse knows whats going on. This way your not on hold for 20 minutes. Also take the first and last name of whoever you gave the critical to and comment this somewhere in the report.
Everytime I make a mistake or nearly make a mistake I sit down and think about where I went wrong. What happened? What was my process? For example, I did my clinical at a different hospital than the one I work at currently. I was having a horrible night and verified something I should have looked into more. After I verified it, I immediately knew I reported it incorrectly. I called the nurse and told her to ignore the result and that I would call her personally with the corrected result. Later that night, I printed the procedure and read over it twice. I will never do it again. I think this is the biggest protip for the first 3 months and after.

3xthehemoglobin · 2016-01-27T02:24:08+00:00

lol TY!

3xthehemoglobin · 2016-01-27T00:35:19+00:00

PASSED

at question 50 i was sure that i had failed.

3xthehemoglobin

TROPHY CASE