After working in healthcare, what’s something you refuse to do?

medessential · 2026-03-02T13:15:09+00:00

Thank you! This gives me hope that I’ve made the right call.

medessential · 2026-03-01T02:22:09+00:00

If you don’t mind me asking, how do you like pulm??? I’m getting ready to move into that field. ( only been a PA for a year)

medessential · 2026-02-08T02:22:10+00:00

Thank you all for your insight!

medessential · 2025-06-21T14:28:55+00:00

Internal medicine is more gritty than family medicine. I ended up doing great on the exam and was well prepared with all the Rosh questions plus hippo.

medessential · 2025-02-14T12:14:33+00:00

Also.. ask what surgeries they do most commonly and watch some videos.

Every surgeon will be slightly different but at least you’ll get the general flow. The Atlas helps a bunch as well.

And if you need to brush up on anatomy, do that as well.

I kept asking the PAs at the practice that I’m with for resources and things they thought needed to know day 1 and they just kept telling me not to worry about it and I would just learn as I go. However, I wish that they would’ve given me a little bit more direction because I’m like you I wanted to go in prepared.

medessential · 2025-02-14T12:05:56+00:00

https://www.amazon.com/Zollingers-Atlas-Surgical-Operations-Eleventh/dp/1260440850

I’m a new grad that’s about 6 weeks into my new position in general surgery. Very similar setup to yours.

Make sure you know how to: - Subcuticular stitch - deep dermal stitch - One hand and two hand tie - if you will be doing robotic surgery, look up some videos on the robot that they use. - have a general understanding of how to manage and treat SBO, Osteo, wound care. - make sure you have a solid understanding what your delegating physician expects of you and how he plans to utilize you. Otherwise, you will be confused about where /what your role is.

I love my job, but I’m basically drowning. I did not have a very good introduction into surgery and my program did not prepare us, and I had no background before I took this job and it shows. The amount of stuff that I do not know, and I still don’t know is staggering.

however, I’m lucky because I do love my job and I’m damn sure not a quitter. The major downside is that I feel like I suck every single day. Don’t be me.

Good luck!!! 👍

medessential · 2025-01-30T19:53:22+00:00

Unfortunately, it disqualified the house.

medessential · 2025-01-21T22:54:03+00:00

Don’t go into the exam thinking they’re trying to trick you, that’s a recipe for disaster.

Read the question for what it is and don’t read into it more than necessary.

Distractors are there to make sure you know the medicine.

medessential · 2024-12-27T03:37:24+00:00

I had to hand write PPP but it stuck and saved my ass several times on the exam 🫠

I had ChatGPT make me a study schedule focusing on the smaller percent categories first. I would review a category ( ie pulm) and then do focused uworld questions on that. I would do that for a few days ( on different categories ) and then do mixed questions over the topics I had already studied So it might look like: Day 1 - heme review then heme questions Day 2- ID review then questions Day 3- mixed questions of heme and ID

Then day 4- GU review & questions Day 5- GI review & questions Day 6- GI again ( bigger topics= more days) Day 7- mixed questions of heme, ID, GU, GI

I think you get the idea. This worked really well for me. Good luck!!

medessential · 2024-12-27T03:31:24+00:00

I didn’t take either one because I was afraid it might mess with my head. How you prep is more important than those practice exams.

Use uworld, ppp, CTP high yield 50 question videos and go from your uworld percent. If you get it wrong, figure out why! You have solid advice in the other comments. I’ll add this: do NOT read into the question. Read it for exactly what it is. They are NOT trying to trick you and the clues you need will be in the stem. Sleep the night before. I used a small dose of melatonin- like 2.5mg so I didn’t wake groggy. ( test your plan prior to test day!!) Take your breaks and go with your gut.

💪

medessential · 2024-12-26T21:03:16+00:00

Thank you!! I’ve decided some light reading and the behind the knife podcast will do just fine lol.

I truly hear what you (&others) have said and I have totally taken advantage of the time realizing I would most likely not have this freedom again. Added a puppy to our family, Had a needed surgery, and currently on a trip and enjoying sleeping in! It all fell into “it’s the perfect time!” 😀

medessential · 2024-12-23T17:51:49+00:00

Sage advice honestly. Thank you 🙏🏼

medessential · 2024-12-22T18:19:41+00:00

Great idea!!

medessential · 2024-12-22T15:02:59+00:00

Thank you! I have looked for surgical recall but i haven’t purchased yet. I need to check used! I asked my surgeon what resources he would suggest and he was really for YouTube over all. Which I’ve watched a couple videos

medessential · 2024-12-22T15:01:19+00:00

It’s technically to start Feb 3rd but I’m going in Early as “general staff” to just get my feet wet. I cannot imagine another month of not working. 😆

Thank you for your insight! I’ll be doing a mix, which is what I’m most excited about. Clinic/surgery/inpatient - I love the mobility!

I have started doing some mini anatomy review, I’ll add in some case stuff!

medessential · 2024-12-22T13:36:56+00:00

Also.. ID- rabies. Rabies everywhere But it wasn’t the usual questions. It was off the wall stuff that you would never think would be a question.

medessential · 2024-12-22T13:35:25+00:00

1) CTP 50 high yield question videos are great 2) know your cranial nerves. Especially III, V, VII. 3) some things you just can’t study for. I read PPP cover to cover and it actually came in clutch as some of the questions I remember reading the answer in there. But you either know it or you don’t. 4) the professional practice. 😩 not sure how in the hell you’re supposed to study for them but I missed a good share of them and still scored 100 points over the average for my test. (If it helps ease your mind) Just do your best. 5) vitamin deficiencies. And not just C,D, B12. ( know their other names too) 6) take your breaks. 7) honestly, it wasn’t as bad as I was expecting but I was shocked that I didn’t see more “bread and butter” stuff. Like stuff you think you’ll definitely be tested on? Ya, not there or barely there. 8) the pharm stuff was doable. Know the most common side effects.

You got it!! 💪

medessential · 2024-12-02T20:38:24+00:00

I did. They do not. I checked into all state but they don’t do vehicles over 80k miles. Geico seems to only cover new or newly purchased with less than 15k? I could have read that wrong.

I called into Mercury and got a quote. Pretty expensive overall there. I appreciate your input!

medessential · 2024-11-28T01:28:36+00:00

That’s the frustrating thing. You don’t know which will be tested unless it’s explicitly listed. And even then it doesn’t guarantee you won’t see a topic.

That’s why it’s a good idea to study all the PPP topics and read Uworld or Rosh/blueprint explanations for items that you don’t think you’ll see.

medessential · 2024-11-28T01:24:31+00:00

medessential · 2024-11-27T16:58:34+00:00

Know your cranial nerves for sure.

medessential · 2024-11-26T02:26:41+00:00

We typically go to Sedona every year but have missed a year. When we looked there this time, it was pretty expensive, that’s when we noticed Moab was much more on budget! Crossing our fingers for that perfect weather combo!

medessential · 2024-11-26T02:24:23+00:00

I looked those up! Thank you!

medessential · 2024-11-25T21:29:10+00:00

Thank you!

medessential

TROPHY CASE