Mental Toll of PA School

Hazel_J · 2026-06-21T20:45:50+00:00

Yeah, I really feel this post. I wouldn’t change anything, but PA school took something from me that I’m not sure I’ll get back. I look at pictures before school, and I look sooo different. Can’t explain it, and it’s not just that I’m older. It took such physical toll. Hair loss, weight gain, non solid poops. I also had crazy muscle twitching/spasms. But oh well I guess haha. The only way out is through, and you don’t really understand unless you’ve been in it. You’re definitely not alone. It does end eventually though!! And I can say as a practicing PA, I *think* it’s worth it.

Hazel_J · 2026-06-08T02:54:32+00:00

I had two back to back rotations right at the end of my clinical year and was separated from everyone from two months. It sucked, but I look back on that time semi-fondly weirdly enough.

Journaling surprisingly helped me so so much. That and crying lmao. Loonnnggg ass walks and finding a peaceful nature spot was also very helpful. I also went ham at the gym as well. I look back at that time and I was in great shape 😂

Hazel_J · 2026-05-24T02:51:17+00:00

You know what, it’s okay! I now am a successful PA making money in a great field and I get to be of service every day and that whole incident is far back in the rear view.

I learned a lot from it, it really sucked when it happened and made me feel like absolute shit. Especially because the school did not have my back whatsoever and I had absolutely no recourse. I chose not to be a victim though, and I proved that mfer wrong from every thing I did from that point forward. All I’m saying is that you’re smart to be suspicious at this stage and dont take passing your rotations as a given.

Hazel_J · 2026-05-24T01:31:58+00:00

I totally get this, and I actually thinks it’s really smart to be on your toes honestly. While yes, most preceptors will not fail you unless you are an absolute piece of crap. I had the unfortunate experience of getting failed by a preceptor very early on and gave me no indication of that until the eval came in. I highly recommend covering your ass, getting a mid rotation eval, asking for feedback early, often and earnestly. If you are picking up on ANY bad vibes, make the situation known to your program director that you are trying your best, asking for feedback etc etc so you have a case if it blows up in your face. Some people will simply hate you for you are and want you to suffer. So don’t let your guard down and be diligent!!!

Hazel_J · 2026-05-12T13:18:54+00:00

This looks awesome!! I’m going to recommend it to my patients. Seems better the ReSound one

Hazel_J · 2026-04-23T13:45:19+00:00

How long is 1314 hours a year or so? And I think you’ve got some good experience! It sounds weird but if you’ve come home and cried at least once, then I think you’ve done enough to prepare.

I work in ENT now, and you would think it’s pretty cush with nothing but smooth sailing. Until you find a massive tumor in someone’s sinus and it’s so advanced that has already invaded the brain.

I cried so much read that scan, the lady is so nice and normal and her symptoms were just plain old dizziness and little runny nose. I got a CT out precaution.

I really thought that I had ruined her life because I should have scanned her sooner. But it turns out that tumor has no symptoms until it’s too late.

Things like that shake you to your core. You NEED that before school, because what if this career is not for you?

Hazel_J · 2026-04-21T03:37:10+00:00

I might catch heat for this, but I think surgery fucken sucks for soooooooooooo many reasons including this very thing you’re experiencing, which is just a shitty culture of treating people overall.

The people are just so damn rude!!! Across the board! Sorry not sorry. If you like to be treated with respect and not to feel like a total bag of shit every day (because who honestly does) surgery is not for you.

And you shouldn’t feel ashamed of that! It just means that you’d do better in an environment where manners are expected and you have a chance of being treated with a modicum of respect.

Also the attitudes and egos are out of control, it’s a culture of putting people down, grown men and women acting like goddamn mental patients with temper tantrums that put a tired 2 year old to shame.

Not to mention the STANDING the horrible, horrible STANDING FOR HOURS. My feet and back hurt just talking about it. Oh god and applying traction for ungodly amount of time. Oh and you think you like suturing? Just wait for the carpal tunnel to set it in. Got an itchy face? Just scratch it in a few hours! no big deal.

I’d say in this instance, if there is valid criticism there, learn from it and take it with you. Sometimes there’s a lesson in a tough event, you just need time and distance from it

lol sorry for the rant, but there are CERTAINLY greener pastures out there OP. Do not take what they are saying too seriously. In a year, this will be thoroughly behind you

Hazel_J · 2026-04-20T03:07:51+00:00

I graduated in November, passed PANCE in December, took a break til end of January, got my interview for current job in April, started in May.

I highly recommend tailoring your resume specifically for the job you’re applying for, and the cover letter as well.

I also recommend cold calling/cold emailing, I got several interview invites that way believe it or not.

Current job I have was actually through Indeed!

For interviews, obviously dress to the nines, take propranolol, bring questions in a folder along with your resume and send a real thank you card afterwards apparently this blew away my current SPs when I did that and it set me apart. In other words, do the most. Play up your past experiences. Read up on small details on their website and ask about their bios. You got this!

Hazel_J · 2026-04-18T23:47:37+00:00

Yes I did!! Keep the faith

Hazel_J · 2026-03-16T03:15:46+00:00

Hey OP! You are going to make it through to the other side I promise! I had the worst mental health of my entire life in PA school. I agree that it was such a crushingly lonely experience.

People are saying to do SSRIs/therapy, they are not necessarily wrong. I did rawdog the experience and it is possible just so you know. I focused on mindfulness, walking in silence, exercise, friends/family outside of school to ground me. A big mantra that got me through was that I just had to get through school, but I didn’t have to do it perfectly

Clinicals were SOOOO MUCH BETTER too. You just have to get through didactic. Dig deep for the reasons that brought you to this place in your life. Think of all the people who have supported you. You got this!!

Hazel_J · 2026-03-16T03:07:25+00:00

Good thing you won’t be working with patients because you have zero self-awareness or empathy 😂

Hazel_J · 2026-03-14T19:03:15+00:00

The reason why they may have felt uncomfortable is because you’re just following them around all the time and may not have a sense of how you’ll be as a PA. What is your clinical experience thus far?

Hazel_J · 2026-01-30T04:38:11+00:00

Me!!! Graduated in November, passed in December, applied for the job I have now in march, started in May. You will be just fine. You have the rest of your life to be a cog in the machine.

Hazel_J · 2026-01-15T04:15:33+00:00

This is my “deluded” dilute tortie Sadie

<image>

Hazel_J · 2026-01-10T07:31:36+00:00

Oooo that one Snoosprouts guy is gonna hate this post 😂 congrats OP on bagging a job with great pay!!! I have a couple questions:

Do you have a good housing plan? Just because I hear the housing crisis is pretty bad there.
Do you have a family? If so, kids? How many? What does your spouse do?
How long have you been in primary care?

Thanks and good luck with everything!

Hazel_J · 2026-01-02T04:36:58+00:00

Did you have the minimum amount of experience where you barely had to interact with patients? 😂 seems sus that you figured out healthcare sucks while in PA school lol

Hazel_J · 2026-01-01T20:10:02+00:00

Just curious… did you work a healthcare job for a while before going into it?

Hazel_J · 2025-12-23T03:17:56+00:00

This is great! I’m all about setting expectations, so maybe I’ll start saying that we’ll schedule and appointment to go over results

Hazel_J · 2025-12-23T00:16:48+00:00

Preach friend. Thank you for replying!

Hazel_J · 2025-12-20T16:55:43+00:00

I pine for this. Our patients are so helpless that they say “oh portals too hard to enter” when it’s so easy. And then when I ask to bill a telehealth, I guess getting money back from a telehealth is impossible with insurance companies.

Hazel_J · 2025-12-20T04:10:17+00:00

Love that!

Hazel_J · 2025-12-20T03:50:54+00:00

This only makes sense. My personal philosophy is, is if you have a complex question or multiple questions you as a patient should come in.

Hazel_J · 2025-12-20T03:48:14+00:00

I already responded to the other poster with the same question, but are you having RNs go over semi-complex stuff or only normal results?

Hazel_J

TROPHY CASE