2nd semester classes are under way

Our instructors told us that this semester would be the most difficult of all. They told us this was typical of most PA programs though I am not sure what their reasoning is. Perhaps their experience with other programs allows them this foresight. Needless to say, I am beginning to think they are telling the truth. Pharmacology will certainly not be a breeze. Our instructor told us that we will get about 30 hours more of pharm than the med students she teaches. I don't know how I feel about that other than to say I better know my shit when this is over. I am not terribly psyched about our Pathology instructor. He seems a little ill prepared - so we'll have to take up the slack as students. OB/Gyn will certainly be interesting - my only practical experience with the subject is recreational and the birth of my son.. Peds should be fun. I have some expereince working with them, I like them and they like me. I think they can sense my inner goofball so they tend to gravitate toward me. During the summer the neighborhood kids come by the garage to see what I am working on or fixing, or just to tlak to me. The kids at my son's school always come up to me and ask me to play or show me what they are doing. This is interesting to me because adults tell me I am imtimidating or aloof at times. Perhaps I let my guard down around kids. The other classes will be challenging as well since we will be expected to integrate all we have learned and are learning - to start thinking clinically and to see the whole patient rather than simply the problem they present to us.

Spring semester awaits!

Classes start in one week and I am ready to get crackin'. This semester I have pathology, pharmacology, OB/GYN, Peds, History and Physical, Psych, and Clinical Medicne. This round of classes promises to be very intense but at least they are more applicable to being a PA than last semester's classes. I also look forward to starting my clinical experience this term as well.
My break didn't go as I would have liked, but it was good to be able to spend so much time with my Boy.

Why is LISTENING so difficult?

Being human necessitates communication with others (absent disorder or pathology). What I continue to struggle with is others' lack of understanding that true communication is something that involves give and take, multi-directional exchange of thoughts, feelings and ideas, and a tacit understanding that the other party will evaluate your input by putting forward some effort of thought. In my daily life I, like most of you, attempt to have meaningful conversations with those around me. I take the time to listen to what the other person is saying (most all of the time) and attempt to to put togehter a thoughtful response given their input. I expext the same from others who are "listening" during a conversation with me. I expect them to remeber what I just told them, or if the other party is particularly close to me I expect they will have a memory and understanding of most of our prior conversations. I cannot describe the intense feelings I experience when I speak to someone, be it family, classmate or friend, who cannot or will not make the effort to mentally process a conversation we have shared and make meaningful efforts to have a quality interaction. My point is that so many people do not listen -they hear so that they can respond. They do not process but rather prepare to expell. So many of us are not in the least bit interested in what the other person has to say, let alone give it any real thought. No, we are simply interested in our own interests. This could be extended to people who may actually listen but choose to ignore out of hand the information presented to them. I could go on and on but you get the idea. Stay tuned for my next bitch session when I complain about people who choose not to think.