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How to survive clinical year of PA school

How To Survive Clinical Year Of Physician Assistant School

Congratulations! You just survived your first year of drinking out of the fire hose, which we call the didactic or pre-clinical year of PA school! If you’re lucky, you will get a few weeks or maybe a month off to enjoy the summer before transitioning into your clinical year. Enjoy that time with your family and friends! You deserve that chance to relax after successfully completing a rigorous year of learning medicine and clinical skills.

Now that your first clinical rotation is fast approaching, you must be overwhelmed with so many different feelings — excited, scared, nervous, anxious. All are very normal! We were all in those same shoes once. If only we had a helpful tool like MyPABox that makes transitioning to clinical year just as “easy” as applying to PA school! But for now, take a deep breath, read these tips below, and prepare to rock your clinical year!ing medicine and clinical skills.

Establish a study plan and start studying early

Unlike didactic year during which you probably had one, two, or maybe even three tests a week, there probably won’t be any tests during clinical rotations except for the end-of-rotation (EOR) exams at the end of every rotation. But do not be tempted to put off studying! Those four to five weeks fly by fast, especially when coming home exhausted after seeing patients all day. So how do you know what to study and where do you begin?

Well, I highly suggest looking up the PAEA EOR blueprints and topic lists (https://paeaonline.org/assessment/end-of-rotation/content)  at the beginning of each rotation, so you know what material is covered on each exam and how to structure your study plan for the month. Depending on which rotation you are on, the topic lists can vary in length, so plan accordingly!

Personally, I found “smartypance” a very useful resource in helping me cover the topic material for each exam, while also providing practice questions. In addition, my program provided our class with “Rosh Review” subscriptions, which I used to test my knowledge prior to taking the EOR exams. By taking practice exams, I was able to identify topics that I knew well and those that I needed to study more.

Practice self-care

I know I just told you that you need to be disciplined and study a lot during clinical year, but that does not mean that you will not have any time for yourself! It is okay (in fact, highly encouraged) to take a night or two off every week to just relax and de-stress! Don’t forget to do what you love — cooking, drawing, running, yoga, Netflix, etc! And also spend time with those that you love!

You could also check in with friends and classmates in other rotations. Ask them how they are doing, how their rotation is going, or if they have any tips for you for that particular rotation. Maybe even discuss cool cases and procedures that you or they were able to take part in.

Keep a list of everything

Our program had us log every visit, diagnosis, treatment, and procedure. This may sound like a lot of work, but it is worth it and gets easier once you have a routine in place. I have had potential employers at job interviews ask me about how many patients a day I saw in primary care or how many laceration repairs I have done. What better way to answer this question than to back it up with actual data that you collected throughout your clinical year!

Treat everyday like a job interview

Before starting my clinical year, I was told to “treat everyday like a job interview.” This is the time to network and make connections! Whether you are rotating in a specialty you would like to practice in or not, you never know if this could lead to a future job offer, letter of reference, or connections with other potential employers. Be professional, practice medicine with compassion, and don’t be afraid to put your best self out there!

In conclusion…

When it comes down to it, clinical year is the time for you to hone your medical knowledge, practice your clinical skills, and learn from your mistakes while under the safety of being a student. Take advantage of every opportunity. Be kind to others. Study hard to be able to provide the best possible care for your patients. Lastly, give yourself grace. You are not expected to be perfect. You are not expected to know everything. You are there to grow and learn, and you are going to be an amazing PA one day!

For those of you who are still planning to apply to PA school, thank you for also taking the time to read this blog! Don’t forget to check out MyPABox to help with the application process and find which program is right for you!

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Starting PA school? Check out our types to survive your didactic year PA School Didactic Year: How to Drink From The Fire Hose

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