• Home
  • PA Trek Academy
  • Services
    • Shop
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • About Us
    • Coaches
  • Free Phone Consultation
  • Login for returning clients

PA Trek Coaching

Stay up to date with all our latest posts and services!

Blood, Guts, and Bones- Your ER Rotation

in PA-S on 03/11/16

ambulance

I must say that I have been working in the ER for 6 years now so I am a leeeeetle partial to this rotation.  My rotation was in a busy, level 1 trauma center.  It was an intense, mind blowing 6 weeks.   Stress levels run high and there is always a lot of action.  There is also a disproportionately large amount of bull crap complaints, which you will notice right away.

I had an interesting emotional response during my ER rotation.  We saw a few trauma patients with gun shot wounds.  These were young men who died of senseless violence.  One free Friday night my husband and I went to see the movie “Departed”.  I know, one of the best crime movies with some seriously gorgeous men.  Although I did enjoy Leonardo Dicaprio and Matt Damon, I walked out of that movie in a near panic attack.  The shoot em’ up scenes hit me in a new way.  I watched people die, in real life.  The violence and death I experienced in the ER shook me deeper than I knew.  The ER is a place where you see people at their most vulnerable and scary moments.  We are a key player in these moments and that can take a toll on you emotionally.

The following are some tips to get you through your rotation.

1.  Be on time…in fact, be early.  Shift changes are key times of sign out and you will be better prepared if you know what is going on with the current patients.  You will also likely learn something about diseases and treatments.

2.  Make your presentations succinct.  There is nothing more irritating then a long, drawn out, fumbling patient presentation.

3.  Know your differentials.  The ER is a little different than your primary care rotation in that the attending will want to know mainly the life or limb threatening possibilities.  Always have five possible diagnosis and say them with confidence!

4.  If you can be a part of an end-of-life discussion you should be there.  This is more of the “art of medicine” that we all need more practice on.

5.  Patient education takes a lot of time.  A LOT of time.  I had a patient who was scared because she thought she had “poop coming out of the wrong hole”.  It was not.  My cartoonish drawing helped clear that one up.

6.  ATLS, PALS, ACLS are all important to know.  When you are part of a code, try to think preemptively what meds and procedures should be done.  You will understand the process better if you try to think for yourself.

7.  In my ER, PAs do central lines, chest tubes, intubations, sutures, I and Ds, dental blocks, joint reductions, splint applications, among other procedures.  You will not get a hang of these in 6 weeks but its important to know the indications, instruments, and meds used.

8.  Nurses, Techs, Medics,  HUCs…They all make the ER roll along and most of them know more than you do.  Show respect.

9.  Be assertive.  There will likely be Med students, NP students, nursing students, medics in training all trying to get in on that code or procedure.  If you don’t get yourself involved no one is going to coddle you along.

10.  The ER may be the career choice for you if you enjoy fast paced, high adrenaline settings… and you don’t mind having a schedule that is opposite of all your friends’ and family’s.   PAs get to use a large skill set and it is cool to help save lives in real time.  You also see some really heart wrenching things and you have to be the type of person who can leave work at work.  Did I say that I love the ER?  Comment below if you have questions or great stories.

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • WhatsApp
  • Pinterest
  • Reddit
  • LinkedIn
  • Tumblr
  • Print

Add a Comment

Stay up to date with all our latest posts and services!

« Today’s Debate: NP vs PA
The “Crease”…..Your Gyn Rotation »

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Search

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest

Start Here!

  • Services
  • Schedule
  • Shop
  • Common Questions

New on the Blog

  • Patient Care Hours: what they are and why they matter
  • Control what you can and trust the rest
  • Organization for the Win: Get organized now and stay on top of the PA school application process
  • How to Say “Nay” to the Naysayers
  • Failure as a DREAMER

Stay up to date with all our latest posts and services!

What people are saying about PA Trek Coaching

I would like to share some excited news with you. I recently was accepted to 2 PA schools and still have another interview coming.

I was accepted to Marshall B. Ketchum in Fullerton, CA, and Touro University- California.  and another interview at Western University of Health Sciences in Pomona, Ca.

I wanted to thank you for giving me the best coach ever. He is super supportive and always check if I was ok during the process. I am so happy and proud of myself that I even got in the first year. I know how competitive PA schools are, so I am just so thankful that I found you all.

Betty, accepted at Marshall B. Ketchum and Touro University, California Coaching Package

I took your advice and went into my interview with confidence. I just want to thank you so much for all your help!!! I am truly grateful for what you’ve done for me. 🙂 

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • WhatsApp
  • Pinterest
  • Reddit
  • LinkedIn
  • Tumblr
  • Print

Robin Coaching Package

I don’t even know how to thank you for all your help!! I was accepted to my first choice program at the Yale School of Medicine Physician Associate Program Class of 2019! Not only that, but I was one of those they called right after the interview. I am absolutely excited (and scared)!

Thank you again for all your through assistance! I don’t think I could have done this without you!

Angela, accepted at Yale School of Medicine Physician Assistant Program Coaching Package

I just got their acceptance email. Beyond excited and grateful. Thank you so much for everything. I would not have come this far without your help!

 

Aleena, accepted at UTGRV Mock Interview/Personal Statement Critique

My experience with PA Trek Coaching was great. The team really provided me with the guidance I was looking for, plus tons of extra information that really came in handy. Initially, I was struggling with my personal statement but my PA Trek coach encouraged me to look inside myself and dig deep. Without their help, I’m not sure if I would have been able to articulate my story in such a professional way. Additionally, the mock interview with my coach gave me a new perspective and insight on the entire process. I know the mock interview helped me gain confidence with my interviewing skills, which really paid off. Thank you, PA Trek Coaching! 

Liza Chapman, accepted at Emory University Coaching Package

I used personal statement review and interview bootcamp. These resources were INVALUABLE to me. I felt my confidence grow, and when it was time for my last interview at my top choice school, I killed it!

Lindsay Hickman, accepted at St. Catherine University, MPAS Personal Statment Critique/ Interview Bootcamp Personal Statement Critique and Interview Bootcamp

I just wanted to share that after my ONLY interview this cycle (aaand my first cycle applying), I was just accepted to Carroll University’s PA Program and will be starting this coming May!!!!!
I will be forever glad that I took advantage of  PA Trek! My coach gave me great advice and suggestions which I definitely took to heart and worked on the week following our mock, and knowing what I needed to work on gave me the confidence that I needed. I felt I truly rocked that interview and clearly I did something right. 🙂

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • WhatsApp
  • Pinterest
  • Reddit
  • LinkedIn
  • Tumblr
  • Print

Mary, accepted at Carroll University Mock Interview

We took an hour for a mock interview at the end of September and I just wanted to give you an update on my interviews! So far, I have gone to four. I was accepted at South University (Savannah, GA) and Western Michigan University! Your mock interview helped me so much. At WMU, I had an impromptu essay about the state of health care in America / pros and cons of the current health system and I felt completely prepared – I wouldn’t have had too much to say if you hadn’t recommended I look into it further! Just wanted to let you know! Thanks so much for your time. It was well worth it.

Laura, accepted at South University and Western Michigan University Used our Mock Interview

Copyright © 2023 · glam theme by Restored 316 customized by MakeMediaOver

Copyright © 2023 · Glam Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

  • About Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Shop

Login

Lost your password?

Reset Password

Lost your password? Please enter your username or email address. You will receive a link to create a new password via email.

Log In