Balance?

Many readers have asked how I balanced my school work with my family life. The cut and dry answer is poorly. I went into this afraid I might fail. As a result I put 80% of free time the first year into studying, maybe more. As a result I didn't fail. I did piss off my wife considerably and my son vented the way a toddler knows how. My clinical year was really just like having a job, but without the pay or respect. I worked 6 to 15 hrs a day depending on the rotation and particulars of the day. I still had to work on my masters program but that took maybe 6 hrs a week. Things went a lot better but not having an income and thus no money to be able to buy groceries when needed or pay for car registration and having to ask my wife to do all that really continued to wear on her. I think there was slight resentment that I was able to go to school and not have to work. I feel that my wife thought PA school was fun, maybe like undergrad was for her. Other than the occasional moment here and there it was not fun. It was hard-ass work that I will be paying for for many years to come.

Balance? I did my best. Many times it wasn't good enough for the other parties involved but I HAD TO make sure that I did as well as I possibly could while I had the chance. I will graduate with a 3.8 in my PA studies and a 3.9 in my masters, which is from another school. I am still married - today is my 8th anniversary and I hope for many more. My son still loves me and likes to be with me. I'll see if any of that changes if can't get a job real soon!

Hospitalist Rotation

I am seeing a bunch of stuff I have never come across on this rotation. A sickle cell crisis, various county jail prisoners, various substance addictions, lots of chronic kidney disease, lots of uncontrolled diabetes,a gut who swallowed a bunch of pencils, lots of dialysis patients and all their complications, HIV, people from far away lands, TB and then your garden variety CHF and COPD.

I graduate in less than a month and am looking to avail to find a job. It is hard because a lot of employers want experience. Add to that the fact that I am not yet certified means no one is returning my calls/emails. Maybe once I get certified things will turn around. I am so tired of the hassle not having money has created between me and my wife. Rather, me not having any money. She makes well into 6 figures however. And never the two shall meet!